How To Draw From Imagination Book

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· 3,184 ratings · 22 reviews

Start your review of Keys to Drawing with Imagination: Strategies and Exercises for Gaining Confidence and Enhancing Your Creativity

Feb 02, 2010 Parka rated it it was amazing

(More pictures at parkablogs.com)

This book is from Bert Dodson, who's also the author of the book Keys to Drawing which I like. He's not just an artist but also a teacher. He has studied and taught creativity for over twenty years, and through this book you can really feel that.

(More pictures at parkablogs.com)

Keys to Drawing with Imagination is a book that focuses on the thinking, more specifically on thinking differently and conjuring ideas. The many short concise exercises provided comes with practical tips that you can mix and match on your own. He makes drawing fun with the interesting and stimulating exercises.

For beginners, well, this is not a technical drawing technique book with step-by-step tutorials, so you won't learn any technical drawing skills.

This book can be picked up at any time to any page for some inspiration, no matter how many times you've read it before.

It's recommended to artists who want to have more fun and freedom with their art, or who have constant drawing blocks.

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Jun 07, 2009 Reuel rated it liked it

Accurately subtitled, "strategies and exercises for gaining confidence and enhancing creativity." Includes strategies for using doodles by multiplying, reversing,inverting and mirror imaging; stretching, enlarging and shrinking, deliberate distortion--with and without distortion grids, combining dissimilar images; variations on a theme, evolution of an idea, making metaphors, combining words and pictures, combining bizarre images with very realistic details (e.g. Trina Schart Hyman), illustratin Accurately subtitled, "strategies and exercises for gaining confidence and enhancing creativity." Includes strategies for using doodles by multiplying, reversing,inverting and mirror imaging; stretching, enlarging and shrinking, deliberate distortion--with and without distortion grids, combining dissimilar images; variations on a theme, evolution of an idea, making metaphors, combining words and pictures, combining bizarre images with very realistic details (e.g. Trina Schart Hyman), illustrating dreams, drawing sequences and series, interpreting nature, mining other cultures for ideas, stylizing and symbolizing (taken from Mayan & Aztec art), flattening and posterizing (taken from art nouveau), simplifying and abstracting (taken from Persian miniatures and rugs), self-portraits, choosing a theme for a series of works...and more. ...more

Mar 31, 2016 Jen rated it it was amazing

This book inspired me to use my creativity when making art, something I never feel comfortable doing. Bert Dodson teaches you drawing techniques that spur your creativity. It gives you license to try things and to like your own ideas without worrying about whether other people do.

Innocent seeing requires that we be
hyper-literal about shapes. Everything has a shape, but we must never
assume in advance that we already
know what it is. Each shape is unique
in a particular light and from a
particular angle. When we look at
things as shapes, every shape is new.

Apr 29, 2009 Meredith rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: people who want to draw

An out-of-the-box approach, this book introduces drawing in an unpatronising manner that is really likable. I recommend!

Nov 26, 2018 Krista rated it it was amazing

This is my favorite drawing book. It has changed my drawing practice. I draw something and then I react to it. And then maybe react to it again. I find my drawing practice much more satisfying and less frustrating.

This book speaks to me as a programmer. It gets me thinking algorithmically. It gets me thinking about systems and modifying systems. It gets me invested in process and makes me less precious about the end result. I hope to continue returning to this book and its exercises year after y

I just decided to finally read to it cover to cover, but I have referenced the first half many times.

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Jul 10, 2019 Deborah rated it it was amazing

A fun, inspiring book on drawing. It starts simply enough, with doodling and teaches how to go past simple ideas in order to develop your ideas into detailed concepts. Great for beginners and those wanting to take their drawings to the next level. A great reference book but also inspirational for those stuck where they are artistically.

Sep 24, 2016 Jessica rated it really liked it

I don't like the spiral binding, but I can't fault the number and variety of exercises in the book. I don't like the spiral binding, but I can't fault the number and variety of exercises in the book. ...more

This is the best "in the industry" book I have fallen into in the last few years. It is written very freely, which means that I also read it for pleasure. Of course, the main task of the author is to teach the reader how to draw. But how does he do it! Already reading the introduction, I thought that I like this guy. There is also a place in the book to present portraits of exciting artists, graphic designers and cartoonists. I recommend it to those who want to improve their skills and start the This is the best "in the industry" book I have fallen into in the last few years. It is written very freely, which means that I also read it for pleasure. Of course, the main task of the author is to teach the reader how to draw. But how does he do it! Already reading the introduction, I thought that I like this guy. There is also a place in the book to present portraits of exciting artists, graphic designers and cartoonists. I recommend it to those who want to improve their skills and start their adventure with a pencil and eraser. I wonder how many of you will agree with my opinion. I wish you success and fun. ...more

Oct 01, 2011 Dave Terry rated it it was amazing

Awesome book, great ideas and concepts. Starts from doodling and expands from there. Every page builds on the page before with small assignments to try. Like no other drawing book. I especially like it because it focuses on pen and ink but includes color ideas. Also shows how other artists approach the concept. This is a must-have for students and seasoned artists alike for boosting your creativity.

Nov 28, 2009 Sheila rated it it was amazing

With every art book the maximum benefit is achieved by doing the exercises. He teaches you to evolve art from doodles and progress into more and more defined work. He challenges you to develop and access your imagination by distortion, contrast, exploring microcosms, patterns. He encourages to be non-judgemental and explore. A great book for new artists and established alike.

Sep 23, 2009 Andee rated it really liked it

As an art teacher, I find this book extremely useful. There are not lesson plans inside, but I have pulled many ideas and turned them into lesson plans to inspire creativity and help students feel more creative.

Jul 09, 2013 Amélie rated it it was amazing

My favorite drawing book : Bert Dodson is a great teacher. I really improve my style.

Jan 20, 2009 Todd rated it liked it

Seems like an excellent book, hard to find an "out there" book based on creative drawing. Seems like an excellent book, hard to find an "out there" book based on creative drawing. ...more

Nov 29, 2012 Brittany Sanford rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: artists

Great exercises and technique for artist and doodlers. I used this for one of my art classes to help inspire and challenge me

Aug 04, 2012 Jolene rated it it was amazing

Great exercise to for gaining skills and a new way of looking at your world and how to draw it.

Feb 08, 2011 LemontreeLime rated it really liked it

an excellent fun book, good for doodling and daydreaming. kind of like a cookbook you pull out when you dont know what youre hungry for yet.

Apr 22, 2011 Angie Lisle rated it really liked it

I got a lot of nifty ideas from this book. The material challenges me to think from a new perspective.

Dodson is an excellent, inspiring teacher. Well worth doing every exercise in the book. Progess guaranteed.

Bert Dodson is a painter, teacher, author and illustrator. He has illustrated over 80 books for children . He is the author of Keys To Drawing ( North Light Books, 1985), Keys to Drawing with Imagination, (2006) and NUKE A Book of Cartoons, vols. I and II.( McFarland and Co., 1986 and 1988).He co-authored, with noted biologist, Mahlon Hoagland, The Way Life Works ( Times Books, 1995), and Intimate Bert Dodson is a painter, teacher, author and illustrator. He has illustrated over 80 books for children . He is the author of Keys To Drawing ( North Light Books, 1985), Keys to Drawing with Imagination, (2006) and NUKE A Book of Cartoons, vols. I and II.( McFarland and Co., 1986 and 1988).He co-authored, with noted biologist, Mahlon Hoagland, The Way Life Works ( Times Books, 1995), and Intimate Strangers; The Story of Unseen Life on Earth (ASM Press, 1999, Needam, et all). He was animation designer for the four part PBS television series, Intimate Strangers (1998). He illustrated over 30 opera stories for children, a series commissioned by The New York Metropolitan Opera.His work appears in Vermont Life, Northern Woodlands, and Dartmouth Medicine. He regularly exhibits his watercolors and drawings. He has drawn and painted over 200 portraits. He lives in West Fairlee, Vermont, and works in his studio in Bradford, Vermont. ...more