Sketchy Business

by April Everett Rowan Public Library

Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating. It is either good or bad. 

-Salvador Dali

For thousands of years, mankind has communicated through pictures drawn on cave walls, architecture, sculpture, and paintings.  Art is a universal language, and is by definition the application of human creative skill and imagination.  According to Dali, drawing is the most honest form of art, raw and unforgiving.  While Dali maintains you cannot cheat--that your work is either good or bad--he never said you have to be inherently good at drawing.  It is possible to teach yourself, or hone your existing skills, without dishonesty to the art.

What do Kahlo, Gauguin, Da Vinci, and Rousseau have in common?  Other than being artists, they were all self-taught.  Autodidacticism, or the act of learning a subject without the benefit of an instructor or formal education, is a concept receiving much attention with the recent introduction of massive open online courses (MOOCs).  MOOCs are online courses aimed at unlimited participation and open access to all via the Internet.  Whether you sign up for a MOOC, watch YouTube videos, or pick up a book, if you want to learn a new skill you must be motivated, disciplined, and invested.

If you are motivated to learn more about drawing, Rowan Public Library has a wide variety of books and DVDs designed to help you refine your skills.  Below is a mix of traditional and nontraditional art books that can be found in our collection.

In Freehand : sketching tips and tricks drawn from art, Helen Birch breaks down basic drawing techniques into bite-sized chunks, and reveals their practical application in examples by contemporary artists.  This pint-sized handbook teaches artists of all skill levels how to find a unique style that can be utilized to make amazing sketches.

Mel Elliott helps “everyone who loved getting covered in paint and glue at school and would secretly love to do it more often” to harness their inner creativity in her book, How to make art: a book of ideas, inspiration, theory and practice.  With in-depth tutorials on how to create funky collages, make cool wonky lettering, and so much more, this book will have you drawing, painting, and coloring in no time!

If you are a nature-loving artist, then you will enjoy peeking at The Organic Artist: make your own paint, paper, pens, pigments, prints, and more from nature by Nick Neddo.  This treasure encourages us to return to the good ol’ days when art was made with all-natural materials, such as charcoal and birch bark. In addition to offering a wide variety of suggestions for using nature as supplies for art, this book also introduces the concepts of awareness and perception that are foundational to the creative process.

Timothy Goodman teaches us how to make art out of a cherished office supply in his book, Sharpie art workshop: techniques & ideas for transforming your world.  Because Sharpies can be used on virtually any surface, are available in five tip widths, and come in more than 30 colors (plus silver metallic), Goodman maintains they are the go-to medium for creative artists.

If colored pencils are more your style, then check out Drawing cute animals in colored pencil by Ai Akikusa.  This book offers simple yet detailed instructions that will help you learn how to draw adorable animals including rabbits, squirrels, pigs, and alpacas (just to name a few).  See how using colored pencils and shading to make animals come to life!

Not feeling very autodidactic?  Move beyond the written word and try a Drawing for the Absolute Beginner class.  In this free six-week online class available through the library’s subscription to Gale Courses, you will learn paper types, drawing styles, rendering techniques, and the basic principles of perspective, layout, design, lighting, volume, and space.  The next session for this course begins October 14, 2015.

We also invite you to join us for a Drawing for Beginners class led by our resident artist, Emma Rose, who will be teaching the basic principles of drawing.  The class will be held at Rowan Public Library’s East Branch (110 Broad Street, Rockwell 28138) on Monday, October 5, 2015 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.  Teens and adults are welcome to attend, and there is no charge.  Visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or call 704-216-7842 for more information.