1vwinsloe
My 10 year old grandson has done a few sports, and some music, but the only thing that seems to have stuck is drawing and coloring. His birthday is coming up, and I always give him a book in addition to money for his college fund.
Any art teachers out there? Librarians? Can you direct me to a book suitable for a 10 year old boy that would teach drawing?
Thanks in advance.
Any art teachers out there? Librarians? Can you direct me to a book suitable for a 10 year old boy that would teach drawing?
Thanks in advance.
22wonderY
There’s an art teacher on TikTok who is heavily marketing her book
This is Not a Sketchbook, It's an Art Class
by Lauren Horn.
It’s expensive. Myself, I’d like to examine it.
Her examples from her students are impressive.
This is Not a Sketchbook, It's an Art Class
by Lauren Horn.
It’s expensive. Myself, I’d like to examine it.
Her examples from her students are impressive.
3nessreader
Quentin Blake who, it feels like, did every single childrens book illustration in the 70s and 80s (he did those chicken scratch pics in Roald Dahl) has one called Drawing for the Artistically Undiscovered . It's cheerful and unintimidating and has prompts for a child.
4reconditereader
>3 nessreader: That sounds like a great find!
5GraceCollection
There are a million art books on the market, but I wouldn't say they are created anywhere close to equal in quality. 'How to Draw Manga' and 'How to Draw Cats & Dogs', for example, are incredibly common, and you'll likely find hundreds or maybe even thousands of books under those or similar titles, many aimed to children your grandson's age.
If he has the patience and reading level for an 'adult' book, I would recommend Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, or the updated edition of such, but to my knowledge this great guide has, unfortunately, never been adapted for a younger audience. (If you aren't sure, I would skip it — a good quality book which is read and studied will always teach more than an excellent quality book which is never opened or which is opened once and then put on a shelf to be forgotten). I would recommend going to a physical store to purchase a book like what you're wanting, so you can flip through the pages and see what the book is actually trying to teach.
Books which contain a collection of many step-by-step tutorials on how to draw many very specific pictures, people, or objects, are popular but not actually very helpful for learning art. A good art education involves exercises which are meant to hone your 'artist's eye', or the ability to break an object (any object!) into composite shapes and lines, exercises which are meant to help you control and develop your hand-eye coordination and accuracy/confidence in the stroke of your pencil (or pen, stylus, etc.), and exercises meant to teach you how to use specific techniques, not how to copy specific pictures. Some exercises I like include contour drawing/negative space focus, drawing an image upside-down, timed drawing (especially timed figure drawing), and practicing symmetry — like drawing a set of curves or the edge of a vase, and then trying to draw the other side perfectly symmetrical to the first.
The second kind of book can sometimes offer steps, but will generally offer more text explaining what techniques are being used to develop the drawing, and how to use those techniques when drawing something other than the figure on the page.
If he has the patience and reading level for an 'adult' book, I would recommend Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, or the updated edition of such, but to my knowledge this great guide has, unfortunately, never been adapted for a younger audience. (If you aren't sure, I would skip it — a good quality book which is read and studied will always teach more than an excellent quality book which is never opened or which is opened once and then put on a shelf to be forgotten). I would recommend going to a physical store to purchase a book like what you're wanting, so you can flip through the pages and see what the book is actually trying to teach.
Books which contain a collection of many step-by-step tutorials on how to draw many very specific pictures, people, or objects, are popular but not actually very helpful for learning art. A good art education involves exercises which are meant to hone your 'artist's eye', or the ability to break an object (any object!) into composite shapes and lines, exercises which are meant to help you control and develop your hand-eye coordination and accuracy/confidence in the stroke of your pencil (or pen, stylus, etc.), and exercises meant to teach you how to use specific techniques, not how to copy specific pictures. Some exercises I like include contour drawing/negative space focus, drawing an image upside-down, timed drawing (especially timed figure drawing), and practicing symmetry — like drawing a set of curves or the edge of a vase, and then trying to draw the other side perfectly symmetrical to the first.
The second kind of book can sometimes offer steps, but will generally offer more text explaining what techniques are being used to develop the drawing, and how to use those techniques when drawing something other than the figure on the page.
6vwinsloe
>2 2wonderY: That does look great, and it seems that it has been broken down into a series, but I think that it might be too old for him. Definitely something to consider in the future if he sticks with it.
>3 nessreader: Quentin Blake looks like the thing. There seem to be two versions on Amazon: one published in 2019 and one published in 2020. I will have to see what the difference is, if any. But one of those should do the trick. Thanks.
>5 GraceCollection: I appreciate your input. I was looking at those sorts of books that are geared toward copying things accurately and not technical skills that can be applied in other contexts. I will avoid those.
>3 nessreader: Quentin Blake looks like the thing. There seem to be two versions on Amazon: one published in 2019 and one published in 2020. I will have to see what the difference is, if any. But one of those should do the trick. Thanks.
>5 GraceCollection: I appreciate your input. I was looking at those sorts of books that are geared toward copying things accurately and not technical skills that can be applied in other contexts. I will avoid those.
72wonderY
I thought I had a drawing book on my shelves still.
The Magic Of Drawing has got some neat inspiration and technique practice.
The Magic Of Drawing has got some neat inspiration and technique practice.
8vwinsloe
>7 2wonderY: That book doesn't seem to be still in print.
92wonderY
>8 vwinsloe: Ah. I always shop AbeBooks. It’s available there for $4.15 in very good condition, free shipping.
10vwinsloe
>9 2wonderY: Thanks. I don't generally give used books as birthday gifts. But if he continues on, it might be worth just getting it for him.
