After looking at numerous art books I have come to the conclusions that most How to Draw books are bogus. Why do these art books feel the need to show you actual drawings by actual artists. "Yes, you can draw" next to a cat that looks ready to curl up to you and purr...really, I can draw that just by following your steps? Hmmm, wonder why none have a money back guarantee. I went to the library to check some art books out, our library is excellent and had 2 full shelves of How to Draw books and everyone looked the same. All showed a few steps with a pencil and presto! instant masterpiece. Some would show a picture and give directions on drawing that picture, great step by step directions, but what if you want to draw what is not in their book? Needless to say these were all useless.
Maybe a How to Draw video course might work better. Started searching and found those to be similar to the books. Either follow the artist on screen to make a cute picture you will never want to draw again or follow the techniques shown and create a masterpiece only an experienced artist can create.
I was determined to find a How to Draw book so Daniel could learn to draw. We were not looking for him to be an artist just be able to draw more then Picasso-ish stick figures. I decided to ask The Hive (other wise known as the Well Trained Mind forum). Most recommended Artistic Pursuits.
I need to pause here and digress for a minute...Artistic Pursuits is one of those curriculums I have had in my possession one time or the other over the 20 years of homeschooling. Several of their books have been bought and sold because at the time the fit or my time or something just did not mesh. Apologia and Mystery of History are two other curriculums that have had similar fates. Both are now being used by Daniel who has, not professed a love for them, but has mentioned he is learning from them and not being put to sleep....high praise from a teenager if you ask me. So, now I am to re-buy Artistic Pursuits. Good thing is I know I can resell it pretty easy if it does not work out.
I could not decide which book to get Daniel, the Jr. High or Sr. High, so I got both. After looking through the books we will go with the Jr. High book now, and if he is still interested after finishing the 2 volumes I will have the other on my shelf.
The nice thing about this curriculum is it does not tell you to draw like this or that but to look for specific things and draw it...line, color, shading, back ground. It teaches you to see what you are going to draw. Each unit is 4 lessons long and scheduled 2 lessons a week will give you a school years worth of art. Each of the 4 lessons are similar...Lesson one builds a visual vocabulary along with a drawing exercise to show what they mean. Lesson two is looking at an actual work of art (each book focuses on a specific collection, the book we are using focuses on World Art) It gives info on the picture and the culture of the artist plus a lesson on how the artist used a special art technique. It ends with a hands on activity for you to try the technique learned. Lesson 3 also discusses an art technique with an assignment. The 4th lesson ends with a project, putting all you learned from the unit into one picture. Best of all there are no pictures of the projects from skilled artists but from students who took the course. Some are great from a student with talent and some from a student who is not so talented but still accomplished the project. The second volume teaches the use of color.
If Daniel puts forth an honest effort and completes both books he will earn an art credit for his electives.
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