Faragasso, the Reilly method and Mastering Drawing

[whatyoumaydo]

Hello.

I was hoping somebody here could give me some insight into the Reilly method and Jack Faragasso's book "Mastering Drawing." I cannot find a copy of the book in my area. None of the local bookstores nor the libraries have it and I would like to take a look through it to see what kind of insights it provides. I just can't bring myself to plop down $40 for a book I've never seen.

I have "Figure Drawing For All Its Worth" by Loomis, "Anatomy and Drawing" by Perard, "The Figure" by Reed as well as as a couple by Bridgman and Jack Hamm. KChen's notes in this forum are excellent and Vilppu's articles over at AWN are great too. All of them offer different ideas and solutions; would "Mastering Drawing" illuminate anything differently?

I am particularly interested in the parts on drawing from the imagination and drapery. I searched and found the thread saying the book wasn't that good, but I could use a little more info than that.

Thank you.

whatyoumaydo

[MadSamoan]

It's an ok book, but I wouldn't list it high on a priority list of books to read. There are much better books on the information that he covers. For drapery, you're better off referring to Bridgeman's notes on the subject and Mastering Drawing only touches on figure invention. For figure invention, Vilppu and Vanderpoel will do in addition to learning your anatomy. If anything, the best information in Mastering Drawing is on rhythmical relationships and it covers it to the point of overkill and rhythmical relationships are mostly useful if you're drawing optically (drawing what you see) instead of inventively.

You have a pretty good base of books so far in addition to Chen's note, but I would add a couple of books though based on your interest in Reilly.

The Famous Artist Course series of books
The Human Figure by John Vanderpoel
Drawing To Free Your Mind by Ted Seth Jacobs

Some of the Famous Artist books are still in print in revised forms, the Vanderpoel book is only 8 dollars and Ted Seth Jacob's book is around 25 dollars. Jacobs was one of Reilly's top students and is an excellent draftsman and painter.

Make sure you collect Ron Lemen's (fred flickstone) tutorials. They're a real nice culmination of alot of the knowledge in many of these books mentioned.

You might even want to check out some of the how-to-draw manga books out there. Japanese manga artists as a whole have very strong figure invention skills and have their fundamentals down since much of the material they study come from the same sources we study. If you look past the heavy stylizations and focus on their structure, basic shapes and mannequins, you'll find they're very solid. Some of the books have great chapters on inventing drapery as well.

[tinyhands]

.....

[MadSamoan]

tinyhands: Thanks for the compliment. I do go to the California Art Institute and I was at Watts for a year before that, so I'm sure we were in some of the same classes. I've been studying with Ryan for about two years and I study with Andrew on occasion. The school is still a laid back place that turns out painters now instead of illustrators and there are some really good painters in the making here so it's still an exciting place to be.

[whatyoumaydo]

Madsamoan - thanks for your recomendations. ill chase down those books. they sound better than the Faragasso book.

I am trying to develop my abilities to draw from life as well as communicate my ideas without a reference. do you have any thoughts on perspective books? so many out there look like "how to draw houses" or "architectural rendering the complicated way"

also, i feel that i should mention that i am not a beginner. i have a degree in illustration but ive entered that point in my life where i need to continue my education as an artist on my own. so much time in school was spent experimenting and learning, now its time to refine.

i'm just trying to develop myself into a comprehensive artist and draughtsman.

whatyoumaydo

[tinyhands]

blah blah blah