Written with a clear understanding of the needs and purposes of amateur artists, this guide presents the fundamentals of sketching in easy-to-follow terms. It covers the basics in a friendly, informal manner, offering aspiring artists a direct route to the creative pleasures and satisfaction of drawing.
Author and illustrator Clayton Hoagland begins with general rules and principles, including discussions of materials, procedures, subject matter, techniques, composition, and perspective. His detailed instructions explain how to draw trees, water, clouds, rocks, houses, and figures. After surveying the foundations of sketching, Hoagland encourages readers with suggestions for building upon their new knowledge and achieving a variety of effects. Almost every page features illustrations that reinforce the text, including the author's sketches as well as drawings by Rembrandt, Goya, Homer, van Gogh, and other masters.