Drawing on the Artist Within: An Inspirational and Practical Guide to Increasing Your Creative Powers

Me gusto

I love this book. This is actually the second one I've purchased because I'm sending this copy to a friend for creative inspiration.Betty Edwards is as skilled at writing and organizing her material in an enjoyable way as she no doubt is at drawing. She includes so many fun exercises - things anyone can do and most people wouldn't even think of as drawing (like playing with your signature). Reading and working with this book has to be darn close to being in one of her classes when she's teaching drawing to people who claim they can't draw at all.This one is even better than her earlier "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" and its workbook.

This book has been my companion on my daily commute for a while now (I do the exercises at a later time), and has kept me riveted. It is the first book by Betty Edwards I read, and I feel it's still relevant now, 30 years after she wrote it.The premise (and promise) of the book is about learning how to see what's really there and how this skill can help with creativity. If you've already read her other book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, you'll be familiar with almost everything in this book. So, why buy it, then?There is one new concept and type of exercise - analogous drawing - that is worth the price of the book. In addition, it doesn't require that you already know how to draw, as the marks you'll be making on the paper are non-representational (i.e. they don't look like something in particular). And when you get to the point where you learn how analogous drawing, and the subsequent analysis of your drawing, can help solve a problem or understand someone (by drawing the problem/person as you perceive it), you'll have struck gold. And despite what another reviewer complained about, these chapters do contain "success stories" (students being able to approach issues with renewed understanding because they put everything down on paper using this method of analogous drawing and then analysed their markings).I got it on Kindle, but the scanned images are pretty much worthless (hence -1 star), so I bought it again on paperback.Highly recommended!

I loved Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, and was eager to see how 'seeing' like an artist would help in thinking more creatively. While the fundamental material in the book was well-presented (despite some incorrect 18-x figures in the Kindle version), I was greatly disappointed by a lack of concrete examples of results using the methods outlined. I believe it would have been tremendously helpful to read how these techniques produced breakthroughs or even minor results in others' real-world problem-solving. Without this level of verification (to use the author's terminology) I felt I was struggling blindly to follow fairly abstract instructions with no idea how or where they would lead me to a concrete solution or insight.Betty, if you're reading this, two or three 'success stories' would be immensely helpful in understanding how these new-ish concepts have worked for others. A minor example or two for each element (e.g. Identifying negative spaces and edges in problem spaces) would also help get the left-brain to shut up and get on board. As it stands, I felt like I was on this journey alone, though I'm certain that others must have applied these principles with fantastic results - if only you had shared a few of them.

Had to take Dr. Edwards’ wisdom and insight as far as I can. This is the key! Thank you, Dr. E & son Brian!Drawright.com.

This book took me from an average artist to an excellent artist. I can now draw portraits like a DaVinci. I now have a portfolio that I'm proud of. It taught me how to look with an "eye" of an artist, and I would recomend it to anyone who wishes to improve their ability to draw. There are lessons that teach you how to express your feeling in your art, no matter what the medium. I learned to view what I am trying to draw upside-down, and this way my mind doesn't change what I see. This is the second time I'm buying this book, since someone borrowed it and I lost it. For the price of about $6 this is a steal and a must have if you want to improve your drawing skills.

I bought the book because I like to be creative and enjoy to live the PROCESS. As a mechanical engineer I use standard procedures such as recommended by the VDI 2222 standard. However, the book casts another light on the process of creation but is in part congruent with VDI 2222. The process mentioned in the book illuminated me about it's universal use: First insight, Saturation, Incubation, Illumination and Verification. I wish my bosses would understand that process, especially the R-Mode stage Incubation :-(.A book I can definitely recommend.

Read my review on Drawing from the Right Side of the brain.I like the author. The author takes you in such a fantastic journey. I used this book as text for a class taken in the University of California Berkeley. Now, thanks to both I proudly can tell that I can draw. Most importantly, you'll learn a basic human skill you have (but likely you ignore you have it)... it is the power of observation.Examples, images, jokes and notes are a pleasure to read. You'll keep this book as I do. For reference and practice again the exercises.Recommended.

Bought it for my university course and am very happy with it. Really makes you think of drawing in a different way.

This book is not easy bedtime reading. It requires concentration and effort ( doing the exercises )For various reasons, I have been unable to paint/ draw of some years.The exercises helped me understand how to use the right hand side of my brain ( the creative side ) and how to still the left hand side ( the verbal, more logical side of the brain )After losing confidence in my artistic abilities after the death of my husband, this book has helped me to find a style that sits comfortably with my skills. For me I discovered that graphic work is probably where my skills lie, but that drawing, drawing, drawing is the key to developing ones art in a creative way.A really interesting and very useful book!

Im enjoying reading this book

Not as good as drawing on the right side of the brain but still fascinating

Really interesting book about drawing but also creativity in general (with some great quotes) and also how to learn.Betty Edwards always very good