Draw Really Cool Stuff by DuBosque
Six Drawing Books Combined in One Bumper Hard Cover Issue
You don't need much in the way of materials to get started, when you teach yourself to draw from the book Draw Really Cool Stuff, by Doug DuBosque [Hinkler Press, 2000]. It is a step by step instruction manual filled with simple sketching examples. For the sake of simplicity, this book remains in the genre of black and white pencil drawing.
The large volume is divided into six sections which are discreet books in their own right. They have an index and a well referenced "tips and tricks" section relevant to the topic at hand.
Book 1: Draw Ocean Animals
DuBosque verbalises the steps he follows when lightly drawing the under drawing. "Use very light lines at first," he advises, so that you can play the shapes against each other. Keep it light enough so that you can erase lines until you are satisfied with the "below the surface structure" of the drawing. He shows how to finish the drawings with variety and soft subtle nuances, and how to build up form by using patterns that rely on contour. He then suggests ways to shade, finish and clean up the drawings. Kids love these sea creatures. Teachers can use the pages as lessons for topics such as Under The Sea and Organic Shapes. Sea animals are organic and they exist in a fluid environment.
Book 2: How to Draw Cars
This is the perfect lesson to contrast against the previous section about organic shapes. This section of the book is about mechanical shapes and how they fit together. Students learn perspective, shading and a few tips about style. Once students have experimented and explored, show them the movie Cars and let them go wild with creativity. The tips and tricks section has a wealth of ideas to help them learn how to create the impression of action.
Book 3: Drawing Desert Animals
This chapter is about exploring context, environment and movement. Whether the student uses sharp or blunt pencils takes on importance. DuBosque suggests blunt for gentle shading and sharp pencils for hatching and textured line work. Because expressivity requires a relaxed, responsive attitude, DuBosque suggests timed gesture drawings as a way of becoming more natural when portraying this subject matter.
Book 4: Draw Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs are dopey. They are big and cumbersome and solid. To capture this docility, DuBosque concentrates on rods and joints. He shows the student how to make the drawing look like it is solidly moving along. He talks about building form into the drawing. His whole emphasis is on form in this booklet, and he talks about backgrounds, foregrounds and the illusion of space.
Book 5: Draw Rainforest Animals
Frogs, lizards and toucans all become whimsical subject matter as DuBosque enhances his skillfully executed compositions by illustrating camouflage and cohabitation. In this way he shows students how to make drawing interesting. The attention of the viewer is arrested while he or she unpacks and unweaves the intricacies of his natural designs.
Book 6: How to Draw IInsects
Things that have 6 legs find their way into this volume. A close-up look at these cute little critters reveals personality and flamboyant form. These insects make a grand finale for the book because they combine all of the elements described in the chapters above. The shell and claws of the insects contrast against the fluidity and graceful transparency of wings. Hairiness contrasts against slick tough shell. And yet previous instructions are as relevant here as it were to all of the other books. Continually build form by layering contours and your drawings will be solid convincing and realistic, whilst at the same time soft and graceful.
Keep this volume in your classroom as a ready reference. Your students will be able to build worlds and to illustrate stories within these worlds. Allow the students to select from the vast array. This will boost their self motivation and their self reliance. There is nothing like this kind of mastery to boost the self esteem.
