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| Fast Sketching Techniques | 
 enlarge | Author: David J. Rankin
Publisher: North Light Books
Category: Book
Buy New: $27.77
Buy New/Used from $27.77
Avg. Customer Rating:  (22 reviews)
Sales Rank: 198004
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 144
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 11 x 8.5 x 0.5
ISBN: 1581800053
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.2
EAN: 9781581800050
ASIN: 1581800053
Publication Date: May 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Following examples and exercises, artists will learn dozens of quick-sketching methods for capturing depth, proportion and value quickly and accurately.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 17 more reviews...
 A flash and smudge of charcoal July 27, 2007
This book lured me into sketching in charcoal. I love David's style whether it is a momentary turkey, chameleon or Piazza San Marco. I enjoy sketching as I travel and David's description and depictions of drawing soldiers inspired me on my next business trips to India and Sumatra to approach several soldiers/guards and ask to sketch them. I had as much fun as David did at the Jodhpur airport and I was surprised how well they turned out as I normally prefer structures or scenes. I've become braver with portraits. Charcoal is great for capturing a scene quickly.
I first saw his book in our Public Library and belatedly wanted to have a copy for myself to refer back to.
I don't feel the mixed fonts on the cover do the book justice, but feel ideas in the content have honed my sketching skills, not only in charcoal but my preferred fine fibre-pen. I now even know a blending tool from a kneaded eraser and have them added to my portable arsenal.
 good in theory, but... April 22, 2006
14 out of 18 found this review helpful
This book has some excellent advice and techniques, but never have I seen an artist who needs to get over himself more! I own at least 100 different art books (had a hard time choosing a medium and then a subject to focus on, and I like to read them) and in not one of them are there as many posed photographs of the artist in his various locations (at least 10-15). These are not photos of his hand used to illustrate a point or technique- these are cheesy "look at me in --- with my pad and pencil- don't I look serious" pictures.
His introduction is pompous and his text, at least at the beginning, is as well. IF you can get past that, you can learn from this book. I found his writing style to be distracting as he recounted his journey to becoming the artist he is today (winner of many "prestigious awards"). Bleh. If they were to do a 2nd edition of this book, the publishers would do well to revise the text heavily.
I enjoy when artists become conversational while writing an instructional text. Claudia Nice is an excellent example (Pen and Ink)- her humor shows and she is conversational. Ann Kullberg (Colored pencil) makes you feel like you are sitting at a table having coffee with her and you are completely capable of doing pictures every bit as good as hers. In both cases, these ladies' personalities shine through, but they are still extremely strong in the teaching/instructing department.
The first chapter of "Fast Sketching Techniques" has us view (apart from the numerous photos of the author) many "drawings" to compare with "sketches". After 2-3, you see the difference, but there is a lot of fluff. I think that's my main problem with this book- the fluff. They wanted a certain length that this subject just doesn't lend itself to very well and had to fill in somewhere!
Not a *bad* book, if you aren't bothered by the style of the author. If you can get past his opinions of his "idyllic journey" and get the instruction underneath, you will learn from it. To sum up this entire book- sketching fast means leaving out details and concentrating on the main lines. There.
Very useful March 25, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I agree with some other reviewers who don't understand how this book could have gotten negative reviews. If you are looking for a way to capture what you see in your everyday environment, then this book will help you do it.
The sketches are not "finished" in the sense that the author talks about - a tightly polished rendering which could - and almost always does - take hours. That's not the goal of the book, and the author says as much, even showing examples of both the quick sketches and the highly detailed drawings as comparisons. There shouldn't be any doubt that what he's discussing is sketching.
I have tried the techniques set forth in this book and have found them an immense help in improving my drawing skills. The resulting sketches may look "simple," but the technique itself and frame of mind you must be in to draw this way *do* take some time to learn, as do most worthwhile activities relating to drawing, painting, playing an instrument, and so on. There is always practice involved, but if you put forth the effort, this technique will help improve your drawing.
Easy Way to Sketch July 18, 2005
18 out of 19 found this review helpful
The fast sketching method here has a particular goal. That is, to capture information about a subject for further reference. Mr Rankin is an accomplished painter and uses this technique apparently as a basis for his watercolors. His method can produce beautiful sketches at times-as he shows- but that apparently is not the main intention.
Rankin's method presented here involves using a 9b pencil to do fast contours of separate shapes, blended together with a smudge technique, and heavily emphasising values. I tend to do all my sketches in ballpoint, without regard for shading, and without consideration for future studio work, so his method doesn't quite appeal to me personally. Still, I went through his book, practiced every exercise, and I definitely feel I learned some valuable things.
Recently, I went to a local museum to sketch, where they don't allow pens into the gallery. I brought my 9b pencils and tortillions and had a succesful trip using Mr. Rankin's techniques. The method in Fast Sketching Techniques is easy to learn and the instruction is excellent. If you are a total beginner, I might recommend a true beginner's book first, before this. Ohterwise, it's a useful addition to your bookshelf.
Confidence I never had before July 8, 2005
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
I was so intrigued by the sketches I saw in the book when I was browsing through it I just had to buy it. This book literally changed my whole direction artistically as well as giving me confidence I never had before. Sure the sketches *appear* to be simple. What the author is teaching here is not how to make a *pretty* picture but how to truly *see* a subject and *quickly* capture your impression. If you want a finished "pretty* picture, you go back to your studio and work on it from there. For the first time ever I have the confidence to go out into public and draw people. It was always so frustrating for me that I just assumed that drawing people just was not my forte. I was wrong, I just needed to learn how to see and translate that to my hand and onto paper.
I am fortunate enough to live in the same area as David and I attend his drawing classes at the local art gallery. I learned in a couple months what would have taken me years to learn on my own. Trust me - the book is worth it!
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