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Fun With A Pencil: How Everybody Can Easily Learn to Draw Hardcover – Illustrated, April 2, 2013

by Andrew Loomis (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 755 ratings
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Andrew Loomis (1892-1959) is revered amongst artists - including comics superstar Alex Ross - for his mastery of  drawing. His first book, Fun With a Pencil, published in 1939 is a wonderfully crafted and engaging introduction to drawing, cartooning, and capturing the essence of a subject all while having fun. With delightful step-by-step instruction from Professor Blook, Loomis's charming alter ego on the page.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    120 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Titan Books
  4. Publication date
    April 2, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    9.21 x 0.71 x 12.2 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0857687603
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0857687609
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Fun with a Pencil is a wonderful drawing instructional book for beginners and aspiring comic book artist.  And this is a great reference book for your library.”– Retrenders

About the Author

Andrew Loomis was born in 1892. After studying art he moved to Chicago, eventually opening his own studio, working in editorial and advertising for most of the top clients at the time including Kellogg's, Coca Cola, Lucky Strike and more. He also became renowned as an art teacher and his instructional books on realist illustration and art are acclaimed classics in the field. He died in 1959.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Titan Books; Illustrated edition (April 2, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 120 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0857687603
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0857687609
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.21 x 0.71 x 12.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 755 ratings

About the author

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Dale lancaster

Dale lancaster

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Born in 1959, Dale lives in Barnoldswick Lancashire England, and specialises in publishing e-books that are often neglected because of the high content of their images and complex layouts. All the formatting his done by himself including the designs of the book fronts.

Because of the complexities of the books he formats, he prefers to use the Scrivener word processor.

He intends with his knowledge of speed reading and block editing, to develop techniques that will enable him to compete with larger e-book publishers that have the use of greater human resources, and who often outsource their work.

Dale is a prodigious reader and greatly interested in all past literature, and with his knowledge of different layouts and book formats he will continue to edit and publish books to the highest standard.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
755 global ratings
Excellent!
4 Stars
Excellent!
The only reason I gave the book a 4 star is because the pack was like the one at the start of Ace Ventura 1 . . . The book was also damaged, thank god, not the inside.About the book itself: Awesome! At first, you don't think its anything special, feel like a book for kids to have fun drawing stuff step by step...but its exactly how you learn to draw heads, and later on characters...in a fun way. No wonder people worship Loomis, he is really an excellent teacher. I can only recommend it, don't let the book mislead you, at first sight, it's really usefull!
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Top reviews from the United States

LGregor
5.0 out of 5 stars A lot of great information
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2024
Verified Purchase
Leafing through this book can be deceptive because it looks very simple! Loomis starts you off with all kinds of circles almost none of which are anywhere near perfect, and he shows you how to make a head and face which actually looks like a head and face. This in itself teaches a lot. He progresses through still simple but increasingly more perceptive exercises. He ends up with something like the classic Loomis head, and then onto figure drawing that's somewhere between stick figures and good gesture drawing. The book shows its age and has a lot of distracting typos and the examples are largely adult male. I think it's a great book for showing an absolute beginner he/she can do with consistent practice but not taking it too seriously, but just playing around with a pencil. Definitely recommend this book
One person found this helpful
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Kent
5.0 out of 5 stars Great price for the value
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
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The media could not be loaded.
 If you’re an artist, this is a great starter on how to draw the Loomis method. Definitely recommend.
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Tony Tirado
5.0 out of 5 stars FUN WITH A PENCIL: A FUN ADDICTIVE DRAWING BOOK--- OR DID I REALLY DRAW THAT??
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2017
Verified Purchase
THIS" REALLY SIMPLE BASIC STEP BY STEP DRAWING INSTRUCTION BOOK " WAS VERY MY FIRST DRAWING INSTRUCTION BOOK THAT GOT ME DEEPLY INTERESTED IN DRAWING!!
ANDY LOOMIS takes you step by step!
With a little practice daily ---LOPSIDED CIRCLES ARE NECESSARY AND can BECOME EXCELLENT CARTOON DRAWINGS OR
IMPRESSIVE "REAL LIFE" PORTRAITS!

TOOLS:
Notes:
Choice of Lead: #2B- 6Bsoft.
H: Hard: HB, 2H to 9H
The Softer "B" pencils tend to smear much more readily than the "H".
FIXATIVE Spray: Adds a protective coating to prevent leads from smearing.
#2HB TICONDEROGA PENCIL: IS A GREAT PENCIL TO START WITH DUE TO ITS LOW COST AND AVAILABILITY.
MECHANICAL PENCIL: Give you a variety of choices of lead hardness to choose from. They also allow for drawing extra fine pencil line details.
KNEADED ERASER,
PENCIL SHARPENER.
Sand Paper Manicure File cards
ART PAPER: I STARTED DRAWING ON BROWN PAPER SHOPPING BAGS and CARDBOARD BOXES! Until I began experimenting on different textures of paper attempting to find which texture and media(s) worked best for me.
IMPORTANT:
DEVELOP PATIENCE with YOURSELF: PERFECTION COMES LATER!
DESIRE TO DRAW. Drawing is to me an unexplained DESIRE to recreate from your mind; what surounds you.
Although I started drawing a a young age, FUN WITH A PENCIL WILL ALWAYS BE MY ART BIBLE". Especially when I'm going through an ARTISTIC DRY SPELL"
All I have to do to get motivated is by: DOING THESE REALLY SIMPLE LESSONS in this book!!

Recently; I received a letter from my younger brother who wished to learn how to draw. in his letter he explained that: "DRAWING RELAXES ME and I want to lean to draw!" Of course he is in for a BIG SURPRISE---I just had to buy him a copy of: "FUN WITH A PENCIL!

There are many "Drawing Made Simple' books on the market today---BUT-- I found that they seem to have copied Andy Loomis's techniques or jump you into: GREY'S ANATOMY"

Unfortunately, Andy has passed on but his drawings of characters and people live on within the pages of his many art instructional books.
The Lessons are easy to do!
You may find yourself mesmerized by their FUN TO DO AND SIMPLICITY!! YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF SAYING:

"DID I DRAW THAT??"
"THANK YOU ANDY LOOMIS!"

CONCLUSION:
I BELIEVE IN THIS BOOK SO MUCH THAT I'VE ALREADY PURCHASED TWO COPIES OF THIS BOOK!!
Buy Again?
DEFINITELY!!!!!
AFTER READING THE FIRST PAGE OF THIS BOOK---DON'T BLAME ME IF YOU GET HOOKED ON THE LESSONS!!
51 people found this helpful
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Gustavo
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for anyone interested in improving and enjoying the art of drawing
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2024
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Excellent book for anyone interested in improving and enjoying the art of drawing
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jpcooper
4.0 out of 5 stars It's Andrew Loomis - Enough Said!
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2013
Verified Purchase
Not as valuable as the other Loomis titles recently reprinted by Titan, but still very much worth purchasing. If you don't already own the other four books buy them first. In particular, I would recommend "Creative Illustration". At the price Amazon is offering this beautiful, hardcover edition for it's nothing short of a gift. Titan has done the world of illustration a tremendous service in making these classics available again. Before this project began any Andrew Loomis book would set you back a couple days wages - if you could find them. Loomis was a master at his craft and equally gifted as an instructor. Any art student would benefit from a thorough immersion in these works. I was first introduced to Loomis by way of his magazine ads. He created advertisements for many of the foremost companies in America during the 1940s, 50s and 60s. After these encounters I was compelled to purchase "Creative Illustration". Let me just say, had I waited a few years I could have put another one of my kids through college with the money Titan's reprint would have saved me. Not quite, but you get the point. As I still own the original and just had to compare the two, I bought Titan's new edition. It's a beautifully produced facsimile.

I'm beginning to think I'm reviewing the wrong book. As to "Fun with a Pencil" it is just as the name suggest - lots of fun. Filled with great suggestions for the aspiring cartoonist it presents characters straight out the Golden Age. Perky young ladies and quirky older gentleman combine with helpful hints on perspective and composition to produce a worthwhile book of instruction.
Anything associated with the name of Andrew Loomis is gold. And this volume is no exception. It is only by comparison to the four previous works that this title should suffer. If you can shell out the do-re-mi, buy all five books - you won't regret it.

This book is well produced in every respect. It is constructed to take years of wear and tear just like its companion volumes. I thank Titan, again, for the commitment they made to this series and wait to see what they have in store for us in the future.
71 people found this helpful
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lovebooks
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, timeless information for serious artists and doodlers
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2019
Verified Purchase
Fun with a Pencil is both clever and fun. The steps are simple. Those who follow along each exercise example will find a wealth of information in just a few simple steps when creating characters. What sets this book apart from the rest is Mr. Loomis begins with the simplest face and progresses to interesting characters, encouraging us to follow the instruction, building upon our own unique characters in our own way. What is both interesting and clever is when you get to his pages of finished characters. You are able to envision how each one can be drawn. His techniques work.
19 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Ana P
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente para empezar
Reviewed in Mexico on December 29, 2022
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Me encantó, es excelente para empezar a dibujar caras. La técnica es fácil de entender y me ayudó a dibujar desde la imaginación más que desde referencias
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geomcamck
5.0 out of 5 stars For all those afraid to draw
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 9, 2023
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This book is packed with useful guides and informaton provided in simple manner with exercises everey step of the way, you may find the writing a bit dated but it is from the 1940s
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Georg G.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great - Großartig!
Reviewed in Germany on June 5, 2021
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Ein wunderbares Buch, das den Nutzer langsam und unterhaltsam an die Loomis-Methode für Karikaturen und Portraits heranführt. Die Moralapostel, die hier von Rassismus reden, verstehen offensichtlich die Absicht von Karikaturen nicht. Es werden Weiße, Schwarze, Gelbe und "Rothäute" auf die Schippe genommen. Wer da Rassismus gegenüber Schwarzen sieht, sollte einmal seine Haltung überdenken. Und natürlich kommen diese Vorwürfe - obwohl in Englisch - aus Deutschland, da leben heutzutage die besseren Menschen.
"Die schärfsten Kritiker der Elche waren früher selber welche." (F.W. Bernstein)
Man sollte unbedingt die gebundene Version kaufen!

A wonderful book that slowly and entertainingly introduces the user to the Loomis method for caricatures and portraits. The moralists who speak of racism here obviously do not understand the purpose of caricatures. Whites, blacks, yellows and "redskins" are taken for a ride. Anyone who sees racism against blacks should rethink their attitude. And of course these allegations - although in English - come from Germany, where the better people live nowadays.
"The harshest critics of the moose used to be moose themselves." (F.W. Bernstein)
You should definitely buy the bound version!
8 people found this helpful
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Ibosim
5.0 out of 5 stars Libro fundamental para dibujantes
Reviewed in Spain on March 7, 2021
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Es un libro fundamental para cualquier amante del dibujo. El método de Loomis es sencillamente genial. Me apetecía tener un ejemplar impreso. Las páginas son tamaño folio y con estos ejercicios se aprende mucho y se suelta la mano.
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Ness
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent et étonnant...
Reviewed in France on December 20, 2020
Verified Purchase
Bon, Andrew Loomis était un maître à son époque (années 40 -> 60) et je trouve très étonnante la qualité de ses livres en général et celui-ci en particulier. Ce livre aurait pu être écrit dans les années 2000.
Les réflexions d'Andrew Loomis concernant le dessin en utilisant les formes est parfaite.
C'est une méthode qui est très utilisée par Disney, Pixar, etc.
J'ai lu beaucoup de livres sur le sujet et j'avoue que Andrew Loomis m'épate toujours car il arrive à exprimer très simplement, et cela il y a près de 80 ans, une façon de créer des personnages qui est majoritairement la base du dessin de nos jours.
Alors "Fun With a Pencil" est d'ailleurs étonnant sur un autre point... se présente comme un livre qui "simplifie" la façon de dessiner, et c'est le cas... mais justement, comme noté plus haut, ce sont vraiment les bases pour "bien" dessiner. Il ne s'agit pas du tout d'une méthode qui simplifie pour simplifier... C'est une méthode professionnelle qui, comme écrit plus haut, est à la base même de ce qui se fait aujourd'hui en character design, dessin animé, cinéma, bd.

Un livre précieux, très intéressant. En anglais. L'édition en elle-même est de très bonne facture comme tous les autres livres de cette collection. Le discours est un peu daté (écrit en 1939).
Excellent pour le débutant mais aussi pour le professionnel qui cherche à simplifier son processus créatif.
A compléter avec les autres livres de l'auteur chez Titan Books.
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