Reviews for Outlines & Highlights for Understanding the Political World: A Comparative Introduction to P...

The average rating for Outlines & Highlights for Understanding the Political World: A Comparative Introduction to P... based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-03-20 00:00:00 Elvis Florentino This would be the book I would choose if I had to choose one book that helped me the most with drawing (not that I ever would!) Although this book has its share of practical advice, it is not an instruction book. Speed takes a much more conversational approach than I am used to seeing in drawing books. This book changed my perception of the visual world. His advice helps me break down the world and "see" the way I could draw it. It's not the only book a person should read if they are interested in drawing, but it is a must for anyone who wants to learn the art behind drawing and not just become a human copy machine.

Review # 2 was written on 2014-06-19 00:00:00 Kristina Taylor This was a very interesting read. It's quite old-fashioned but art instruction IMO tends to get so full of "shoulds" (this book being no different) but because the "shoulds" in this book and this viewpoint are historical, reading them is actually enormously helpful and emboldening for an artist today wanting to stand up against today's "shoulds". It shows that the "shoulds" aren't immutable (which renders them not really "shoulds" at all). Unexpectedly, he takes a stand against pure realism (minus emotional connection to the subject) that is closer to my own point of view as an illustrator than to what is promulgated in some modern "atelier" type life classes. I found the book gentle, intelligent, passionate, and sustaining. And best of all, it's got some great tips and observations in it. Like if you're working on a medium tone paper with lights and darks (eg gray paper with white chalk and charcoal, don't let the chalk and charcoal meet. Keep a margin of gray in between. Perhaps that's obvious to some but I've made that mistake more than a few times. And wondered why I was making such a mess. Of course!) Or a very interesting discourse at the beginning about how we get to know our world as infants first with our fingers and our mouths and that that is why we move first to draw contours when we first pick up a pencil. Very smart man and I would think a wonderful artist.