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Gratitude to My Teachers
In Figure Drawing: Rhythm and Language of the Human Form, you provide anecdotes, technical instruction, and the fundamentals involved in figure drawing. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Drawing the figure has been a transformative activity and experience in my life. Although I drew other things and forms as a child, almost forty years ago, figure drawing sessions sparked my interest and passion for drawing live models. I loved the challenge of capturing the human form from many possible angles and vantage points, with different lighting, and so on. Then, more recently, I realized that hundreds of drawing hours and the resulting drawings represent my learnings, technical and otherwise, and the inspiration of this art form imbued in me. The book originates in gratitude to my teachers and is a personal legacy. Anecdotes, drawing fundamentals, and technical drawing aspects meld in it for that reason. I hope the book inspires those desiring to draw the figure to follow their dreams.
What inspired you to combine storytelling and exposition within your book?
The technical aspects of drawing the figure can be dry. Some might even consider them boring. There is a lot to pay attention to and much to know and to practice. By weaving in storytelling, I aim to ease the technical aspects, considerations, and instructions of life drawing. The book considers master draftsmen and -women as a way for readers to dig deeper and find their own starting points.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your experience?
The experience I’d love for readers to take away from my experience is how transformative, beautiful, fun, and fulfilling drawing the human figure can be.
What will Volume 2 offer readers? When can we expect to see it released?
Volume 2 offers an expanded Settings and Materials section and other resources. The book focuses on drawing exercises that provide instruction about fundamental and basic drawing exercises and exercises specific to figure drawing. The drawing exercises are both timed and untimed, depending on how users wish to apply them. Drawing anything can be a joyous, yet time-consuming activity. Many readers may have busy schedules, so the book provides them options for short or long drawing spurts.
This volume is an accompaniment to Volume 1 and comes out at the same time: on December 20th, 2024.
I’v included links for the Workbook (Volume 2) as well.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Volume 1 Draft2Digital | Volume 2 Draft2Digital | Volume 1 Kobo | Volume 2 Kobo | Amazon
The body is a dance, and what it shows for those willing and trained to see are internal and external factors: structure, rhythm, motion, emotion, and more.
Whether you are a novice, intermediate or advanced artist, this book covers a range of figure drawing topics to learn and improve your skills to capture the human form.
Learn to draw the figure with ease
Master the basics and improve your skills
Enhance your understanding of the human form and anatomy
Capture the essence of movement and emotion in your drawings
Avoid common mistakes and perfect your technique
Gain insight from the author’s extensive figure drawing experience
Access helpful resources and references
And much more…
Figure Drawing: Rhythm and Language of the Human Form, Volume 1
Gabrielle Dahms’ Figure Drawing: Rhythm and Language of the Human Form is an insightful guide for aspiring and seasoned artists alike, diving deeply into the intricate art of capturing the human figure. The book weaves together technical instruction, personal anecdotes, and artistic philosophy, emphasizing both the fundamentals and the expressive possibilities of figure drawing. From understanding proportions and anatomy to mastering gesture and rhythm, Dahms frames drawing as a discipline that blends observation, skill, and creativity.
The author’s writing is earnest and passionate, often reflective. I appreciated how she shared her own struggles as a novice artist, particularly her initial impatience and desire for praise. This vulnerability makes the book relatable, transforming it from a mere instructional manual into a personal narrative about artistic growth. Her storytelling, such as returning repeatedly to a Rembrandt painting over decades, adds a poignant layer to the technical advice. Dahms excels in breaking down complex concepts into approachable lessons. The section on foreshortening is particularly helpful, guiding readers through the challenges of perspective with practical steps and vivid descriptions. Her advice to “abstract forms into geometric shapes” before layering detail is a game-changer for simplifying seemingly daunting tasks.
What truly stood out to me was her emphasis on the emotional and spiritual aspects of drawing. Her perspective that figure drawing is “observation in action” and a “meditation about life” resonates deeply. In discussing live versus photo-based drawing, she beautifully argues that “anything alive has something messy about it,” celebrating the imperfection and energy that live models bring to art. This poetic view of artmaking injects inspiration into the otherwise technical material.
Figure Drawing: Rhythm and Language of the Human Form, by Gabrielle Dahms, is a rich, thought-provoking guide for artists who crave both practical techniques and a deeper connection to their craft. I’d recommend it to art students eager to learn the nuances of drawing or experienced artists looking to refine their skills and philosophies. This book isn’t just a tutorial; it’s a call to see the world and oneself through the eyes of an artist.
Pages: 112 | ASIN : B0DNNR8GB4
Perception
Perception is an enjoyable collection of poetry written by multiple authors, which includes different forms and styles for every reader’s preference. Each author has their own section with a dedication page that precedes their poetry. A collection of drawings and photographs from different artists are scattered throughout its pages incorporating the different ways poets and artists perceive life. Its concluding pages contain a meet the authors and artists section. Written from a college-age perspective, this poetic and artistic compilation makes for a pleasurable read.
The collection of poems contains a variety of styles of poetry which is perfect for those looking for an unpredictable read. The writing differs in style, which is a pleasant surprise as no two poems are identical. Each author has several intriguing poems that are worth reading, especially for those who have a great appreciation for art. I appreciated that the compilation of poems contains the perspectives of both male and female writers making this a diverse read.
One of my favorite poems is titled Euphoria, I felt that the author perfectly described what it means to be in a state of euphoria, and I felt at peace while reading this poem. I appreciated that at the end of each poem, the author’s name was placed so that we know who the writer of a specific poem is. In the introduction, the author shares with the reader, “Our work is meant to be seen, collected, discarded, diagnosed, broken down, analyzed, criticized, admired, hated, discussed, etc.” This sentence stood out to me because I can feel each author’s sense of pride and accomplishment for their work. The images included in the poems are an excellent touch, as some were humorous, and others were a piece of art. At the end of the collection is a Meet the Poets/Artists section which I felt was an excellent way to connect with the authors, and I enjoyed reading a little about them.
Perception is a creative collection of distinct pieces of work from authors who are humble, creative, and unique. I highly recommend this book to those studying art or poetry or who want to enjoy a fantastic art collection.
Pages: 288 | ISBN : 1456763016
From an Oval
Izzy wants to draw a dog to be his friend and to play with. However, he soon discovers that the oval he drew to start his dog had a different idea about what it will become. When Izzy threw a ball for the oval animal instead of chasing after it, they said Baa Baa and ate a whole in the paper. Izzy became frustrated and told the animal no, you are a dog, but it insisted it was going to be a sheep no matter what Izzy wanted. In the end, Izzy accepts the sheep, and they learn how to have fun together.
From an Oval, written by Najah A. Jabbar, is a creative children’s book that captures the magic of a child’s imagination. The antics of the oval animal as it struggles to be heard is an excellent comparison for children. Kids often want to have some control over their situation, so the sheep is a relatable character. They will understand the animal’s frustration about not being seen for who they are and the desire to be themselves. They will also learn to be accepting of those around them even when they are different from what they anticipate.
Bringing this story to life are the playful illustrations by DeNeal Fletcher. The whimsical images give personality to the oval sheep. The sketch-like drawings are done in a manner that children will be able to see themselves creating, turning their own shapes into new animal best friends.
From an Oval in the From a Shape Izzy Book Series is a magical picture book that preschool and kindergarten children will enjoy and be entertained by. Young kids will see how imagination can lead to creativity and exploring new ideas. This would also be an excellent book for art teachers to use to introduce draw to elementary-age students.
Pages: 33 | ASIN : B09SKC2DF2
Finding A Cat Through A Dream ~(^-^)
Chicken: A Comic Cat Memoir is about a girl named TJ who grew up allergic to cats, but over time, the allergy faded. As an adult she finds a tuxedo cat with bright green eyes. It’s a beautiful story of life, cat’s, and loss. What was your inspiration for this story?
My daughter who, when she was 5-years-old, repeatedly wanted to hear this true story about how we found our cat, Chicken. I told her every night for a year, at which point she suggested I “make pictures” for it. That lead me down an unexpectedly long path to finally officially publishing.
Do you have cats? If so, what are their names? What do you think your cat named you?
Yes, we now have Cha-cha who, like Chicken, also found me in a dream. I’d have to say Cha-cha named me “hu-mom” (made up word for human mom) because she wanted me to find her as much as Chicken did. She’ll be the star of the next story!
Through the story there are little doodles and background decorations that tell a different story. Can you tell us more about that story and why you chose to weave that in?
About halfway into creating the artwork, it hit me that through telling the cat’s story, I was telling my own. I think that every life is multi-layered and wanted to communicate some of those other layers that coincided with the one of finding a cat through a dream that then materialized. While I wanted to offer a “nod” to some of the details of my life as a relatable subtext, I didn’t want it to take over the primary cat story as told to my daughter. I think this may be why much of the positive feedback I’ve been getting is essentially saying it’s “fun for all ages.”
I liked the artwork through the story. I thought it went very well with the story. Were there any panels that you didn’t include in the story? What was the biggest challenge in creating the art for the book?
As the author/illustrator, I did all the writing and artwork. Once I did the rough sketches and managed to capture the accurate mood of most of the panels, I was preparing to ink them in the way that traditional cartoonists work. However, I faced a rather daunting creative block in taking that next step. I didn’t do anything for about two whole years and then my daughter and I made a mini book called The Frizzball from Outer Space. The fun of working on that project and getting it done so quickly, gave me the courage to begin the Chicken illustrations. Once I got ball rolling, I quickly realized that I wanted to include some photography and collage so it made more sense to to all of it digitally. My background is in graphic design—both practicing and teaching it—so I know how to use the tools of the trade. What I hadn’t done before this book, was create artwork on an iPad. While I’m always up for learning something new, it took so long to get up to speed that by the time I reached the end, I had to start back at the beginning and re-do most of those first panels. Also, there are limits to digital tools and, in some instances, such as creating the front cover title art for the word “Chicken,” I was only able to attain the look and result I wanted by doing it by hand with brush and ink then scanning it in. In the end, keeping track of and backing up the thousands of files it took to create this was a real accomplishment in and of itself!
What is the next book that your fans should be on the look out for?
When you get to the end of Chicken, the next character presents itself. It’s very small, but if you look closely you’ll see the star of the next book.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads | Website
A great book to read to cats (and kids: -)!
A true tale about the magical meeting of a cat and her person told in 72 full-color illustrations in a rustic, cartoon, doodle, collage style. A cat allergy sets the stage for this colorful romp in which a cat named Chicken finds her way into the arms and affection of TJ, an artist in search of adventure and meaning. Brought together by seeming divine intervention, the storyline ranges from funny to emotional, sweet to silly, thoughtful to mystical, as readers travel with TJ and Chicken between coasts, encountering diverse friendships along the way.
LITERARY TITAN 