Average customer rating:
- Great Book
- Great book
- It's fun and easy!
- One of the best books on character design...
- Fantastic Instruction, Great Artwork
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Creating Characters with Personality: For Film, TV, Animation, Video Games, and Graphic Novels
Tom Bancroft
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Fantasy! Cartooning
ASIN: 0823023494
Release Date: 2006-02-01 |
Book Description
• Character design is the key in many industries—and they're all covered in this book
• Practical step-by-step exercises
• Contributors include Glen Keane, Supervising Animator, Disney
From Snow White to Shrek, from Fred Flintstone to SpongeBob Square-Pants, the design of a character conveys personality before a single word of dialogue is spoken. Creating Characters with Personality shows artists how to create a distinctive character, then place that character in context with a script, establish hierarchy, and maximize the impact of pose and expression. Practical exercises help readers put everything together to make their new characters sparkle. Lessons from the author, who designed the dragon Mushu (voiced by Eddie Murphy) in Disney's Mulan—plus big-name experts in film, TV, video games, and graphic novels—make a complex subject accessible to every artist.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-08-16
I teach character design and have found this book to be invaluable. My students love it. Its a really straight forward and practical book. Great drawings, fun assignments. Can't say enough good about it. My only complaint is the poorly designed cover which initially turned me off when I saw it on the shelf at the local bookstore. Animation books seem to make a habit of having aweful covers...but as the old saying goes...
Great book.......2007-08-12
I have been looking for a book on character design since a long time since I am a student of animation. I saw this book in a bookstore and started flipping pages and seeing what kind of lessons it has. My first impression for this book was really great and after reading reviews I confirmed that my impression was not wrong. The book also has assignments in each chapter and this is the best way to learn. The book shows you different aspects of character design and how different rules like shape, size etc could effect the design. The best part is that author never limits you to any particular idea, he wants us to experiment more and more and what to go beyond what is in the book. This is highly appreciated. I highly recommend this book.
It's fun and easy!.......2007-06-11
It's a fun book, with lots os useful information that will help you on creating or improving characters! I've already used some of the tips from the book and it really helped a lot!
One of the best books on character design..........2007-06-10
Tom Bancroft's "Creating Characters with Personality" provides a solid foundation for folks who are interested in creating and developing characters for sequential arts and animation. All the basics are explored here, with copious examples: simple shapes, line of action, appeal, etc.
One thing that sets this book apart from the rest is how several examples of the process of character design are shown. The book reiterates several times that the first design isn't always the best - that one should continue to explore other design possibilities before settling on the final look and feel of a character. If you are interested in refining or creating your own character, I would recommend purchasing this book along with Ben Caldwell's Action! Cartooning and Fantasy Cartooning.
While beginners can certainly appreciate this book, I think it's best suited for intermediate level artists who are looking to refine their technique. Highly recommended.
Fantastic Instruction, Great Artwork.......2007-05-03
This book is a terrific view of the craft of character design from someone doing it for a living. It's a great insight to the process, and really assists with sparking creativity.
It also shows various takes on the characters used as examples from working artists in various disciplines, and seeing the differences in how the characters are portrayed by each demonstrates the wide-open interpretation of a character's description and the limitless possibilities for variation.
The exercises are well-designed and really assist with reinforcement of the concepts, and the artwork is really fun too. A great book overall. Highly recommended, not just for character design, but for insights into interpreting your own creative processes and exploring it more fully.
Customer Reviews:
Great drawing instructional book.......2007-06-26
With no formal instruction in drawing, I've had to learn the basics on my own and this book beautifully explains and illustrates perspective in drawing. It is great for beginners with exercises to help you grasp the concept. I would probably still be muddling around making the same mistakes without the help and guidance of this book.
Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!.......2007-03-10
This book really is helping me to understand perspective. As an aspiring artist I had not a clue. I don't come from a background of having taken art classes all of my life so a lot of things did not make sense to me. My professor suggests this book from her syllabus and I have to say what a jewel it has been for me. I highly recommend this book if you are learning to draw as part of your library.
For the serious amateur doodler.......2006-02-25
Are you a serious amateur doodler? Want to take your idle doodling to the next level? Add some perspective and dimension. Dare to leave your next doodle behind for some one to find and marvel at. (go ahead and sign it so they can find you)
Why didn't I find this book sooner?.......2004-01-30
All of my adult life I've struggled with perspective drawing and I was determined to find a better way to teach my architecture students a method that didn't get hung up on technicalities. Using the exercises and examples provided in this book, my students' drawings skills have improved dramatically in one term. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has always wanted to learn the "mysteries" of perspective sketching.
Presented pain free.......2002-03-11
Drawing is the basis of making good art and perspective is the basis of good drawing. Phil Metzger presents the means for making perspectively correct drawings. Yes, it's without "pain" because the mathematics of perspective is not presented; but, to get it right the "pain" is in the practice. Where it should be.
Book Description
Rapid Viz, Third Edition: A New Method for the Rapid Visualization of Ideas provides hands-on instruction on quick sketching skills and techniques that allow you to picture your ideas mentally, and then quickly convert those thoughts into visual reality on a piece of paper. The method is not designed to help you become a master illustrator, but rather a visual thinker and communicator. Emphasizing speed and simplicity, the Rapid Viz method breaks down drawing to the essentials, teaching the fundamental techniques of graphic art and design using only the simplest of tools: felt-tip pens or pencils and paper. Using a minimum amount of time, trouble, and effort, Rapid Viz enables you to nail down your ideas onto paper, rapidly converting your thoughts while they are still fresh, and then polish them for clear visual communication with others.
Customer Reviews:
Smaller Format that previous edition not appreciated.......2007-01-11
I suppose the smaller format kept the cost down, but I was disappointed to find that out AFTER I bought them. (That's right, "them". I ordered a dozen for a drawing class I held at my company.)
It still has great content though, and I further suppose that if you never ran into the larger format edition, you may not miss it. Excellent content. Not just another drawing book.
I recommend the better 2nd edition instead..........2006-10-08
This new 3rd edition is barely decent, not great. In some ways, it's easily worse than the good 2nd edition(!)...
First off: the most obvious change here is in its *size*: this 3rd edition is about 2/3 as big as the 2nd edition- tiny! I'm talking about the overall physical dimensions: mainly length & width, with depth not being radically changed.
Most of the lettering is the same size as before, although a few pages include microscopic printing. These new physical dimensions are *not* an improvement. This whole book has an uncomfortably crammed look & feel, not unlike a packed elevator ride. "Get me outta this thing!" is my honest reaction here.
Maybe it's because I'm so used to the 2nd edition: I consider it to be the *BEST* version, even though I only rated it as being somewhat above average. The 2nd edition is basically good, and I'm glad I have it, but I still don't think *any* version of Rapid Viz has lived up to its real, full potential. My basic complaint with these books is that the illustrations themselves often look a little too unfinished and sketchy, lacking the true detail & depth that a 5-star book might have. At other times, some drawings actually have *too much* microscopic detail. And in an effort to make an already conceptually clear & concise book even more clear & concise, this new 3rd edition eliminates some drawings & photos along the way(!). Even worse: the photos that *have* been included are reproduced poorly, as if they were printed with a cheap, pre-Internet, black & white inkjet printer. I thought new editions of books were supposed to get better, not worse! I give this thing 1 star because it's a completely unnecessary downgrade- at best.
In short: Yes, this 3rd edition has a fancy, new, computer designed cover, but I easily recommend the better 2nd edition *by far*.
**Copy and paste 1560520558 to search for the better 2nd edition here on Amazon!**
Visualize your ideas!.......2006-08-01
Don't worry if you can't draw. The right brain really gets a exercise in this precise exploration of visualization of concrete concepts or large illustrations. Great for jotting down those quick notes. Simple notes through small visual captions which communicate your thoughts to your clients. Master the napkin drawing in minutes. Bring your ideas to life through simple drawing principles explained in Kurt's book.
Really great stuff to get you moving with visual thinking!.......2006-07-31
This is a new edition of Rapid Viz. It is basically the same in terms of contents as the earlier edition.
I have always enjoyed reading - and playing around with the ideas from - Kurt Hank's books. I have all his books, which include Draw!, Design Yourself, The Change Navigator, Wake Up Your Creative Genius, Up Your Productivity.
Like his other books, this book is very well illustrated, conceptually & graphically. It's primary focus is the introduction of a Rapid Visualisation Process, which one can learn easily & then use readily to capture & convert fleeting thoughts into visual forms on paper. It is packed with ideas, games, puzzles & exercises to guide the reader.
It is written for the novice in mind. It provides a step by step approach to the practical strategies of seeing, thinking, & drawing.
For the benefit of readers, I append herewith the Table of Contents:
- All we need is another drawing book;
- Another way of learning: an insight into intuitive, holistic thinking;
- The bilingual method: using the often neglected visual abilities we all possess;
- What you need to get started: a description of tools & techniques to aid visual learning;
- The box method: a very simple drawing technique for rapid viz;
- Rapid indication: visual symbols & cliches for rapid viz;
- The visualisation process: drawing made easier by evolving a visual concept to a finished drawing;
- Graphic expression: communication with visual images;
- Graphic creation: using visual thinking to stimulate & refine creative thinking;
- Learning with visuals: using visual patterns to improve learning, memory & recall;
I must say: The entire book is really great stuff to get you moving with visual thinking!
One word of advice: Readers who are more logically oriented by nature, should firstly take a look at 'Thinking with a Pencil' by Henning Nelms. This book has a more structured approach to visual thinking.
Book Description
Unlike many art instruction books that focus on capturing realistic images, this unusual title offers inspiration and instruction on using pastels to translate landscapes into evocative abstractions. Putting emphasis on the pure-pigment aspect of pastels, award-winning artist Mark Leach offers exciting insights into the powerful connection between color and feeling. Designed for artists of all abilities, it covers everything from making composition sketches to displaying the finished work, and includes chapters on light, form, and texture; understanding the color wheel; and painting from sketchbooks and photographs.
Customer Reviews:
Great for learning abstraction.......2007-01-11
One of the best books in my art library. Mark Leach describes clearly his process in developing luminous color with pastels, while abstracting subject matter to the simplest of shapes. I love this book and use it constantly, and I am an oil painter. Valuable, in my opinion, regardless of your medium.
That person is SO wrong!.......2007-01-07
The first person who commented on Raw Colour evidently was under the impression that this wonderful book was merely a how-to title. Having read Raw Colour from cover at least twice, I can truly say that the person who wrote that negative comment was totally wrong in interpreting this book as a how-to for abstraction! That could not be more mistaken! It's definitely not a how-to book. It's a wonderfully exciting book covering one artist's way of exploring his feelings about his subject and how he is able to express them through his use of color. I found it a very freeing book and one that reignites my desire to paint every time I open it, which is often. It is an exciting new addition to my very large library on art and pastel in particular. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in color, pastel and art expression in general. Mikki Root Dillon, PSA
Not enough substance.......2007-01-03
There are so many better books on abstraction. I would give this one a pass.
Customer Reviews:
I guess it depends on what you mean by serious.......2007-04-08
When she says serious... in the last few pages she tells you about becoming a full time artist, pros and cons kind of thing and options. She gives suggestions of places you can look into to show your work, but does not tell you how, just where to go. She does however say to go to the library to find out more or the internet. I guess most people don't know that, to me it is obvious. But hey, now you know and you didn't have to buy the book!
The artwork in the book sucks. It lacks depth and looks flat. Sure there is color, but it all seems to have the same pressure to it. Some may be better than others, buy my eyes don't want to look at it long. So, a tip that I know in becoming a serious artist is that if you actually want people to buy your work, you will want to create something that captures the attention of the viewer and keeps them there. The more they look at your work or the longer, the more likely they will buy it. The only one in there that looked pretty cool was the monopoly picture.
It's odd, she shows some basic examples of creating the illusion of 3D using tonal values from light to dark as well as discussing form, volume and space... but does not fully carry it through in her own work.
I just think if your going to learn from an artist, you would want to learn from someone who can give a good example. Why not learn it the right way the first time? There are too many other books that could do it better for ya. Check out books by Ann Kullberg, Janie Gildow, Gary Greene, Vera Curnow, or even Bernard Poulin. These artists have books for beginners and advanced, check them out and find the level best for you. They are better examples to follow. And if you want to start selling find a book strickly for that. Though Ann Kullberg, in "colored pencil portraits step-by-step has a section where she explains how she sells her portraits.
Are you kidding?.......2007-03-30
How did this artist ever get this published? The artwork in this book is so amateurish I did not even want to read what he/she had to say. I don't want my pieces to look like theirs. It looked like junior high artwork. The proportions of animals were totally incorrect, color wasn't eye catching, pieces looked like crayon drawings. This must be self published. I returned the book I didn't even care that I lost my shipping costs, I would never look at it or read it again.
Not for beginners.......2007-02-06
I think this may be a fine book for more advanced artists. There was little help for true beginners,even"serious " ones. There was much philosophy and opionion, but little practical help.
THE book on Colored Pencil........2007-01-25
If you can only have one book on colored pencil, let it be this one. I had to buy another one when my professor saw it. It is another book that I read with pen and highlighter in hand. I couldn't just read it I had to study it.
The only book you need.......2006-10-29
If you can only buy one book on the art and craft of colored pencil, buy this one! If you have a hundered books on art, I'd still say: you need this one! Bet Borgeson is well known for her intelligence, wit, humor, and her refusal to "talk down" to the reader or student. Page for page, there is more useful information in this book than in any other art book on my shelves -- and most of it is invaluable for artists working in any medium. From the basics of "getting started," to the philosophy of an artist's life, this book is jam-packed with useful and thought provoking information. Its richness and quality call to mind Richard Schmid's _Alla Prima_ or Rex vicat Cole's _ The Artistic Anatomy of Trees_, two of my other personal favorites. I love this book!
Customer Reviews:
Gives us a bass.......2001-07-06
I believe that Douglas Dawson is a sincere teacher, but I found this book to be a litany of rules, tricks, and gew-gaws for obtaining effects -- without a governing vision. (Contrast the similarly-named "Capturing Radiant Color in Oils" by Susan Sarback, which is above all a book about seeing and reporting what you see, and in spite of its title the most helpful book I have found for my approach to pastels.) Some of Dawson's rules are in the category of "duh!" and others make no sense. His points are usually illustrated by his own work, including landscapes (quite interesting), cityscapes (often dramatically lit but oddly unmoving), and portraits (sappy, sentimentalized, and including a few real bodice-rippers). The old saw says, "give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime." Dawson gives us a bass, and not a very fresh one.
Pastel beginner from Dallas digs Doug's book........2000-10-09
The book starts with Dawson explaining the difference between the handling of lines--drawing--and the handling of shapes--painting. He then explains and illustrates two pastel painting techniques: working from big to small shapes and working from shape to shape. Then he combines drawing and painting to launch into ways of being creative with color and light. The book ends dealing with backgrounds, depth, and finding new ideas.
Appropriate to an art instruction book, there is an abundance of illustrated examples, step-by-step pictorial demonstrations, and very stunning completed paintings. The book was easy to read, and Dawson's thoughts, examples, and techniques are very easy to follow.
I like this book very much. The most valuable thing I learned from reading Dawson's book was how to turn my drawings and paintings into works of art.
Book Description
"*Provides more than 70 specialized answers for common colored pencil dilemmas *Step-by-step mini-demos illustrate techniques and help artists apply what they've learned
Few mediums can rival the range of effects achieved with colored pencils. This guide offers sound instruction from two highly respected artists. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience they provide answers to the most frequently asked questions. Chapters feature an easy-to-refence format covering crucial topics including setup, application, technique, color theory, texture and light."
Customer Reviews:
Great Basic Colored Pencil Book.......2007-05-24
This book has absolutely gorgeous drawings, something lacking in most of the other colored pencil books. It contains all the basics one would need to learn before picking up a colored pencil; everything from A to Z. The book is easy to read and fun. There are no lenghy discussions on the theories of the colored pencil medium: it gets right to the point. The second half of the book has detailed instructions on how to achieve certain textures, which I haven't seen in other books, such as glass, copper, silver, lace... all with absolutely jaw dropping examples. I bought it along with "Drawing for Right Side of the Brain", which makes a fantastic course on the mechanics of drawing itself. The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
A partial solution at best.......2007-05-17
A better title for this book would be Color Pencil Solution Book for Realistic Still Life Drawing. People and animals have merely one or two appearances each among the examples, and land- and seascapes have no representation at all. It would have been an excellent reference to showcase multiple styles also, but we see only the work of the two authors, whose styles are very similar. The topics that are presented are well presented, and if realistic still life is your thing, this book will be a good resource. But if your interest is in multiple styles and landscapes or portraits, you'll often be looking elsewhere for solutions.
Very helpful .......2007-03-08
There are so many ways to use colored pencil. I like Janie's work, she is so precise and accurate. This book helps you with various techniques. It's like a trouble shooter for your colored pencil art work.
A fabulous book.......2006-06-16
I have read many coloured pencil books, but this is the only one I have bought or kept. I refer to it often for ideas on how to combine colours or figure out a problem. Some might say that it isn't broad enough, but you have to be willing to take the basic ideas and develop your own solutions as well :-)
Better than the $175 workshop I just attended!.......2005-04-19
I just paid $175 to attend a colored pencil workshop by a woman that I thought was going to really help me with my work instead she said that this book was what got her started. I found that 99% of what this woman taught in the class was ALL from this book I already owned!! So save yourself money on workshops from so-called "famous" teachers & invest in this book!! You won't be sorry & it will teach you so much!!!! By the way, the reviewer who wants a less realistic approach to cp , there are too many cp books out there like that already (Bet Borgeson, Michael Warr, & 2 Walter Foster ones).
Customer Reviews:
Pencil Drawing.......2007-02-17
This book is quite well done.......but really only for the advanced art student.
Nice Book on Realism.......2007-02-06
I found the book useful for improving your penciling techniques. I gave it 4 stars though because the focus seems to be more on technical drawing and less on art. This is the realist mantra which is so popular these days. If realism impresses you, this is your book. For others, it's an instruction manual for penciling, to make your drawings more pretty.
Excellent drawing help.......2007-01-12
I bought this book for my son for Christmas. He loves to draw and does it quite well. He started exploring it immedidately and is presently working on a drawing, a very realistic portrait of Steve Nash, using materials and techniques shown in the book. I am so glad my brother referred this book to us and that I found it on your website. Pleasure doing business with you.
Clear, thorough explanations for amazing techniques.......2007-01-10
When you read this book and see the artist's work, you'll be amazed at what can be done with a few simple tools. The techniques are varied and the results spectacular - this is no beginner's book, to be sure, but even if you pick up just a little of this artist's insights and techniques, you'll see incredible improvements in your work. If you need to learn to sketch, pick up a different book, but if you want to raise your skills to the highest level in pencil/charcoal, this will help immensely.
Wonderful instruction........2007-01-09
This has an excellent drawing/illustration of a sphere and the light and shadows on it. Overall, it's an excellent book that explains the technical aspect of drawing the realistic textures. It tells what hardness/softness of pencils to use, when to use charcoal and when to use graphite and when to layer the two, how to blend and which blending tool to use, using real texture, making indents in the paper, using masking mediums. The first two chapters cover materials and techniques. The last two show how to apply materials and techniques in demonstrations/exercises. The drawings have captions telling what techniques and pencils were used and lines connect the appropriate caption to the appropriate part of the drawing.
Book Description
Almost all artists have room for improvement when it comes to drawing, the fundamental skill of all realistic art. Now they can tap the proven techniques and collective drawing wisdom of more than a dozen of The Artist Magazine's and North Light Books' most venerable artists. The book features:
-Solid, easy-to-follow advice for drawing in a realistic style
-14 step-by-step demonstrations culled from some of the best art instruction published today
-A range of popular subjects, including landscapes, portraits, still lifes and seascapes
The Pencil Box covers basic supplies and tips for improvement in addition to dozens of drawing techniques, so readers will find everything they need to start drawing better in one comprehensive package.
Contributors include Cathy Johnson, Bill Tilton, Jerry McClish, Stanley Maltzman, Janie Gildow and Paul Leveille.
Customer Reviews:
The Pencil Box.......2007-02-14
I found this book to be very helpful. I am getting back into drawing after many years and the author provided many good points and great illustrations. The section on colored pencils was especially helpful. I bought the pencils listed in the exercises and did a few of the drawings. The suggestions for blending and shading were wonderful.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-01-21
I would recommend this book for beginners and intermediates as well. Easy to follow and the techniques I learned are priceless.
A Different Concept for Backgrounds.......2005-08-30
I found Borgeson's handling of background very interesting and different from all the other colored pencil artists' books. Her use of spot layering and single layer color juxtaposition helps to make the large areas go quickly. She also presents other methods to speed up colored pencil application. Of course, she covers all the basics, too. A good book for any colored pencil artist.
No idea where to start? pick this one........2000-03-25
I always liked to draw using colored pencil. Nevertheless, I never found any interesting book that would deal with several approaches to the colored pencil medium. After reading about Mrs. Borgeson work, I decided to try and never got disapointed. Her books (all of them) give you several different points of view about the colored pencil and teaches you (step by step) how to apply the techiniques to solve apparently simple problems. Layering, lifting, color interactions, error corrections, light and much more. A nice book to have and enjoy.
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