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| Pencil Drawing: A Complete Drawing Kit for Beginners | 
 enlarge | Author: Gene Franks
Publisher: Walter Foster
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $7.45
You Save: $7.50 (50%)
Buy New/Used from $7.45
Avg. Customer Rating:  (8 reviews)
Sales Rank: 6868
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Misc. Supplies
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 32
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 10.2 x 7 x 1.3
ISBN: 156010189X
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.2
EAN: 9781560101895
ASIN: 156010189X
Publication Date: January 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A complete drawing kit for beginners. Learning the captivating art of pencil drawing has never been easier! In this comprehensive introductory kit, acclaimed artist Gene Franks walks you through all the essentials, covering basic techniques as well as more complex concepts such as perspective and value. Pencil Drawing includes nine complete step-by-step drawing lessons to follow and learn. Each project in the book contains clear instructions, helpful tips, and easy-to-follow illustrations. And in addition to the project book, the kit also includes all the art tools and materials you will need to get started creating impressive works of art right away. Beginners are practically guaranteed successful results! Hardcover 6.875" x 10.25" case includes a 32-page paperback book, 6 different pencils, sharpener, pencil extender, artistAes triangle, sandpaper pad, blending stump, kneaded eraser, and pad of drawing paper.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Not useful for a beginner September 9, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
There is no doubt the author is excellent at pencil drawing. But, as a true beginner, this book did not provide the instruction I was hoping for, especially after reading the 5-star reviews. Therefore, because of the manner in which the book is presented to quote the editorial review, "In this comprehensive introductory kit, acclaimed artist Gene Franks walks you through all the essentials, covering basic techniques as well as more complex concepts such as perspective and value. Pencil Drawing includes nine complete step-by-step drawing lessons to follow and learn. Each project in the book contains clear instructions, helpful tips, and easy-to-follow illustrations" - I give it only 1 star. There are no clear instructions or easy-to-follow illustrations and there is no "walk-through of all the essentials."
I think his examples are extremely hard to start with, especially if you are not familiar with pencil strokes, color values, hand position, and other aspects of drawing.
As an example, the egg. The egg instruction is given in five steps, all on one short page. Using an HB pencil, 'feel' the outline/shape of the egg. Step 2, make a precise line around the egg. Step 3, using the HB with a different hand position, start shading the egg and the shadow. Step 4, using the H pencil, then using an F pencil, shade over the previous shading layer by layer. Step 5, deepen the shading, complete the egg, and add some speckles. From another book I purchased at the same time, I learned there are several different types of shading - cross hatch, back and forth and so on. There is no mention here, you are just supposed to start shading. I found it frustrating (as one other reviewer mentioned as well, although they say work through it). It is hard to work through the frustration when you are not given the technique or instruction one needs to complete each step.
This book may be great for a person who already as knowledge of drawing, but as an absolute beginner, it is not the right book. The draw of 'the kit' is what drew me in first and foremost, followed by the reviews. But, as another reviewer mentioned, you can buy pencils, papers, and erasers at various art stores, including online.
I would not suggest this book for someone who needs a bit more direction and instruction and/or who is just starting out drawing. I wish I could suggest another book, but at this time I can't, I am still searching.
 Not only for beginners August 17, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I ordered this kit and found it to be very complete and it contains good quality parts. It was very useful to take on a recent trip as it didn't take up much room but contained everything I needed to do some sketching.
Beginning Artist January 24, 2008
My son loves the fact that it's pencil drawing and has full instructions. Very nice gift for that person that wants to be or is an artist in the making.
A Complete Drawing Kit for Beginners September 4, 2005
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
This Drawing Kit is a very good starting point for a beginner. In one package you have a good set of lessons, a coordinated set of tools and instructions that are very clear. The drawing results you achieve in each lesson are directly related to your effort put into each lesson.
Gene Franks is an excellent instructor. Try it, you will like this book.
 You Can Do Better April 12, 2004
95 out of 96 found this review helpful
The very short book has a few nice drawings of varied subjects, broken down into a few stages each. There's little in the way of real instruction, though--certainly little that a true newbie would find of use. The art materials include a very small sketch pad (just 9.5 x 6.5 inches) and a passable beginner's assortment of pencils and so forth, as described by Amazon. There's one huge problem with the pencils, though: the darkest is a 2B. For many pencil artists, that's the _lightest_ thing they'll often work with. If you want to achieve truly dark areas in a drawing for realistic contrast and shading, you need something more like 6 or 7B and darker (or charcoal pencils or sticks). You'd be better off buying basic materials at an art supply store and checking out beginner tutorials online, more detailed instructional books, and/or taking a class at your local art center, school, etc. For a newbie, I'd recommend getting a full set of quality art pencils (like 8B-2H hardness) in a case, a kneaded eraser (vital!), vinyl eraser, a couple stumps/tortillons, a small sanding block (or just use a piece of fine-grit sandpaper for carpentry, etc.), a sharpener (any standard one will do), a ruler, a circle template, and a _big_ sketch pad.
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