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Art from Simple Shapes: Make Amazing Art from 8 Simple Geometric Shapes!
Get in shape and learn to draw funny characters and everyday objects! This full-color guide encourages young imaginations by exploring the wealth of possibilities behind basic geometric shapes. Using the fun stencils provided, kids can learn to transform a circle into a boat, a triangle into a house, a rectangle into a building, and more, for a total of 125 different drawings. It's easy since simple directions take you through every step of the way.
96 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 5, 2015
'Art from Simple Shapes' by Rosa M. Curto presents a simple way to learn art by using basic shapes as building blocks. Just to make it easier, the book comes with a shape stencil.
The book is sectioned out by shapes, starting with half circles. Within the sections, the drawings go from relatively simple to slightly harder. For example, to draw a slice of watermelon with a half circle is 4 steps, but a car with the same half circle is 8 steps. They are all within reach for young budding artists who can copy a few steps, and there is plenty of room for creativity.
I like the approach to teaching art this way. The student can use the stencil as a base and build on it. The next step would be looking for these shapes in the everyday world and using them to develop an artist's eye. It seems like a simple approach, but perfect for young kids who would like to learn to draw.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
The book is sectioned out by shapes, starting with half circles. Within the sections, the drawings go from relatively simple to slightly harder. For example, to draw a slice of watermelon with a half circle is 4 steps, but a car with the same half circle is 8 steps. They are all within reach for young budding artists who can copy a few steps, and there is plenty of room for creativity.
I like the approach to teaching art this way. The student can use the stencil as a base and build on it. The next step would be looking for these shapes in the everyday world and using them to develop an artist's eye. It seems like a simple approach, but perfect for young kids who would like to learn to draw.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Want to read
April 17, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
November 11, 2015
SUMMARY: This book offers instructions on how to draw dozens of simple figures using shapes as the base. The author shows how you can turn the shape in different directions to make even more figures. She also shows how you can make very simple drawings in four steps or more difficult drawings in eight steps. There are prompts to further think about how the drawings can be made with variations.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations are clear and simple for the young ones, but also adorable and interesting for all ages.
THE GOOD: Many reviewers are calling this an art book, but from a teacher's perspective, I would use this as a book to teach geometry concepts. The author introduces all sorts of shapes and calls them by the correct name such as equilateral triangle and trapezoid. She teaches quarter turns and half turns. She counts the steps from the beginning to the finished product. This book can be used for a wide variety of ages. It begins with shapes such as circles and squares and ends with rhomboid and hexagon. The author invites the children to think of variations to the drawings so they can express their creativity. This book of course offers how to draw art and can be used as a springboard for creative writing activities. The finished drawings are of high interest objects that will get kids wanting to participate.
THE NOT AS GOOD: The layout sometimes gets a little crowded with the thoughts and ideas the author throws into the middle of the page.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: This book is advertised for grades 2-5, but I think it is completely appropriate for younger children, especially those wanting a challenge. Preschool through grade 4 can find something to appreciate in this book. Teachers in these grades can use it for a math/art unit. The book is a bit juvenile for 5th grade.
NOTE: I received a free ARC copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations are clear and simple for the young ones, but also adorable and interesting for all ages.
THE GOOD: Many reviewers are calling this an art book, but from a teacher's perspective, I would use this as a book to teach geometry concepts. The author introduces all sorts of shapes and calls them by the correct name such as equilateral triangle and trapezoid. She teaches quarter turns and half turns. She counts the steps from the beginning to the finished product. This book can be used for a wide variety of ages. It begins with shapes such as circles and squares and ends with rhomboid and hexagon. The author invites the children to think of variations to the drawings so they can express their creativity. This book of course offers how to draw art and can be used as a springboard for creative writing activities. The finished drawings are of high interest objects that will get kids wanting to participate.
THE NOT AS GOOD: The layout sometimes gets a little crowded with the thoughts and ideas the author throws into the middle of the page.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: This book is advertised for grades 2-5, but I think it is completely appropriate for younger children, especially those wanting a challenge. Preschool through grade 4 can find something to appreciate in this book. Teachers in these grades can use it for a math/art unit. The book is a bit juvenile for 5th grade.
NOTE: I received a free ARC copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2015
A brilliant collection of ideas for drawings based on 8 geometric shapes. The eight shapes are half circle, circle, half oval, oval, triangle, square, rectangle and trapezoid but there are other shapes and ideas, too. There are lots of examples with step by step guidance on how to successfully create the images. From animals, clothing, homes, objects, the list of finished drawings is diverse and inspirational. They are the kinds of drawings that anyone, regardless of age, who has the fine motor control to hold and use a pencil can attempt and succeed at doing.
The drawings in the book are fun, the guidance is pictorial and easy to follow and the end products may well inspire others to try more complicated developments based on these. I really like it and can also see it being useful in schools to help children develop their pencil control and help students successfully and comparatively easily do their own art work based on these simple shapes. I was particularly impressed but the faces to express emotions and could very easily see teachers encouraging their pupils to create their own versions of these! I have no hesitation in recommending this to anyone seeking basic guidance on how to draw characters and everyday objects.
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too for provided an ARC for me to read in exchange for this, my honest review.
The drawings in the book are fun, the guidance is pictorial and easy to follow and the end products may well inspire others to try more complicated developments based on these. I really like it and can also see it being useful in schools to help children develop their pencil control and help students successfully and comparatively easily do their own art work based on these simple shapes. I was particularly impressed but the faces to express emotions and could very easily see teachers encouraging their pupils to create their own versions of these! I have no hesitation in recommending this to anyone seeking basic guidance on how to draw characters and everyday objects.
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too for provided an ARC for me to read in exchange for this, my honest review.
March 31, 2016
Title: Art from Simple Shapes: Make Amazing Art from 8 Simple Geometric Shapes!
Author: Rosa M. Curto
Publisher: Dover Publications
Pub Date: August 19th 2015
Page count: 96
Genre: Hobbies, art, drawing, tutorials
Source: NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review
Format: e-ARC
Rating: helpful
Cover: 4\10
Review: on Goodreads
This book teaches dozens of simple illustration tutorials that anyone- no matter how young or old- can follow using basic shapes. So, its level is for the very beginners or youngsters.
I liked the idea of this book very much! Even though it is not a new idea, how it was presented made it special. I also liked the little details and the different styles of every piece. I only wish it had more pages, or maybe a challenging section?
I had fun time while drawing from it, here are my sketches:
https://attachment.outlook.office.net...
Author: Rosa M. Curto
Publisher: Dover Publications
Pub Date: August 19th 2015
Page count: 96
Genre: Hobbies, art, drawing, tutorials
Source: NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review
Format: e-ARC
Rating: helpful
Cover: 4\10
Review: on Goodreads
This book teaches dozens of simple illustration tutorials that anyone- no matter how young or old- can follow using basic shapes. So, its level is for the very beginners or youngsters.
I liked the idea of this book very much! Even though it is not a new idea, how it was presented made it special. I also liked the little details and the different styles of every piece. I only wish it had more pages, or maybe a challenging section?
I had fun time while drawing from it, here are my sketches:
https://attachment.outlook.office.net...
January 16, 2016
Art from Simple Shapes
Make Amazing Art from 8 Simple Geometric Shapes! Includes a Shape Stencil
by Rosa M. Curto
Dover Publications
5 out of 5 stars
Review by Lorraine Leatham & J.J. Helgeson - Rainey Day Book Reviews
Learn to draw funny characters and everyday objects. This is a full-color guide that encourages imaginations young and old by exploring the wealth of possibilities behind basic geometric shapes. Kids will learn how to transform various shapes into a total of 125 different drawings. Most of the instructions were fairly simple. My son who is six and I had a great time on a rainy afternoon. I would say that this book is best geared for the young budding artist but even an older artist can learn a trick or two. J.J. gives this book a high five!
* I received a review copy of this book from Dover Publications and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *
December 24, 2015
Lovely and useful book for both children and adults about the simple use of geometric shapes to learn to draw! The authoress uses 8 geometric shapes to make 125 different drawings.
I write this as an adult who was afraid to draw, as the simple pleasure got lost in the process of getting the school marks, and is learning the process (both drawing techniques and the creativity exploration) again - this might be quite useful book for any adult who doesn´t believe in their capabilities in the art world. You might not become the new Picasso, but you can learn and enjoy the drawing experience. And with these simple patterns you can make more than you ever thought you could!
I write this as an adult who was afraid to draw, as the simple pleasure got lost in the process of getting the school marks, and is learning the process (both drawing techniques and the creativity exploration) again - this might be quite useful book for any adult who doesn´t believe in their capabilities in the art world. You might not become the new Picasso, but you can learn and enjoy the drawing experience. And with these simple patterns you can make more than you ever thought you could!
January 5, 2016
Quite creative and instructive. However, I wouldn't recommend it so much for Middle Grade (although it can be fun for any age), but more for younger kids. This book is teaching children to observe the world around them and notice the shape of objects. It is an easy and entertaining ride for there are lots of examples of simple drawings in 4-8 steps. While having fun drawing, children also learn about geometrical shapes, from the simplest to those most complex.
February 1, 2016
I got this book original because my 13 year old son loves to draw, but sometimes has a hard time figuring out what to draw. I love the ideas that were in this book, it sets the creativity flowing. It allowed me, a mom, to be able to draw simple things which I was not able to draw before.
I like this book and I think you will like it too.
I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
I like this book and I think you will like it too.
I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
October 5, 2015
Cute and fun drawings appropriate for middle grade and above. Many of the concepts are a 4-8 step process so the child is rewarded quickly with a finished product. I enjoyed having facial expressions addressed and lots of whimsical characters in addition to animals and other images. A great addition to any child's drawing library!
I recieved an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I recieved an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 12, 2015
Art is not one of my talents, so the idea of art from simple shapes caught my eye. I'm so glad I requested this book and was approved! I enjoyed spending time practicing my drawing skills as I read through this book. The author showed how to draw many different things in steps. This would be a great book for budding artists. I loved the cute drawings and the bright colors.
May 2, 2016
Basic Ideas that toddlers will love. Step by step instructions Beautiful design from various shapes. Definitely fun
Thanks to netgalley
Thanks to netgalley
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews