Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 294 pages
- Published by: Focal Press
- Edition: 1st Edition April 20, 2004
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0240805348
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0240805344
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Book Dimensions:
10.8 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
- Weighs: 2 pounds
Product Review
"I am particularly pleased that the author addresses CHARACTER so heavily in her presentation of material. That is, after all, what plays are about."
Madeline Ann Kozlowski, Emmy Award winning Costume Designer, Professor of Costume Design, UCI
Book Description
"I am particularly pleased that the author addresses CHARACTER so heavily in her presentation of material. That is, after all, what plays are about."
Madeline Ann Kozlowski, Emmy Award winning Costume Designer, Professor of Costume Design, UCI
Reader ReviewsI bought this book sight unseen and boy, did it come up trumps! I come from a fashion background, and the style of fashion illustration I learned is great for designing and selling to retailers - it's very gestural, and the structure of the garment is the most important thing. The 'model' that it's on is only suggested in a few strokes; you want whoever is looking at the illustration to imagine themselves, or their clients, in that outfit. And I was used to poses that showed the garment off to best effect, but really had the minimum of character to them. All well and good - but HOPELESS for costuming, where suddenly I'm trying to 'sell' my designs to the director/producer (and sometimes the actor). I'm trying to convince them that the image I have of the character in these clothes is going to tell the story that they want to tell. So i needed to add character and personality to my sketches. If you have the same problem; if you're looking for the same thing; then this book will be a godsend. The author covers exactly how to create character in the pose, then how to give personality to the face. He gives ideas to show youth, children and teenagers, middle age, old age. He gives basic details of muscles and anatomy to make your figures look more alive, and discusses lean and ample frames (something else that isn't an issue in fashion illustration). He gives easy concise drawable cues for emotions, and details of facial features for full, 3/4 and profile views. He even gives basic period figures for Egyptian, Greek/Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, Elizabethan, 18th Cent, Regency, Victorian/Edwardian, 1940's/50's, and contemporary styles. This section is the essentials of the Georgia Baker book boiled down to the kernal of good stuff and is of amazing value if you need to start sketching today - NOW - and can't wait a 6 months till you've got the whole thing nutted out yourself. There's good stuff on hands and feet and shoes. There's great examples of how stiff fabrics and soft fabrics hang differently. There are at least half a dozen really good examples of non-human characters (wolf, crocodile, ostrich etc)that are perfect for learning from. This is a really large book. It's chock full of valuable examples of the author's work, in all kinds of periods and for all kinds of characters (the play and character is always specified, so there's a point of reference you can use to see how the author has nailed the PERSONALITY of the character in his sketches.) About 3/4 of his costume illustrations are in colour - the book feels lush and inviting to read through. Some down sides; there is a double page on hats for male and female - I would have liked more, although I guess his examples do offer many hatted characters. Sometimes really valuable points are hidden in small notes amongst illustrations. The font is quite a small point, and can be slightly hard to read in poor light (like in many costumer's workrooms backstage!) Nowhere that I have found (that doesn't mean it's not there) does it tell you to work LARGE and then reduce down later by photocopying to render. If you start off drawing at the kind of scale used in the book then you're going to be disappointed when it all looks cramped and the details aren't clear. It also doesn't seem to mention (again it could be my oversight) that it's easiest when starting to use a thin paper like Zeta pad, so you can retrace your figures and improve/add what's missing without erasing all over the place. I would have liked something on drawing SPFX makeup and prosthetics - some aliens or monsters. I would have liked a LOT more on sucessfully showing hairstyles (period and contemporary), something I personally struggle with. However, this is absolutely and definitivly the best book I've found (and I think I've tried them all now) on costume drawing for theatre (or film, for that matter). If you are in the industry and want to improve your sketches, buy it now, you will NOT be disappointed. If you WANT to be in the industry, buy it yesterday and practise everyday. Sometimes you get the job you want just because your drawings look better than the next person's! This is the book I was looking for all this time, and now I found it - yay!
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