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Book Review: Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes

May 4, 2009 by Parka

Book Review: Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes

Drawn to Life is a collection of lectures from long-time Disney animator Walt Stanchfield (wikipedia link). He has worked for Disney since the 1950s.

There are two volumes, each with over 400 pages. The reason for two volumes is probably to make the books easier to handle. Both are on gesture and life drawing, even though the cover art might suggest otherwise, especially the one with the lion. You can start reading from any book and any lecture. The order isn't important.

There are plenty of essays in the books. Each is a lesson relating to drawing and animation. It can be tangent drawings, creating believable characters, learning to observe, understanding gestures, etc. There are tips on almost anything relating to drawing. Loose and sketchy sketches serves as examples to the lessons.

These books are more thinking than drawing technique books. For example, the lessons are not about how to draw perspective, the lessons are about how to use perspective. You can view sample pages for volume one and volume two on amazon.com to get an idea.

The books represent a tremendous wealth of information and insight into drawing, animation and observation. After all, Walt Stanchfield has more than 50 years of experience in animation. This book is recommended to those who are into animation and drawing.

Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes, Volume 2

Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes, Volume 2

Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes, Volume 2

Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes, Volume 2

Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes, Volume 2

Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes, Volume 2

Visit Amazon to check out more reviews.

If you buy from any links on the blog, I get a little commission that helps me get more art books to feature.

Links for Drawn to Life Volume One:
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.de | Amazon.co.jp | Bookdepository.com | Bookdepository.co.uk

Links for Drawn to Life Volume Two:
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.de | Amazon.co.jp | Bookdepository.com | Bookdepository.co.uk

Comments

Good lord, I must have those

David Cousens (not verified)
May 4, 2009,
1 year 17 weeks ago
Comment id: 204

Good lord, I must have those books, they look superb!

Me to! i'm waiting the next

Jikeb (not verified)
May 5, 2009,
1 year 17 weeks ago
Comment id: 206

Me to! i'm waiting the next month to buy the first volume! ^^

Yikes! Thanks for this! I had

Rochelle (not verified)
May 25, 2009,
1 year 14 weeks ago
Comment id: 243

Yikes! Thanks for this! I had the PDF's of some of his lectures way back when they were on animation meat. Now I can see that there's different content in these books! Definitely buying!

Many thanks for reviewing

julieartist (not verified)
July 20, 2009,
1 year 6 weeks ago
Comment id: 488

Many thanks for reviewing these books, and after buying both I am blown away by the info. The man was a genius, and the books are worth every penny.

always thanks to you. ^^ as

borim lee (not verified)
August 9, 2009,
1 year 3 weeks ago
Comment id: 562

always thanks to you. ^^
as your assistance, I purchased this book.
I looking for a this site habitually. thanks~ thanks~

Thanks everyone for the

Parka
August 9, 2009,
1 year 3 weeks ago
Comment id: 563

Thanks everyone for the support! I hope I can find more gesture drawing books that will be helpful to everyone.

I just ordered both volumes -

Mikkel H. Frandsen (not verified)
March 5, 2010,
25 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 1517

I just ordered both volumes - can't wait to receive 'em!

Parka - if you can find more good gesture drawing books - that would be so appreciated!

By the way - I'd like to order books from your amazon links so you can a little commission - but they're all .com and I use UK because I'm in Europe.

@Mikkel H. Frandsen The other

Parka
March 5, 2010,
25 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 1519

@Mikkel H. Frandsen
The other gesture drawing books I know are:

The first is only sold in US.

You can use the Amazon UK links also. They are among the bunch of text links at the bottom.

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