the new drawing on the right side of the brain by betty edwards

I read it carefully from cover to cover before doing any drawing. I recalled reading a bit of it years ago, and setting it aside because the exercises seemed rather complicated and required the use of tools. This is the most often recommended title for beginners. Recently I unearthed my box of accumulated art supplies and drawing books, and noticed the orange spine of Betty Edwards Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. And then, a year or two later, I try again, with a new how-to-draw book and vigor, only to repeat the process. Part of the problem is that I become frustrated at how difficult it is to draw accurately and in proportion, and invariably put away my pencils and sketchbooks after a series of failures. I've had several abortive attempts to learn to draw and paint over the last ten years.

This book is helluva motivator! You'll see results quickly, but once done, move on! I will definitely recommend this for those are just starting with their drawing. The focus of the book is on portraits (Which the author rightly says is the hardest thing for artists and the most impressive).īut once you're done with this book you must pickup some serious drawing book to improve, otherwise you will be stuck drawing nascent drawings (which you will enjoy neverthless :) ) You don't learn how to use your drawing medium, nothing much about shadows, no anatomy, no perspective. The downside is that you only learn to copy what you see in front of you. After all, it takes months of practice not reading of a few chapters from a book to improve drawing, right?

It was a self-portrait and I could not believe that I had drawn it. My first drawing after reading just a few chapters, blew my mind away.

This book is a double-edged sword: On one side you have this immediate almost magical improvement in your drawing, on the other hand it's not good for long term improvement.

The new drawing on the right side of the brain by betty edwards