Debt-Free Art Degree

October 1, 2024

In a crowded market of how-to-draw books, artist Bucci's volume stands out for its step-by-step explanation of how to draw figures. His book is structured as a series of lessons that focus on blocking out the form, using gesture to highlight movement and energy, utilizing perspective to give dimension, and learning to see bodies in simple shapes and types of strokes that can quickly convey the character of a subject. The lessons are heavily illustrated with photos of figure models and the author himself; their poses demonstrate examples of drawing techniques. One chapter shows readers how to draw a head; it incorporates all the previous lessons and enables readers to create more detailed images of people. For advanced artists, there are chapters that focus on creating dimensionality through light, shadow, and color. The book's shortest sections offer a glimpse into more complex techniques, which will likely encourage further reading. VERDICT An accessible guide for budding artists that shows how drawing figures and animation are interlinked. This volume opens up the experience of figure-drawing to an audience that may not have the opportunity to attend live classes.--Rebecca Brody

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