Framed Perspective Vol. 2: Technical Drawing for Shadows, Volume, and Characters

I've been a fan of Marcos Mateu-Mestre's work ever since discovering 'Framed Ink', which quickly became one of my most recommended art books. I'm happy to say, these new volumes live up to every bit of my expectations.Framed Perspective Volume 2 picks up where Volume 1 leaves off. Primarily, it focuses on how light and shadow fall on objects in perspective. Admittedly, this can get pretty advanced at times (ie. how long is the shadow from a steeple across a staggered roof?), but the resource of information is invaluable.For me, the highlight of the book (and the majority of it's focus), is how Marcos describes and deconstructs the human form into simple geometric shapes so that you can apply the very same lighting principals to lighting the human figure. Aside from a few notable exceptions (ie. Burne Hogarth's Dynamic Lighting), I can think of VERY few other books that delve into the subject of creating accurate lighting from imagination.Aside from the wonderful cache of information in this book, much like Framed Ink, it is chock full of beautiful drawings that are sure to impress any artist. I think this book would be a great value at even double the cover price.

dude! you are such a a great teacher ! you break down the process so well. I'm super excited to learn from this book !!

After a long hiatus from painting and drawing, I resumed using an old canvas that had stalled out in the early stages of its 4th repainting. Rounding up all my old brushes, tubes of acrylics, inks and dyes that hadn't dried out, I set to work limbering up by reworking a human figure in it. It was a relearning experience but what I learned first off after hours of struggle is that a figure constructed on a flawed foundation can't be "fixed". With great reluctance, I took medium gray acrylic and removed the figure entirely. Starting anew with another figure, the second thing I learned was just how much I'd forgotten about figure invention. Upon reaching another insoluble problem, I dug out my tattered copy of Burne Hogarth's Dynamic Anatomy and its followup Dynamic figure Drawing, that I'd stumbled upon accidentally in the Berkeley University bookstore while stationed in California. Encountering Hogarth's method of figure invention and placing that figure in motion was one of those life changing events. Studying his methods on my own and practicing them brought about a quantum leap in my art education exceeding even college level courses I took when I began formal art instruction. I never understood why Hogarth was not used as a standard text in any of the figure drawing classes I'd ever taken until I came to understand there was a distinct bias against illustrators among the fine art instructors I'd met. But that was an era when representational art in general and narrative art in particular was at its lowest ebb in esteem. This was ironic as my motivation for developing my artistic skill was to complement my writing. This was just prior to the graphic novel coming into its own, so perhaps it was bad timing. One bright exception was my first water media instructor, who though a dedicated abstract expressionist at the time had been an illustrator prior to WWII. When he asked us our motivations for studying art and I gave mine, his face lit up as he exclaimed: "That's fantastic! Now you'll be able to work both sides of the street, so to speak." And eventually I was, hand illustrating articles for a newspaper my wife published. However the deadlines proved horrifically short and my skills declined from rushed work. With the ready availablity of images from the internet I ceased hand illustrating altogether.But I found even Burne Hogarth could not get me back up to my former level at the rate I desired. And that was when I stumbled upon Marcos Mateu-Mestre's Framed Perspective 2 here on Amazon while searching for fine line water soluble pens. Just glancing at the reviews and excerpts made me realize this was precisely what I needed. So I ordered it at once. Skimming it quickly the moment it arrived (in record time), I saw that Marcos had taken Hogarth to the next level. Though I am still studying his lessons, some of the most important were imparted almost instantly. If it looks right, even if it's wrong, it's right. If if looks wrong, even though it's right, it's wrong. To be believable, a figure in space and motion must be considered as a whole. A sense of life and vitality can never be imparted to a frankenstein assemblage of parts. And lastly the artist must constantly be aware of volume in space and the invisible flow of kinetic energy through it. These were probably things I'd already known at one point but it took Marcos to provide an invaluable graphic reminder. I think part of Marco's genius is his ability to convey complex information in easily understood terms and illustrations; the mark of a master teacher. It is even more remarkable that he is able to do this in such slim books at such a low price. An encyclopedia's worth of information distilled into slender paperbound books for far less than you pay for a lot of fat hardbound books containing a fraction of the useful data. I received Framed Perspective 1 for a birthday present and even though a glance at its contents seems as intimidating as a course in quantum physics, I know from Framed Perspective 2 it is within my grasp. I just ordered Framed Ink and have no doubt I will have a collection of everything he's published before long. Now to put his wisdom into practice!

Great and well set tricks for perspective, not only easy to pick up for getting hard angles down but included bonus in lighting.(Something many books skip out on in being to simple or not good) Shadows in ink and light use is super great and similar to Life drawing examples. Even tips to how to change atmosphere of image depending on light logic use on whole art piece.I hope the author does a light logic book/Inking, its that good in examples he does.A great book paired withPen and Ink Drawing a Simple Guide by Dunn (Intermediate/Advanced)The technical Pen. (Advanced)Rendering In Pen and Ink (Advanced, built like college text book. History lessons/Examples)

Great resource book for artist of all degrees. Well explained, and simple guides that don't overcomplicate things. I also loved how this book even included tutorials on inking and shadows as well. I look forward to picking up framed ink as well!

This is definitely a book for technical artist wanting to take their drawing to the next level.This book has changed my character art and my understanding on how to properly light them in my scene. If you love highly detailed and rendered drawing this book is for you. I rate this book as intermediate to advanced level drawing and readingIf you are new to drawing or have very little character art in your toolbox then I suggest Getting the book How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way and Drawing Cutting Edge Comics.

I have been doing art for the better part of 30 years and I have been an art instructor for over 15. I'm always looking for great books to reference or to take an aspect of a book and make it into a lesson plan. These have, by far, been some of the best books that I have added to my collection.You might mistakenly pass these off as comic book art instruction books but you would be sadly mistaken. These are great books for any type of illustrator out there, young or old.

Good entry in the series for those learning to draw in perspective.

Simplemente genial, para dibujo, pintura e ilustración.

Framed Perspective Vol.2: Technical Perspective for Shadows, Volume and Characters is the necessary continuation of Framed Perspective Vol.1: Technical Perspective and Visual Storytelling.It is in this second volume where Marcos Mateu-Mestre covers more advanced perspective aspects such as: shadows, characters, clothing and the effects they have on each other.Both books will give you the knowledge to take your drawing to an advanced level.

I purchased both Framed Perspective 1 and 2 both books are full of details but the delivery was poor packaged!

follow up to vol 1 and even better...all his books are top notch and great reference material

Excellent livre très complet, fait par un vrai pro. (Contrairement à certains livres réalisés par des artistes ratés)Riche en exemples, dessins de l'auteur et expliqué de façon ludique et précise. Pour aller loin en dessin.