Does Walt Stanchfield's "Gesture" PDF have the same content as "Drawn to Life"?

[armando]

I just downloaded Walt Stanchfield's "Gesture Drawing for Animation" PDF. Haven't looked through it yet. Is it's content basically the same as the two "Drawn to Life" books? I saw one example on templeofthecamels which was "lazy lines" and some other place had some perspective tips, really basic stuff I don't feel like paying for.

[janni]

the books are far more extensive. i think the pdf bootlegs that you could find online until a while ago (wonder where you got yours since the creator of the pdf took it down since she learned that don hahn and mrs. stanchfield are putting together the book) had 60 something handouts. the books collect 217 handouts on 750 something pages. the books are realy realy great. a treasure chest for anybody who's interested in good drawing.

the lazy lines chapter and the simple perspective breakdown are both gold btw. and it's not basic at all. it's like the clear sillhouettes stuff. everybody knows it - only a few understand it and do it right. but if you don't like the stuff in your pdf chances are high you wont like the books. so better save the money.

[Jonas Heirwegh]

To be honest I find it one of the best books (pdf) on drawing in general. So I defenitely gonna try to pick up the books on amazon.

Especially on gesture it's one of the best around no doubt.

[Asatira]

I have the first book, and plan to get the second. I believe the PDF has much of the same content, but books naturally have a lot more and the image quality is generally pretty good (mind, both were created from photocopies he'd put together, so I'm sure there's little to be done on some drawings). I think the second book may have content not covered in the online PDFs, but it's been a while since I looked at them.

[armando]

Looks like I'm going to have to buy them.

You can find the "gesture" pdf on google, just put the title then either pdf, rapidshare, or megaupload, I don't remember what I put but it'll be on the first page.

Thing is I just wasn't that impressed with the "lazy lines", there are several concepts in there that he doesn't bother explaining , he just kind of gives the self-help Tony Robinsesque overview. Still the chapter titles look promising, and there are hundreds of pages and good drawings, I figure I'm bound to learn something.

[Xeon_OND]

I just downloaded this book today and it has 214 freaking pages! :D

[Jonas Heirwegh]

I read the whole pdf and I consider it one of the best books on drawing out there.

I wonder how much new stuff is there in those two books on amazon?

[Parka81]

The two volumes of books are really highly recommended for any artists and animators.

I've both and the pdf. Each book has over 400 pages of content.

It's totally worth the money and not even that expensive.

[p sage]

I have both books, and have yet to find them very instructive.

They're full of mostly anecdotal information and hints about what to do in very specific situations with specific characters.

That doesn't mean they're NOT good books; it's just that I have yet to find anything in them of immediate use.

The books certainly don't fill any kind of "desktop reference" type of need, and they're not good for just picking up and rifling through. I suppose that if you had a specific problem and knew where to look, you'd find some good info in them.

[Jonas Heirwegh]

I have both books, and have yet to find them very instructive.

They're full of mostly anecdotal information and hints about what to do in very specific situations with specific characters.

That doesn't mean they're NOT good books; it's just that I have yet to find anything in them of immediate use.

The books certainly don't fill any kind of "desktop reference" type of need, and they're not good for just picking up and rifling through. I suppose that if you had a specific problem and knew where to look, you'd find some good info in them.


Hmm I think you are missing the whole point of the book. Did you read everything or just looked at the pictures and read the text above it? ;) It's the total OPPOSITE of very specific situations or characters, I mean wow you can't be more off on this one. He is teaching stuff you can use with anything, in any situation, everywhere, all the time :) It can't be more general, he is talking about all the stuff artists use in comics, animation films, illustration and even old master drawings.....

Those specific hints are just examples of points he's trying to make. In fact the books is very complete, everything in the book is the most valuable information any artist can have. Seriously but if you don't see anything of immediate use in this book you will see it when your older or have more experience. I guess you'll realise sooner or later how brilliant it really is, trust me ;)

It's not a technical book, it will not teach you how to draw muscles or how perspective works or any technical study... This book will teach you how to DRAW, how to tell a story, what's important and what's not so important.
I realized after reading the book that its not the technical aspects that will make for a great drawing. Its the feeling, the story, the guts, etc...

It's one of the best books out there on drawing, simple as that.