Freehand Sketching

As an architect I have been keeping a sketchbook for over 30 years, but I felt my techniques had become a little stale and I set out to find a book that would push me to try new techniques. This book perfectly fit the bill. It has specific hands-on exercises that lead you step by step into the techniques he is trying to develop. The exercises are well developed and the techniques he teaches can be accomplished by almost anyone with a little practice. This book is not about ten different ways to sketch with pencil, pen, watercolor, etc. The focus is completely on how to sketch effectively with a pen on paper, and this focus gives the book a strong point of view and makes it an effective teaching tool.

This book gets down to the essence of live, line drawing. The author is extremely helpful in getting the reader past his fears by giving encouraging words and giving great examples. One can easily progress with his advice, and change one's attitude from being hesitant to celebratory. A great place to start if you want to get past initial personally-imposed restrictions. This book, above all things, teaches courage--courage to draw and courage to express.

THE BEST!! So HELPFULLL!

Upon reading the first few pages I was able to sketch a freehand image of my own hand - something I had never attempted in the past, and it was actually recognizable since I followed his suggestions for observation.

I love his book. I love the drawings. I started on page one and I think I am at page 68. Big difference between the first one and this last one that I have done. I'm not all the way thru the book but I am getting close! Really have enjoyed it and learned a bunch.

This is one of the few books I wish a had when I was just starting my art training. Paul Laseau does an excellent job getting the reader immediately focused on which skills need to be mastered at any given step and explains how to get from point A to point B in the most efficient way possible. All you need is a pen and a few sheets of paper. This book delivers, as long as the student does the work and no time or energy is ever wasted. This is one very impressive little book.

This book was recommended to me by a Grad student who was my T.A. the previous semester. I wasn't able to purchase it until the next semester, but the timing is perfect. The exercises fit perfectly the needs I have at the moment to improve my sketching techniques. It's not very big, or long, but the price is right and I've learned a lot not only in technique, but how I see the world around me.

Decent but limited learning device