Fabulous Figures (I Heart Drawing) Flexibound – Sticker Book, May 1, 2018

As someone who likes to draw female faces and who also hates putting in the effort you need to become good? I am so glad I found Jane Davenport. I first found her Drawing and Painting Beautiful Faces: A Mixed-Media Portrait Workshop book. I was searching for tips for what I usually just call "art journal girls". My library had a copy. After reading it there, the hubby needed to add an item to get free shipping - I showed him that book and he announced that if he had found it alone he would have bought it for me as it was just my style.So when she came out with a figure drawing book, I knew I needed it. I did say I don't like putting in the effort right? It's probably better to say that I don't like the guides, rulers, rules. I have tried the mark this spot on your page, and that spot, and draw a circle here, and every other thing that every traditional how to art book suggests and I hate it. I want to just put pencil or pen to paper and draw and if the eyes aren't level? Well I'll hate it, but at least I tried. And I guess you can call me out because isn't using hearts as guides kind of against how I just said I draw? It is. But it's also so simple I can do it without the templates. I can just draw a couple of hearts and have the foundation for a body. I've always struggled with drawing in general but as someone who likes to draw those more "Whimsical" or "Cartoony" or not realistic faces it's limited me. Branching out into the body has always gone poorly. But at least now I do feel like I can draw a less than disastrous general body shape. That's a start. And it is just a start. While I have read the whole book, I've only practiced very little. The fact that a few attempts already boosted my confidence in my ability to someday move beyond "Well it's not a disaster" into "I love it" says all you need to know.If, like me, the traditional rules of drawing are just not for you, I'd suggest this book if you want easy to follow tips for improving your figures.

I have Jane’s other book on Faces which is also wonderful. But this book is really special in several ways. First the cover and binding are flexible but heavy enough to be sturdy, and oh so very Jane, with such lovely colors and beautiful art. The feel is like slick magazine paper but Heavenly heavier. She has so many lovely examples to see, I think I counted about 25 in full color and full page, I’m tempted to cut up the book and frame them. But I could NEVER do that to Jane’s book! I have a problem with a mean inner Critic and Jane has such a way of talking me down off the ledge. Her system of hearts is very useful and helps to reduce the trauma of facing the empty page. Each chapter has lessons and marvelous tips and tricks on most every aspect of how to draw and color female figures. And she has some bonuses, like how to use watercolors that she calls waterdrawing. I could never figure out what the heck to do with water colors untill I read her instructions and then the lightbulb finally went off. Ok, now I get it. Already playing with the stickers and using and enjoying this really useful guidebook. Thanks Jane for holding my hand, I needed that! I am recovering from the trauma of formal art classes I took in college and finally getting to experience the fun I wanted from taking art in the first place. I admit that I am a bit lazy and unwilling to spend many hours on shading one drawing, with Jane’s help I get great results with the amount of effort I am willing to spend. I think that is the best of all worlds. I would say go for it, you will really enjoy this FAB art book.

Nice

I did order this book. I am embarrassed to say I haven't used this book to its fullest. I am strong with drawing faces. I have more trouble drawing the rest of the body. But the way that JD explains how to simply draw basic figures...basic poses...using the heart as a foundation is really brilliant. I think almost anyone with a little practice can master it. From this foundation, if you want to do more advanced, more formal "art-class" studies and less stylized figure drawing, of only pretty waif-like women, that while fun to create, may not be enough...this will definitely give you confidence and a great "jumping off point!" I'm gonna go get the book and do some more practicing!

This book is insanely wonderful. It has everything I want to do know how to do, with tons of clear explanations and LOTS of inspiring drawings.I have tried to draw figures for years without seeing the progress I like, and this book not only gets me there faster -- with the VERY helpful punch-out drawing templates included in the book (I had to make my own before) -- and it also presents exercises to make practice actually fun. This is essential because the secret to drawing figures is 1) getting proportion down and 2) lots and lots of boring practice. Jane has solved both these tricky problems with this book and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I am looking forward to spending hours and hours playing -- not working -- with this book to hone my techniques.I've taken a lot of Jane's classes and read her first art tutorial book, Beautiful Faces, and this book if anything is a capstone to all of her teaching -- it not only surpasses them, but includes enough background so that anyone could step into this without having ever experienced her teaching before, and not miss a beat.

I really enjoyed this book its helping me lot downside it Arrived damaged only complaint. I would rated it more if it wasn't for the damage