Rating: 
Summary: A Well Organized Drawing Text With Wacky Flourishes
Review: Mark Kistler could have written this book just for me. I quit taking art after 5th grade because the teachers didn't seem to grade fairly (how can you grade art?)
The point that Mark Kistler makes is that often teachers give a kid a pencil and paper and say "go ahead -- draw something". But they wouldn't give a kid the checkbook and pencil and say, "go ahead, balance it." Not unless they had given the child some basics of math and an understanding about what checkbooks are, do, and represent. Mark Kistler's Draw Squad teaches you the basics of art and then he shows you how to put them together to make some cool pictures. (Actually, he gets you drawing in the first lesson, not just "practicing your scales")
He gives you a self test so you can compare your before and after work. He also shows some wonderfully inspiring samples from other Draw Squad Members (people studying Mark Kistler's method -- and graduates of his course). I noticed that he not only teaches you fabulous cartooning he also introduces you to 3D and Eshcer-like artwork that you too can learn to create. (You should see what he teaches 8 year olds to draw.)
The Draw Squad encourages the participant to build a fanciful world of high tech and futuristic cities, unibears (teddy bear with a horn on its head) or to make up new creatures. Mark Kistler has broken the steps to learning to draw into bite sized chunks and gives you specific goals. Instead of saying, " go home and practice this,"(sort of a nebulous request if you ask me) he'll say "see how many tables you can stack on top of each other in your drawing. The current record for most tables stacked is ...".
Mark Kistler uses humor and wacky slogans to help break the "creativity crunch". He feels that often our young people tend to digest way too much TV and don't learn to strengthen their own creative skills (I personally fear that my beloved internet may be seducing young minds in the same way). This is why he comes up with comically ridiculous phrases to help the children (largely who his audience is; even though kids at heart like me can really relate)"draw outside of the box". If the children follow his lead and combine unexpected phrases or images or ideas, then they are exercising their creativity and making themselves better problem solvers (and better artists) in the process. Mark Kistler's book is a must buy for parents or teachers who want to give their children confidence that they can draw. It's also a must buy for 5th grade art dropouts like myself. I use the computer to generate art but with the help of Mark Kistler's very fun, and inspiring and organized teaching method, I feel like I can create my own artwork instead of relying on using clipart.
PS If you're looking at other drawing or cartooning texts read this one first then go to How To Draw The Marvel Way by Stan Lee
PPS Teachers will find about 40 pages of advice from Mark Kistler and other teachers on how to go about using his lessons in their own classroom. This is a very friendly and approachable text.
Rating:
Summary: A fun art-couse in a book! wonderful!
Review: This book isnt typical...and a bit hard to describe :) It teaches things that most dont, particulary about perspective which is lacking in most if not all childrens book. The artist, Mark Kistler, does vidoes about drawing that i have only seen in my son;s school and his sense of humor comes thru in the videos and the books. This book teaches basics in a TOTALLY fun way that enables children to imagine ways to come up with pictures of their own...as opposed to most childrens books that mostly only teach one way to do a drawing. This book releases creativity rather than narrows it. I think it is a book for kids with some drawing experience only becuase the book is large and as opposed to other books there is a fair amount of text...which might turn kids off... i thought my son wouldnt like it...but to my surprize its his favorite book...he goes thru it front to back..building skills.... and i see in the things he draws when he doesnt have the book in front of him...that this book has had a positive effect on his ability to imagine perspective, shading...and just his imagination. great book
Rating:
Summary: A fun art-couse in a book! wonderful!
Review: This book isnt typical...and a bit hard to describe :) It teaches things that most dont, particulary about perspective which is lacking in most if not all childrens book. The artist, Mark Kistler, does vidoes about drawing that i have only seen in my son;s school and his sense of humor comes thru in the videos and the books. This book teaches basics in a TOTALLY fun way that enables children to imagine ways to come up with pictures of their own...as opposed to most childrens books that mostly only teach one way to do a drawing. This book releases creativity rather than narrows it. I think it is a book for kids with some drawing experience only becuase the book is large and as opposed to other books there is a fair amount of text...which might turn kids off... i thought my son wouldnt like it...but to my surprize its his favorite book...he goes thru it front to back..building skills.... and i see in the things he draws when he doesnt have the book in front of him...that this book has had a positive effect on his ability to imagine perspective, shading...and just his imagination. great book
Rating:
Summary: The best book on drawing I've ever seen!
Review: Way to go, Mark Kistler!!!! I've always enjoyed art & drawing, but never had much confidence in myself because I was never really taught the basics in a way I could understand and/or enjoy. I've been out of college for quite a few years & I recently picked up this book & started drawing again. This book is definately one of the best purchases I've ever made. Terrific for young & old alike!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: The best book on drawing I've ever seen!
Review: Way to go, Mark Kistler!!!! I've always enjoyed art & drawing, but never had much confidence in myself because I was never really taught the basics in a way I could understand and/or enjoy. I've been out of college for quite a few years & I recently picked up this book & started drawing again. This book is definately one of the best purchases I've ever made. Terrific for young & old alike!!!!!!
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