You Can Draw in 30 Days: The Fun, Easy Way to Learn to Draw in One Month or Less

I nearly overlooked this book because it didn't have a fancy artistic cover, unlike many other art instruction books. As an adult with no formal art training, no perceived drawing "talent" and looking for a first instruction book to help improve my infrequent doodling, I was also rather skeptical of the book's cheesy title claim of teaching someone to draw in 30 days. Then I noticed some before and after drawings by other reviewers, and after also considering titles like "Keys to Drawing", "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" and "How to Draw What You See", I decided to look beyond this book's cover and give it a go myself. The book has 30 lessons, and while it's taken me over 30 days, I'm very glad that I started with this book. The step-by-step lessons are clear and easy to follow, there's no complicated theory about technique etc. that could easily put off an absolute beginner. Most importantly, you see immediate results very quickly... By the end of lesson 2, my stack of spheres was already getting compliments! Since then I've realised that the lessons provide a really good primer to some basic drawing concepts - shapes, shading, foreshortening, perspective... and the fact you can reproduce a drawing similar to the author's by following the steps is a big confidence booster. Personally I found that this newfound confidence was just the encouragement needed for me to progress... This book will not teach you to draw realistically or become a master of portraits, but it does teach you how to draw basic pleasing images. I like the author's lighted-hearted happy style and it's been one enlightening lesson after another as I discovered I could draw things which I couldn't before. Since starting this book, I also got my hands on "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" and "Keys to Drawing", and remain satisfied that this book was the right one to start my drawing journey with. A great book for an absolute beginner.

I don't have much drawing experience before and can't even be "creative" enough to draw a stick figure. Certain things happened that inspired me into learning drawing. After searched around I finally decided to purchase this book because of so many good reviews. I managed to finish it in 10 days because I always wanted to learn more. Some people don't like the fact that the drawings in the book are more cartoonish rather than realistic drawings. I disagree, I think this book is perfect for a total beginner. Start to draw realistically will scare many beginners like me away, because it involves a lot of details and you have to think about proportions and so on, which will discourage you if you found out your drawings are totally trash. I even doubt if the author can explain a drawing within a few pages. Instead, the author starts from drawing basic components and repeats the drawing rules from lesson to lesson, and beginners can be confident enough to achieve his/her goal for each lesson and move on to the next lesson and eventually gets an understanding of drawing basics. I can see myself improving. I not only mean comparing with pretest my drawing improved. Seriously, if you have no idea of perspective, shading and shadow before, I'm pretty sure how your pretest would look like... I also mean when you learn these basics you started to pay attention to your surroundings about the shading, reflection etc and in turn it will help you improve your drawing. After I finished this book, I bought another one that contains beautiful realist drawings with barely any step by step instructions. It is at the moment hard for me to reproduce the beautiful drawings, however, it's a matter of practice. If I didn't learn from Mark Kistler's book, I wouldn't even have the ability to start to draw with that book. The only thing I want to point out is that the book claims you can finish 1 lesson in 30 minutes. Maybe it was just me, however, it took me much longer to finish incl. bonus challenges. So all in all, a great book for a total beginner. It can always keep you encouraged and keep learning because each lesson is mission easy and possible. It will also prepare you with a better position if you want to learn more realistic drawings. I highly recommend this book for anyone who never drew before and wants to start.

It's a good book. I still can't draw, but it's enjoyable. The techniques it teaches are really cool and presented fairly easily. The problem is if you just can't draw a circle at all then all the shading and perspective gets lost in the ugly mess. Still recommend it though.

Of the "how-to" art books I have, I think this is the best one for an absolute beginner. The authors tone is engaging and encouraging and each lesson builds on the previous to introduce various skills, for example foreshortening, shading, perspective, etc. A few of the critical reviews complained that the drawings are "cartoonish". By and large, that is a fair commentary. However, that doesn't mean they aren't useful exercises. And the principles taught serve as a solid foundation that can be applied as you develop higher level capabilities. Personally, I enjoyed the student example offered after each lesson. They demonstrated how the principles taught in the lesson can be applied in a variety of ways. I found trying to reproduce some of them myself to be a useful exercise. If you're an absolute beginner who thinks you can't draw at all this book is a good start to changing your mind. It won't turn you into a fabulous artist, any more than learning to write a coherent sentence will turn you into a best selling author, but it will give you a foundational skill set and some insight into the artistic experience. If one wants a more detailed and advanced book, I'd suggest Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. In addition to teaching techniques, that book discusses the psychology of drawing and why learning to draw is of benefit to anyone regardless of their profession. You can learn to draw realistic representations from that book. However I think it would be to daunting for an absolute beginner. I'd suggest starting with 30 Days. Then, if you want to develop further, more on to Drawing on the Right Side. Or I suppose you could look at both simultaneously, reading some of the theory and background in Betty's book while developing the basic techniques Mark teaches. In any case, pick up a pencil and get going.

Over the years, many years, I have attempted to draw. I have worked my way through an enormous number of books, taken college classes, and attended other local classes without any real results. About five years ago I gave it up and only drew to enhance my ability to study an object or design it. All with a pencil, no computers. Then I discovered Zentangle and my interest in drawing was revived. What was good about Zentangle was its lack of judgment. After doing this for awhile (I still enjoy tangling) I spotted You Can Draw In 30 Days. I had given Draw Squad to my grandson so I wondered about this book. I bought it for my Kindle, and it was a good decision. The difference with Mr. Kistler's book is fun. While he is teaching serious lessons he is making the process light hearted and interesting. He tells you it is OK to draw weird cratered landscapes and funny aliens. He also employs many techniques that are taboo in the “serious art” community, such as tracing. Yes, Mr. Kistler encourages the student to buy tracing paper and trace drawings – including the great artists such as Leonardo and Rembrandt. And not just once. Ten to twenty tracings of the same artwork is urged. Dubious, I went ahead with the assignment and traced the Madonna of the Rocks over 10 times. The second and third tracings were boring, then I began to see what I had been missing and began improving my drawing. It was enlightening. Among the innumerable teachers and books I have encountered Mr. Kistler ALONE recommend this technique. The projects in You Can Draw in 30 Days are entertaining to go back to and easy to expand upon. Using the basics taught to draw a tree, for example, you can easily take up drawing many kinds of trees. His advice on using a clear clipboard with markers to practice landscape drawing is excellent advice. Mr. Kistler is a unique and positive teacher who has obviously put a lot of thought into making drawing possible for us mortals with little talent and he has tested these ideas in the classroom to insure they work. Most of Mr. Kistler’s work has a cartoon feel about it, but he is teaching lessons applicable to realistic drawing as well as fanciful. His drawing of the Madonna of the Rocks and the lesson on drawing eyes stresses realism. Make no mistake, after completing Mr. Kistler’s book you will have an increased ability to draw realistically. I also recommend How To Draw Anything by Linley. Although the approach is different I think his advice is excellent for those struggling to draw. AD2

I bought this book about 5 months ago. I also bought a years worth of online lessons from Mark Kistler. He is such a fabulous teacher! I am 42 years old. In high school I had some interest in art, took a class, spent many hours trying to get the shading right on a sphere, cone, and cube. I labored over this for weeks and I was told my my teacher not to bother trying to draw. He crushed me. I never really did draw again, I wish I could but figured that I had no talent. When my son was young we watched "Imagination Station" and I would draw with him. It was fun. I let it go until this year. I had been thinking about joining the online classes for years and finally decided to. I am not sorry. I came online and bought his book also for some of the exercises are different from his online classes. I have been working with this for 5 months now...my facebook page has shown my friends my journey, they always tell me how much they love my drawings. I also add Zentangles to them now. Mark teaches how to look at an object and get it to look realistic. It takes a lot of practice, and I am not very good at faces and eyes yet, but I am much better than I was 5 months ago. He writes things in such a way that you are inspired, you keep going. He also shows other artists work too so you can gauge how you are doing. I cannot recommend this book more! I know when I need to brush up on something later on, this book is one I will come back to! This book is full of information and helpful hints on the basics and also beyond the basics, he covers shading, perspective, how to draw spheres, cones, open boxes, stacked boxes, how to make your drawings look 3-d, drawing flags, the human eye, faces also. He has in each lesson bonus challenges and also shows other adult artists works to give you an idea of where to place your shading until you can get it right on your own. There are lessons on how to draw the human hand, one and two point perspective. The whole experience is made richer by his encouragement throughout.

I'm on my last lesson and conflicted about this book. For starters a lot of the suggestions are out of date (doodle while waiting at the bank...bro nobody drives to the bank anymore) and he throws bonus lessons at you that require items you likely will not have just sitting there trying to get the lesson done (a clear clipboard, go outside and find a tree, etc). Its not really mentioned ahead of time so its kind of frustrating. But my honestly biggest complaint is he, in my opinion, skips some really crucial info especially in the beginning. I came to this book as a no0b. I loved to draw as a kid and havent done it since, but Ive regretted that so I was like hey why not now? He starts several lessons with 'draw your dots and lines' okay cool...but leaves out size. My guess was middle of the page but I wasnt always right and would either draw too big or more often run out of room. Several times he'd have you start an oblong this way with no specification, and mine would be too squat. Theres just a lot of assumed info he doesnt include. By the end hes just openly running with the concept, for example in the chapter on 3d letters. By the time we get to faces and eyes he just assumes you know how to fill in the detail, when its never been covered. Shading is important and comes up a lot, its like the 2nd lesson. I feel more details could have been given, mine never looks right. More of that assumed info. BUT I do think it has helped me draw better. The dots and line ideas have stuck and I think I could say overall I draw better. I was disappointed the few books he recommends for further work (like in faces) have poor reviews and apparently arent terribly good. Im not entirely sure where to go from finishing this. Would I recommend it? Yes I guess, but I wish it improved those topics above

Excellent.

En un principio dice que son lecciones como de veinte minutos pero más adelante te dice que les dediques unas tres o cuatro horas a ciertos ejercicios, de ahí en fuera es muy bueno para entender lo básico del dibujo, además de que el autor te explica las cosas de manera bastante clara y amena. Si tienes un nivel en inglés de medio para arriba creo que puedes entenderlo sin muchos problemas. Lo recomiendo.

If you have ever wanted to learn to draw then the book for you. I’m 60 years old and wanted to draw. This book starts with the basics but it teaches you how to really draw using step by step instructions which build on each other. It’s the best instructional guide I’ve ever used.

Mesmo para quem não possui o inglês como primeira língua ou para quem tem um domínio básico do idioma, o livro é bem fácil de acompanhar. O título da obra é obviamente exagerado para chamar a atenção. Você não vai fazer tudo que o livro sugere e sair da experiência como um desenhista formado. Mas vai sim ter uma boa noção para, depois desta introdução, buscar obras e abordagens mais completas.

I used to draw an exceptionally long time ago. However, I always wanted to get back to it, but I would just stare at a blank page. It was not working for me. I purchased multiple books to get me started and finally found the right one. In all fairness, I started with colouring books until I got the confidence to dare to do more. This book will take you through simple activities that you can use to create your own masterpieces after just a few short lessons. The approach used to teach encourages students to experiment and be brave. As an educator, I can attest that this is a phenomenal textbook for any learner. After each lesson, students are challenged to a bonus activity that allows them to use the concepts learned. The writing and explanations are straightforward and fun. I just enjoy reading the instructions, as the writing is friendly, humorous, and feels directed right to you. It is like the after sees your fears and apprehensions and provides encouragement and advice to overcome it. This book not only got me started to draw again, but it provides you with sound fundamentals from the first lesson. You learn to draw properly. I like to complete the lessons in pencil and challenge myself to use coloured pencils and introduced colour to complete the bonus activities. Attached images are copies of bonus activities I completed within the first few lessons. The book exceeded my wildest expectations. If you have kids or friends interested in drawing, this is a phenomenal resource to complete the classes together. I highly recommend this book.

Don't get me wrong, I am said to be pretty good at drawing. I can take a drawing from someone else and produce a very good copy of it. I adore art, both doing as well as viewing and collecting. It is my number one hobby. I purchased this book because what I do need is help with creating my own unique pieces. I have a lot of ideas of what I want to do but lack the courage to start them off. The book arrived so fast that I thought someone collected it from the warehouse and drove it round to my house. I ordered this at 9pm on a Friday evening and at 10am Sat it was in my hand. I started lesson one that evening and roped my 8 year old into it too. Despite the initial moaning and complaints he soon got into it and we sat there drawing the circles and giving them dimension and I have to say the effects of the lesson are so swift that you literally notice your talent improving by the minute. I learned so much in just a single lesson that I could not wait to get on with the rest of the book. Now every time I have a spare minute I shoot off to my drawing desk and start a new lesson - even if I cant finish it - at least getting it started is the objective of the day. Mark Kistler produces a superb introduction to the art of drawing and his approach is fascinating as well as extremely easy to follow. The improvement I have seen in just the first few lessons has left me astonished and I cant but help wonder where my art will be by the time I finish the book. I recommend this book for anyone from a person who has never before drawn anything right through to a good home artists. There are superb tips on creating depth in your drawings and I reckon anyone apart from perhaps professional artists will gain something from this book. There are courses out there costing £750 for 2 weeks which will teach you the same as you will find in this book for a fraction of the cost. If you are serious about taking your drawings to teh next level then this is for you. The only drawback I can think of at the moment is why has he not written more books like this. He has written quite a few books for kids and 3d drawing which seems to be his forte but I think this fella could easily produce more books on all the other forms of drawing right down to getting detail to work for you. It might look like an idiots guide book for artists but believe me it will be a well worn book on your shelf if you get your hands on it. I even sit and read it when I cannot draw - for the tips and suggestions. Well worth the £8 investment