Drawing on the Right Side of The Brain
Betty Edwards
This book presents a new method for learning how to draw, employing concepts gleaned from brain research. By now the left-brain/right-brain concept is pretty well-known, but was rather radical when this book was written in the '70s.
Even more radical are the results of this method -- the book is full of examples from students before and after working through the book's examples, and the improvement is striking. The concept is simple -- most beginning artists are not seeing the things they are drawing, but instead drawing symbollically, putting in eyes where they think they should be, etc., rather than the way they actually appear in nature. The exercises in this book help you to undo that type of conditioning, and actually apply your drawing skill to the things you see. In other words, the ability to draw isn't a problem of dexterity, but in your ability to see what you are drawing as visual input rather than processing it symbolically.
A fantastic book to unlock the artist within. I hope I finish it someday.
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Real World Scanning and Halftones
David Blatner and Steve Roth
An extensive practical guide on the subject of scanning and halftoning. If you've ever been confused at the distinction between dpi and lpi, or have gotten less-than-satisfactory output from scanned photos, this book will be a great help.
Not tied to any particular operating system or software, this book describes how to choose scanning resolution, how to prevent banding, moire patterns and other problems, and how to correct your images using filters.
Very specialized topic, but a thorough treatment. Well worth the cost if you do a lot of scanning or prepress work.
ISBN 1-56609-093-8
296 pages, Peachpit Press
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NEW!
Second edition ships April '98
I haven't seen it yet, but it apparently has quite a bit more about
4-color printing, in line with the numerous advances in software, printers,
and printing technology since the original was written.
Basic Pose 1152 : Volume 1 : 1152
Yuko Nakajima
This Japanese book of reference photographs is somewhat on the pricy side, but is particularly valuable in that the (all female) models are not only photographed from several angles, but are also photographed in the same poses while nude, in lingerie, schoolgirl uniforms, business clothes, and casual clothes. If you flip adjacent pages, starting from the back, it's sort of like X-Ray specs.
Certainly you need a book like this if you plan to do anime -- the requisite schoolgirl poses are there, after all, but what I find valuable about this book is that it teaches you how different types of clothing drape on the human form.
This book is one of a series of similar books, some of which you can probably find at better art stores, but usually at list price. Those books which are discounted here are a pretty good deal.
Note that most all the text in the books, with the exception of headings, is written in Japanese.
WARNING -- CONTAINS NUDITY
162 pages
Books Nippan
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Couples 1: Basic Pose 891 (Couples, Volume 1)
Hisashi Eguchi
Another in the Books Nippan series of artist reference books, this one with couples.
Not yet reviewed.
WARNING -- CONTAINS NUDITY
160 pages
Books Nippan
Couples 2: Daily Pose 437
Hisashi Eguchi
Second volume of couples poses, these are posed in typical surroundings,
like a living room, bedroom (yes, naked in bed, if you must know...), etc.
Great set of much more candid poses than volume 1.
WARNING -- CONTAINS NUDITY
160 pages
Books Nippan
Daily Pose 1007
Hisashi Eguchi
This reference book includes female models in everyday poses: brushing teeth, dressing, putting on makeup, reading the paper, phoning, wordprocessing, at dinner, dancing, changing clothes, and bathing. In each case, the models are shown wearing one or two types of appropriate attire -- no nude karaoke, thankfully. Attire includes business wear, pajamas, lingerie, school uniform, casual wear, jeans, nothing, and (in one of those unfortunate translation gaffes -- it's listed as "undress") sundress.
Once again, there's an interesting looking forward, all in Japanese, with examples of these poses adapted to make finished art. Kind of pricy, so the Amazon discount's a great deal.
WARNING -- CONTAINS NUDITY
167 pages
Bijustu Shuppan-Sha
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Moving Pose 1223
Hisashi Eguchi
Contains more dynamic poses. All female models. Not yet reviewed.
WARNING -- CONTAINS NUDITY
160 Pages
Books Nippan
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