Mastering Perspective (Success in Art)

by Andy Fish

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Success in Art: Mastering Perspective is a tutorial and skill building guide with a special emphasis on perspective in rendering 3d shapes. Due out 9th June 2020 from Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 112 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is a well laid out and accessible treatise on one-, two-, and three- point perspective by graphic artist and illustrator Andy Fish. The author has a lightly humorous and spare writing style which is down to earth ("We all want to get to the good stuff, and we all think we know more than we really do" he writes pithily). I imagine he would be a gifted teacher in a classroom setting and his instructions translate quite well to the written word.

The introductory chapter contains a very brief capsule history of perspective and its development in the context of art. The following chapters develop one point through three point perspective with specific guided tutorials. Glossary and technique terms are highlighted in bold and defined in the text. The basic tutorials are followed by more advanced alternatives which are also well illustrated and understandable.

Understanding perspective and building skills for rendering realistic looking 3D representations has relevance for many different applications and combines an understanding of art and mathematics. This is a basic guide but information dense and useful.

Five stars. This would make a superlative choice for all ages (including students who will be having units in mathematics and science on perspective drawing). These paperbound Walter Foster editions are well made and provide good basic instruction at an affordable price point.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.