Fast Sketching Techniques

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A flash and smudge of charcoal

good in theory, but...

Very useful

Easy Way to Sketch

Confidence I never had before

Fast Sketching Techniques
David J. Rankin
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1581800053

Customer Reviews:

A flash and smudge of charcoal .......2007-07-27

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..........2006-04-23

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.......2006-03-25

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.......2005-07-18

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.......2005-07-08

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!

Big Book of Drawing: Sketching and Drawing, Draw Real Animals, Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces, Fast Sketching Techniques

Average customer rating:

Big Book of Drawing: Sketching and Drawing, Draw Real Animals, Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces, Fast Sketching Techniques
Cathy Johnson
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 158180797X

Product Description

Hardcover compilation of four North Light drawing staples.

Customer Reviews:

Not comprehensive.......2004-11-02

Fair to good detail fotos, good detail descriptions, poor-done typeset (poorly readable, fat big letters, no idea of typographical basics). Tips on all cameras of a great aera can't fit on 100 pages. You might be disappointed, at least regarding the price (just like I am).

Amazon.com

This book is bound to leave you speechless--either due to slack-jawed shock or belly-aching laughter. It is, as the title does suggest, about a homicidal lesbian terrorist, and all that you might imagine this entails: men-hating, men-bashing, men-dismemberment. Those who are uncomfortable with over-the-top stereotypes should steer way clear of this book. But for the open-minded reader (not limited to militant lesbians), this is one heck of a ride.

Customer Reviews:

Still blowing them all away.......2003-01-23

Hothead Paisan is not your two dimensional superhero, but superheroine she is. She boils all that is wrong with the world down to white guys who oppress everyone else. In a rage that has no equal she takes on the white male establishment with guns, grenades, chainsaws, baseball bats, and any other lethal weapon she can find. Spurred on by enormous doses of caffeine, this urban terrorist roams the city as the body count goes ever higher. Her holy rage is beautifully counterpointed by her cat Chicken, her blind friend Roz, and a deity in a table lamp that calls herself Donna Summer. These three try to bring love and peace to Hothead's tortured soul. The illustrations perfectly portray the highly emotive Hothead and her range of feelings. This second volume contains #s 10-18 of the comix and a 22 page introduction to people who don't have the first volume. But why settle for part when you can have the Complete Hothead Paisan (#s 1-21) published by Cleis Press in 1999?

Wonderful!.......2000-03-22

What can I say that hasn't been said? Bodacious, salacious, outrageous, delicious. You don't have to be a lesbian to love this book either. Straight men should HAVE to read it-- they shouldn't have any more trouble identifying with Hothead than we've had identifying with all those "universal" straight, white, male, ablebodied, middle-class heroes! (Oh, that was sarcasm, btw...)

the best comic hero/heroine ever created.......1999-01-06

I can't imagine anyone reading this comic and not being inspired. Whenever I feel deflated I know that after a fix of Hothead all will be well in my world. I just pray that Diane Dimassa will shortly put us out of our misery with some further tales of Hothead. Chicken for president!!!

You must accept Hothead Paisan into your life.......1998-11-20

This book is a must for any earth inhabitant who feels like she/he doesn't belong. Hothead welcomes you into her world where "weirdoes" unite for peace and love. Feel the love, baby. Chicken rules!

Hothead is my saviour.......1998-04-22

Hothead is the person I would be if I weren't me! Diane di Massa is so brave and funny and insightful, that after one of those unbearable days, I come home and read about HH, and all that anger is channelled back into creativity. Buy this book!

Book Description

We've all had the experience of being touched by a song that seemed to capture exactly what we were feeling, needing to hear, or hoping to believe. Michael McLean has brought us many such songs, classics like "From God's Arms to My Arms to Yours," "You're Not Alone," "If Only You Believe in Yourself," "What I Need," "Hold On, the Light Will Come," and dozens of others. This book includes a full-length music CD. Now, for the first time in book form, he gives us the stories behind the songs. These inspiring and uplifting songs touch on topics that include adoption, loneliness, depression, hope, holding on, relationships and finding joy. Some of these stories tell of incidents or experiences that inspired the writing of a song. Some tell how another person's life was affected by the song after it was written. And all are revealing of the heart and spirit of a man who has shared his gifts and his life in ways that have blessed listeners all over the world.

Customer Reviews:

Helpful Book and Music!.......2003-12-02

This music speaks to me, and it speaks for me. I could never have articulated the words to reflect my feelings as brilliantly as Michael McLean does but once I heard the words in the songs, I immediately connected. Especially on the feelings of loneliness and fear. I also felt the heartache the young unwed mother felt in giving up her child, all out of love for that child. The music and words, and the stories behind the songs, have helped me better understand my own feelings and then develop much needed hope for a good outcome. Thank you Michael!

Book Description

La serie de ''Marte y Venus'' se enriquece con una nueva producción de John Gray. En esta edición la atención estará centrada en tres factores fundamentales para el éxito de una relación de pareja: comprensión, autoestima personal en el trato con el otro.

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PENDULUM OF BATTLE: Operation Goodwood - July 1944
Chris Dunphie
Manufacturer: Pen and Sword
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
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Battle for the Ruhr: The German Army's Final Defeat in the West (Modern War Studies)

ASIN: 1844150100

Book Description

Operation Goodwood, the largest tank battle involving British troops ever to have taken place, has been a perpetual subject of controversy. Was it intended as a breakout from the Normandy Bridgehead, or not? Was it a success or failure? Did it lead to a severe crisis in confidence over Field Marshal Montgomery's leadership? This book seeks to unearth the true background, reasons, aims and achievement of Goodwood, set in the context of the overall campaign, while bringing the battle to life through personal accounts of some of those involved, both British and German.

The Pendulum of Battle, Operation Goodwood July 1944.(Book Review): An article from: Armor

Average customer rating:

The Pendulum of Battle, Operation Goodwood July 1944.(Book Review): An article from: Armor
David L. Funk
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Science & Technology | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Armor, published by Thomson Gale on November 1, 2005. The length of the article is 859 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Pendulum of Battle, Operation Goodwood July 1944.(Book Review)
Author: David L. Funk
Publication: Armor (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 114 Issue: 6 Page: 51(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Average customer rating:

Condi vs ?

Ridiculously biased

Thought-Provoking

junk

Well-written analysis, but you can see the bias immediately

Condi vs. Hillary: The Next Great Presidential Race
Dick Morris , and Eileen Mcgann
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Elections | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060859849
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Book Description

Dick Morris sizes up the campaign of a lifetime: Condoleezza Rice versus Hillary Clinton.

Who will be president in 2008? Many believe that the White House is Hillary Clinton's to lose. As long–time strategists Dick Morris and Eileen McGann reveal in Condi vs. Hillary, however, Hillary's plans for higher office are vulnerable to a challenge from a most unexpected quarter: the Bush administration's secretary of state and former national security advisor, Condoleezza Rice.

Rice is the only figure on the national scene who has the credentials, the credibility, and the charisma to lead the GOP in 2008. And, as this first book on the subject demonstrates, a race between these two commanding, but very different, women is a very real possibility–and would inevitably prove one of the most fascinating and important races in American history.

Blending insider insight and political foresight, Condi vs. Hillary surveys the strengths and weaknesses of the two candidates, finding persuasive clues about what we might expect from each of them as a chief executive. It traces their very different childhoods–Hillary Rodham's in unchallenging suburban comfort, Condi Rice's in Birmingham, Alabama, during the civil rights era–and finds in each the roots of their latter–day selves. It explores their career in public life–Hillary's as an ambitious liberal who attached herself to a governor on the rise, Condi's as a woman of broad and deep talents who has earned her own way. It turns a discerning eye on how each has spent her time in government, contrasting Condi's growth and maturation in office with Hillary's record of underachievement as both first lady and senator from New York. And it reveals how a draft–Condi movement could sweep the secretary of state into the presidency even as she forgoes campaigning to address her responsibilities as secretary of state.

Download Description

Who will be president in 2008? Many believe that the White House is Hillary Clinton's to lose. As long-time strategists Dick Morris and Eileen McGann reveal in Condi vs. Hillary, however, Hillary's plans for higher office are vulnerable to a challenge from a most unexpected quarter: the Bush administration's secretary of state and former national security advisor, Condoleezza Rice.

Rice is the only figure on the national scene who has the credentials, the credibility, and the charisma to lead the GOP in 2008. And, as this first book on the subject demonstrates, a race between these two commanding, but very different, women is a very real possibility -- and would inevitably prove one of the most fascinating and important races in American history.

Blending insider insight and political foresight, Condi vs. Hillary surveys the strengths and weaknesses of the two candidates, finding persuasive clues about what we might expect from each of them as a chief executive. It traces their very different childhoods -- Hillary Rodham's in unchallenging suburban comfort, Condi Rice's in Birmingham, Alabama, during the civil rights era -- and finds in each the roots of their latter-day selves. It explores their career in public life -- Hillary's as an ambitious liberal who attached herself to a governor on the rise, Condi's as a woman of broad and deep talents who has earned her own way. It turns a discerning eye on how each has spent her time in government, contrasting Condi's growth and maturation in office with Hillary's record of underachievement as both first lady and senator from New York. And it reveals how a draft-Condi movement could sweep the secretary of state into the presidency even as she forgoes campaigning to address her responsibilities as secretary of state.

America, in short, may be on the verge of a perfect storm of twenty-first-century politics, pitting two of America's most popular -- and controversial -- women against each other, and offering Americans a choice between fulfilling the ambitions of one of our most polarizing figures . . . or changing history by electing not just the first woman, but also the first African American woman, to lead the free world into the future.

Customer Reviews:

Condi vs ?.......2007-02-28

My interpretation of this read is that in the author's opinion it is Condi hands down. His support of Condi came shining through. I had hoped the book would offer more thought provoking points as to why this would be "The Next Great Presidential Race." I think a more appropriate title would have been " Condi, The Next Great President"

Ridiculously biased.......2007-01-12

This is pretty much just another anti-hillary book, and a cry to the republican party to vote for Condi..

The authors mention nothing about Condi's faults and weaknesses as president.

Thought-Provoking.......2006-10-01

This book is a few things:

- An overview of the political lives of Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice. After a comparison (the overviews are objective), Rice's accomplishments seem to crush Hillary's into the ground.

- How Condoleezza Rice could be nominated, what her advantages are, and why she's the perfect antidote to a Hillary candidacy.

- How the 2004 Election changed the landscape of politics.

- How Rice could overcome some obstacles facing her nomination.

- What the jobs of Secretary of State and Senator hold for Rice and Clinton, respectively.

- How Hillary and Condi could each be elected and what kinds of presidents they'd likely make.

- Why Condi and Hillary would be the obvious (despite popular belief for Rice) frontrunners in their parties, if each decides to run. McCain and Giuliani would never get nominated if Condi ran -- Morris explains why, and makes a very convincing case.

Dick Morris is second to none in political analysis in this country. It wasn't an accident that Bill Clinton won the presidency as a little-known governor from Arkansas under his counsel. This is a call-to-arms to nominate Condoleezza Rice in 2008, and a fascinating look at politics in 2004.

Political junkies and anyone considering the fact that Condoleezza Rice may make a fine President should read this ASAP.

junk.......2006-08-03

I bought this book with the thought that it might be an intelligent discussion about the prospect of such a matchup. Instead, it turned out to be just another anti-Hillary book, and retrned it to get my money back before I finished reading it.The author's core belief is that Condi would make a much better president than Hillary because she'll have had more close-to-being-president experience. But who's to say that she'll have had a successful experience? So far, as Secretary of State, she's had one failure after another, which was to be predicted, for if the world doesn't like Bush, why should they like her? I won't say that Hillary would be a great president, but the material in this book was unfairly slanted to present much of a good dialogue.

Well-written analysis, but you can see the bias immediately.......2006-07-26

I know this is a book written by (at least) two people, but you can see Dick Morris' influence throughout. Here is the deal on this book. I think this is a nice analysis of the 2008 presidential race, and the issues involving these two amazing women candidates, Condi Rice and Hillary Clinton. I learned more about them, and I liked the head to head comparisons. This analysis suffers from two things, however. First, Dick Morris knows Senator Clinton much better than he knows Secretary of State Rice. That is obvious, and that influences the balance of this analysis.

Second, Morris doesn't seem to like Hillary very much. This also is obvious, and affects his analysis.

Nevertheless, for folks interested in these two potential (real for Clinton, possible for Rice) presidential candidates, this book will warm you up.

For me, I hope both decide to run.

Condi Vs. Hillary, The Next Great Presidential Race

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Condi Vs. Hillary, The Next Great Presidential Race
Dick & McGANN, Eileen MORRIS
Manufacturer: Regan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MWUVPK

Condi vs. Hillary: The Next Great Presidential Race (SIGNED)

Average customer rating:

Condi vs. Hillary: The Next Great Presidential Race (SIGNED)
Dick and Eileen McGann Morrison
Manufacturer: ReganBooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M9OFA0

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