Introduction

Overview

Have you ever doodled creatures on the edges of the phone book while waiting for directory assistance? How many of you have scribbled on a scrap of paper while sitting in a boring meeting?

I would venture to say that almost everyone has at one time or another spent some time drawing the characters and monsters that populate our minds. For a few of us, this random doodling begins to become something more. We take these random images and expand on them until they are more fully realized. For even a smaller number, this drawing becomes a painting. For some, this compulsion to draw and paint the population of our mind ultimately becomes if not our vocation then an activity that we feel almost an obsession to engage in.

This book is for all people who have ever felt the need to put the images in their heads down into a more solid statement to share with others. There is something in this book for you whether you are a complete novice wondering where to begin to draw the characters of your imagination , or whether you are a seasoned professional looking for information to help improve your current skills.

The book is divided into three basic parts . Part I deals with ideas and is about things of a more cerebral nature. It covers such topics as how to get ideas and how to get them out so that others may see them. It serves as an outline for a method of turning on the tap in your brain and letting the ideas flow and develop. Artists of all levels should understand the chapters in this part.

Part II is about artistic fundamentals that will help you take your ideas to the next step: drawing and painting them so that others may appreciate your efforts. This part is laid out somewhat like a textbook and specifically focuses on things that seem difficult for both beginning and more advanced artists in their struggles with drawing and painting. In most areas, a basic understanding of artistic principles is not needed. Most subjects are covered so that both the beginning and more advanced artist will understand the concepts.

Part III is a series of demonstrations that show how I have handled different subject matter when drawing and painting. This part, which provides demonstrations and tutorials, does not give you an exact formula for duplicating what you are seeing but allows you to work along through the creation process and then use what you have learned in your own work.