Walter Foster (1891–1981)

This little book (large in scale) is full of encouragement, even 70 years on!

The lessons are simple in nature, and the advice may be basic, but at every turn are words of encouragement 'O.K. now you try it.', 'It is SO simple, once you understand.'. There is even advice on setting up a studio in your garage or bedroom, and where to place your drawing board. Today the internet image search replaces a *Morgue, but even then, I still keep files of reference material and cuttings because as vast as the world wide web is, it can still feel a little generic at times.

The back page has: a note to Mother, Wife, Dad or Sister:-

Please do not fuss at our pal here, because he or she does not put away their drawing materials after each time they work. They should have a den or corner they can call their own, with a "no tresspassing (sic)" understanding with it and for heavens sake never clean up or destroy what you may consider junk, it might be a prized possession.

now a note to you, my sprouting artist.

If your folks assign a spot to you, see that it is kept orderly and clean, even with your materials out ready for work, and this is necessary because, if you have to get ready each time chances are you will put it off and not work at all. Lay out your work so you can sit down and start right in.

My first corner was in our basement, next to the furnace. Warn in winter cool in summer and no one to bother. There the small foundation was laid that became my life's work. "art is love" they say but may I add worth every moment of it.
good luck and success

This should give you an idea of what sort of book this is.
It is very basic. But firm foundations are built on good basic advice.

These books served me well growing up, and I have fond memories of working studiously from them as a child.

*Morgue a file of collected image source material, cuttings from magazines, your own reference photographs, etc.… (more)