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Product Description
Product Description
For serious beginner to professional-level artists seeking advanced explorations of the conceptual and technical foundations of modern era and contemporary drawing. Drawing has recently experienced a renewal of importance in the art world; in fact, it has rarely been as widely represented in the biennials, art fairs and exhibitions as it is now. Contemporary Drawing explores this resurgence through illuminating discussions on the historical and conceptual underpinnings of contemporary drawing, which are then reinforced and illustrated with specific drawing examples/techniques by modern era masters and leading contemporary artists.
About the Author
Margaret Davidson has taught at the Pratt Fine Arts Center in Washington State, at Indiana University and at the University of Washington. Davidson currently teaches courses in Drawing from Modern Masters, the Aesthetics of Drawing and Advanced Drawing Techniques at the Gage Academy of Art in Seattle, Washington.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was never a painter at school - always told to stop drawing and use more colour - eventually gave up as I obviously wasn't a 'proper' artist. So it's been wonderful to find a book 30yrs later, telling me that yes it actually is art! Lots of interesting pictures in this book, and although I found the text a little on the 'wordy' side, it was informative and thought provoking with it. Super-fast delivery too!
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
excellent ,inspiring and great for professional and amateur alike. No jargon yet not dumbing down either, gives an insight into why the artists choice of material is important, Margaret Contemporary Drawing helps you make better work by encouraging you to think about your mark making and materials before just grabbing the first thing that comes to hand.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Exploring New Ideas in Original Ways
22 April 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Margaret Davidson's New Book, "Contemporary Drawing: Key Concepts and Techniques" is an amazing work. It does something few books of this type do -- it explores new ideas in original ways. First, it elevates the status of drawing. Ms. Davidson shows us that drawing is not an art form second to painting, but an art form in its own right. Second, she talks about formal issues that, as far as I know, have not been covered in as much depth in other drawing guides. For example, the first two chapters of the book, "Surface" and "Mark", talk about the interrelationship between the paper and the drawing instrument used. I particularly liked her discussion of Georges Seurat as the first artist to fully employ the texture of the paper.
This is a book I will be enthusiastically recommending to all my students.
Subsequent chapters correspond to other formal issues contemporary drawing artists must think about, like space, composition, scale, and even intentionality. In so many places I am exposed to new concepts I had not thought about before: mark-making by fire (!), gravity, or propulsion; drawing on both sides of translucent paper, the modern compositional structure of "overallness"; or the truth of the flatness of the surface ... and it goes on. There is also very in-depth information about materials -- about every conceivable type of drawing media and drawing instrument, plus 14 pages on paper alone!
It should be noted that "Contemporary Drawing" is not a "how-to" guide that will teach you how to draw (angles, measuring, proportion, negative space, etc.,), as in the tradition of Betty Edward's "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" or Brian Curtis' "Drawing from Observation." Instead, we are shown how to think like contemporary drawing artists. Ms. Davidson takes us beyond the "what" of drawing (subject matter) and into the realm of the "how" and "why."
This book is also beautifully designed (appropriately) in a very contemporary style. There are something like 90 examples by contemporary drawing artists (including Ms. Davidson's own), plus dozens of other informative photographs and diagrams.
For the serious drawing artist, or even the layperson who wants to get a true glimpse into what picture-making is all about, this book is a must. I hope it becomes the definitive reference on contemporary drawing. It deserves to be.
This is a book I will be enthusiastically recommending to all my students.
Subsequent chapters correspond to other formal issues contemporary drawing artists must think about, like space, composition, scale, and even intentionality. In so many places I am exposed to new concepts I had not thought about before: mark-making by fire (!), gravity, or propulsion; drawing on both sides of translucent paper, the modern compositional structure of "overallness"; or the truth of the flatness of the surface ... and it goes on. There is also very in-depth information about materials -- about every conceivable type of drawing media and drawing instrument, plus 14 pages on paper alone!
It should be noted that "Contemporary Drawing" is not a "how-to" guide that will teach you how to draw (angles, measuring, proportion, negative space, etc.,), as in the tradition of Betty Edward's "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" or Brian Curtis' "Drawing from Observation." Instead, we are shown how to think like contemporary drawing artists. Ms. Davidson takes us beyond the "what" of drawing (subject matter) and into the realm of the "how" and "why."
This book is also beautifully designed (appropriately) in a very contemporary style. There are something like 90 examples by contemporary drawing artists (including Ms. Davidson's own), plus dozens of other informative photographs and diagrams.
For the serious drawing artist, or even the layperson who wants to get a true glimpse into what picture-making is all about, this book is a must. I hope it becomes the definitive reference on contemporary drawing. It deserves to be.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
A good library book
23 May 2012
Format:Hardcover
My local library had a copy that I read and studied. I buy books that I want to keep to re-read, to highlight ideas. This book might have made that level but was of mid-level interest. (Two of my favorite books which I pick up often to re-read are Steve Aimone's Expressive Drawing and Mitch Albala's Landscape Painting---two of the Amazon reviewers for this book.)
From this book, I am pleased that I picked up some new (to me) exciting artists to research and study: one being Jan Groth. I just ordered 4 of his books. Actually there are many exciting artists in this book. However, the repetitive use of the author's drawings does not advance the study or the themes of this book. The drawings are quite buttoned down. Author Davidson could have ended with her fine chapter on Breaking Barriers but concluded instead with Intentionality--perhaps her downfall.
From this book, I am pleased that I picked up some new (to me) exciting artists to research and study: one being Jan Groth. I just ordered 4 of his books. Actually there are many exciting artists in this book. However, the repetitive use of the author's drawings does not advance the study or the themes of this book. The drawings are quite buttoned down. Author Davidson could have ended with her fine chapter on Breaking Barriers but concluded instead with Intentionality--perhaps her downfall.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Contemporary Drawing
26 Mar 2012
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
There is much to admire in this book ... BUT why do we have to put up with so much artwork from the author? Other excellent examples are available. It's irritating, and seems unnecessarily egotistical.
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