How to improve at drawing

Gr 7 Up-McMillan begins the first book with a spread each on the history of drawing, equipment, perspective, color and textures, and composition. These explanations are too short to be of use to beginners, but are good reminders for practiced artists. Likewise, the second book has one spread each for history, jewelry around the world, beads, equipment, findings, etc. The introductory pages are more comprehensive than those in the drawing book and offer a good deal of useful information. Each book has step-by-step instructions for a variety of attractive projects. The drawing book has, for each project, a series of four to six preliminary sketches that show the progression from first line to complete outline, but it is left to the artist to add the final shading. The written instructions in Jewelry are accompanied by sharp color photographs that help clarify each step. Kathryn Temple's Art for Kids: Drawing (Sterling, 2005) has a more detailed explanation of basic art principles like perspective, texture, and shading. Thiranut Boonyadhistarn's Beading: Bracelets, Barrettes and Beyond (Captsone, 2006) is a shorter introduction to beading for beginners. For those who want a little more challenge, McMillan's books are good choices.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.