Ed Emberley's Big Green Drawing Book
Ed Emberley
Little, Brown & Company
Nonfiction, YA Art
*****
DESCRIPTION: Using simple step-by-step instructions with basic shapes and lines, learn to draw a host of fun things, featuring the color green!
REVIEW: Not a recent read, but long a nostalgic favorite, I figured it was time to give old Ed his due. These were the first art books I had, and they taught me the first fundamental rule of drawing: simple shapes create pictures. Ed's books sparked enthusiasm for art with their instant gratification and simple step-by-step process. If you have a young child, relative, or friend who is just taking an interest in art, these are the books to get. The lessons require little to no reading, just the ability to follow one step after another; he shows you what shape he adds, and shows you where he adds it. I have particularly fond memories of the little green aliens in this book.
You might also enjoy:
Draw 50 Cats (Lee J. Ames, YA Art - Step-by-step guide to drawing cats)
How to Draw Your Own Story: The Dragon, The Knight, and the Princess (Don Bolognese; YA Art - Trace and draw a story)
How to Draw Dragons and Other Mythical Creatures (Emmett Elvin; YA Art - Easy step-by-step instructions for drawing fantasy animals)
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Ed Emberley's Big Orange Drawing Book
Ed Emberley
Little, Brown & Company
Nonfiction, YA Art
*****
DESCRIPTION: Using simple step-by-step instructions with basic shapes and lines, learn to draw a host of fun things, featuring the color orange!
REVIEW: Another title by Ed Emberley, it, too, teaches very basic lessons for the young artist. I wasn't quite as keen on the orange book, but they were all fun and k illed countless hours in my youth. Like all of his "big" books, he has a little unique alien at the end; the guys in the green book were my faves, but the orange ones were still fun.
You might also enjoy:
Draw 50 Cats (Lee J. Ames, YA Art - Step-by-step guide to drawing cats)
How to Draw Your Own Story: The Dragon, The Knight, and the Princess (Don Bolognese; YA Art - Trace and draw a story)
How to Draw Dragons and Other Mythical Creatures (Emmett Elvin; YA Art - Easy step-by-step instructions for drawing fantasy animals)
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Ed Emberley's Big Purple Drawing Book
Ed Emberley
Little, Brown & Company
Nonfiction, YA Art
*****
DESCRIPTION: Using simple step-by-step instructions with basic shapes and lines, learn to draw a host of fun things, featuring the color purple!
REVIEW: More art fun for the younger set. I have a soft spot for this book because of the little scribbly puffball aliens at the end and the big, relatively complex pirate ship. I must have drawn that thing at least a hundred times...
You might also enjoy:
Draw 50 Cats (Lee J. Ames, YA Art - Step-by-step guide to drawing cats)
How to Draw Your Own Story: The Dragon, The Knight, and the Princess (Don Bolognese; YA Art - Trace and draw a story)
How to Draw Dragons and Other Mythical Creatures (Emmett Elvin; YA Art - Easy step-by-step instructions for drawing fantasy animals)
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Ed Emberley's Drawing Book: Make A World
Ed Emberley
Little, Brown & Company
Nonfiction, YA Art
*****
DESCRIPTION: Using simple step-by-step instructions with basic shapes and lines, learn to draw people, animals, cities... an entire world!
REVIEW: This had so many fun little things to draw that I never got tired of it, though I suspect my parents did.
You might also enjoy:
Draw 50 Cats (Lee J. Ames, YA Art - Step-by-step guide to drawing cats)
How to Draw Your Own Story: The Dragon, The Knight, and the Princess (Don Bolognese; YA Art - Trace and draw a story)
How to Draw Dragons and Other Mythical Creatures (Emmett Elvin; YA Art - Easy step-by-step instructions for drawing fantasy animals)
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