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Perspective! For Comic Book Artists: How to Achieve a Professional Look in Your Artworkx$11.25
  (36 reviews)
Best Price: $21.95 $11.25
This clever book teaches artists the unique skill of drawing perspective for spectacular landscapes, fantastic interiors, and other wildly animated backgrounds to fit comic-strip panels.
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Customer Reviews
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Outstanding, funny and accessible
By A184EFWP7D688K on 2000-08-31
Nothing more need be said about this book other than that one of the great Disney layout men, Kendall O'Connor, loved it when it was given to him as a Christmas present. High praise for a fine book.It's the best guide to perspective for cartoonists, who are often not known for following 'normal' perspective. Celsi knows his business but also knows how to entertain. This is a must have for any comic artist or animator.
A great book for beginners and pros alike.
By A28GEJOX3NPLLQ on 2001-07-30
A tome about comic perspective in comics form, this book helped me discover new principles in perspective and the REASON for these principle. Not just for your scenery, human bodies in perspective are also covered... but you had better know anatomy before hand. The reason for the missing star is because Chelsea uses two forms of curvilinear perspective, but suspiciously absent is the chapter ON curvilinear. Even with this oversight, Chelsea has written an engaging and fairly complete perspective guide. Look closely at the icecubes on page 131 and try to find the hidden pictures!
Not your average Take on Perspective
By A2OYDVYIZUO2CW on 2000-06-01
I found this book extremely helpful, in more ways the one. Instead of your usual text with diagram format, it has a refreshing comic book format. This means that examples are almost always right there, WITH the text that discusses it - so you can absorb what's being talked about with out having the "break concentration" and look for the relevant connection between explanation and example. Also, rather than discuss only the "terminology" and the like, I found the explanations were geared so that anyone who can read could understand them - without a dictionary being close to hand! I'd highly recommend picking up this book - to the beginners and pros alike! The gains from it's knowledge are definately worth the price.
One of the best perspective books
By A346CHRFKOJZD5 on 2005-01-08
If you are a serious artist then you will probably have to study a few perspective books before you learn all you need to know about the subject. This book deserves to be in that collection. It covers the nuts and bolts of the correct methods for drawing in one, two and three point perspective and offers hints for shortcuts that you can use to build drawings with a perspective look, even if they are not technically accurate, when you have to work with a deadline.
What I like about the book is that it provides thorough context for understanding not just the how, but the reasons behind the perspective techniques. If you know the rules you can do it, but if you understand the context in depth you can make informed decisions about when to follow the painstaking rules and when to use the shortcuts.
The book is also written in a very approachable visual medium. Basically it is a comic book following in the tradition of Scott McCloud's "Understanding Comics".
The book also includes some facinating bits of trivia about 3 point perspective, when it was developed and why, and the lengths that some artists, like M. C. Escher, had to go to in order to properly employ it.
The book has two shortcomings. The first is a consequence of its comic format, there are a large number of pages which present more character development than is strictly necessary to get the information across. By contrast, most perspective books are very condensed, explaining as much as can be explained with illustrations and diagrams. This not only goes into detailed discussion of perspective, its uses and theory, but does so within the voice baloons of two characters.
The second shortcoming is one that I can't think of any other perspective book that treats, that is, it leaves out curvileniar or 5 point perspective, though apparently the author is aware of this kind of perspective, he tantalizes us by using it in a couple of illustrations in the book.
Entertaining but...
By on 2000-02-13
I bought this book since I was interested in creating my own comic book for my amusement.I found the format quite engaging and entertaining, pretty much like Scott McClouds Understanding Comics (whom the author's format is inspired by). The explanations are pretty straightforward and user-friendly, especially for the general introduction and one point perspective. Personally, I wish that it had more examples for implementing three point perspective (which is heavily used in the more dramatic/dynamic shots and scenes). Overall, it's a pretty good book, although I'm now purchasing other perspective manuals to clarify some of the more difficult aspects of this.
- A must have for ANY artist.
By A2CVQSC7315P11 on 1999-10-31
This book is probably the best perspective book i have ever read. I dont see how anyone can give it a bad review or call it useless. Author not only explains how to draw the perspective in the simplest way but also explains a bunch of different techniques that might work for you. The book is written as a large comic strip wich makes it very enterntaining and at times alsmot like you are watching a movie. Explanations are very straight forward and not hard to undestand with a little bit of thinking. It is quite amaizing what kind of depths about perspective this book goes into. If you draw, you got to have it. I also hope it will be printed in hardcover someday
- And the best part? It's written in comic book form!
By A26T16EHVHIJ8O on 2006-07-06
David Chelsea has produced an informative and entertaining resource in this book. He's cleverly managed to sum up perspective lessons from numerous sources into one compendium for comic book artists, fans of the genre interested in learning how it's done, or even the casual artist.
After the opening chapters dealing with depth cues, the picture plane, the horizon and vanishing point, and the use of cubes in illustration, he divides the book up into several tutorials covering one-point perspective, two-point perspective, three-point perspective, the use of circles and ellipses in perspective and the human figure in perspective.
You can easily sit down with a sketch pad (I would also recommend some graph paper) and go through his lessons one by one to get a more hands-on approach (I intend to do this soon!). The three-point perspective lesson is very complex but worth the effort, especially for the burgeoning comic book artist. Three-point perspective, as Chelsea points out, allows the artist to render some pretty dynamic scenes.
When I first saw that the majority of the book was written in comic book form, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. However, once I got into it, I found it to be very entertaining. I was learning the process of perspective illustration while enjoying the medium I love: sequential art!
I highly recommend Chelsea's book. Even if you never sit down and attempt to use his methods, it will help you get your head around the whole topic. He also provides several short cuts for those who want to achieve those dynamic perspective effects without doing all the tedious legwork.
- Simplifying the complex, or complicating the simple?
By A2DM3ZJ6N1KN55 on 2004-11-25
Thorough explanation of perspective but at times it becomes "too thorough". Some things become too technical for the general reader.
At the same time, there's no section that deals with the really complex aspect of perspective - such as multiple perspectives in a single plane (for example, how do you draw a tilted boat on a beach?). Also, it doesn't deal much with putting people in perspective. Ok, so he does mention that you can use the horizon line but what if you're dealing with a single picture that has a person coming down a stairs, and another looking out a window, and another walking down the street? He doesn't explain how to draw them so that they look right. At least, he should have included how to tackle this issue.
For a book this thick, it's certainly lacking. This would be my only disappointment.
The only book I've seen that is much more helpful than David Chelsea's is the one written by Andrew Loomis (Successful Drawing, and Creative Drawing). But don't get me wrong. This isn't a bad book. It's quite useful but not that useful.
- An Awful Waste!
By AGKNETB8TML60 on 2007-03-10
Awful.
Perspective is 3 wonderful things:
- It is very easy to learn, when taught clearly.
- It is great fun.
- It is the best tool a graphic artist can dream of.
Well, you'd never guess by reading this book. It is badly explained, confusely written, poorly drawn and doesn't have anything to do with creativity or art. It is written for dead robots by a cold-blooded accountant.
It is so ugly and boring, it made me almost afraid and disgusted of perspective... And I've used perspective professionally and enjoyed it everyday for the last 35 years.
A shame, Mr. Chelsea.
If you want to learn perspective and have fun, try to get for probably less than 2 dollars "Perspective Drawing" by Ernest Norling, published in the 40s or the 50s by Walter Foster, in a second-hand bookshop.
Amazon sells also "Perspective Made Easy" by Ernest R. Norling, but I've never seen it. Anyway being by Ernest Norling, it can only be, at the least, 36 times more useful, informative, and motivating than the awful book by the poor Mr. David Chelsea.
- Probably the best perspective book yet for any artist!
By on 1999-02-01
I am a professional artist with a fairly complete resume...and library! So I feel as though I can speak about this book with some amount of experience behind my words.I actually happened on this book as I really don't draw comics at all (I paint with my own hand-ground paints using methodology based on Renaissance techniques). Since I teach classical art and hadn't had time to draw up worksheets as I usually do about perspective for my students, I was searching bookshelves for a good text book to hand them. That's when I found this book...and I'm so glad that I did. Even people who don't paint even seem to enjoy reading it! The book is very well written and entertaining...everyone will learn something from it whether you've worked at your art for a day, a year or a lifetime. It takes the intimidating factors away from the theories of perspective. Adults can easily read it and kids are drawn to it in a second...a sneaky way to learn "complex" theories by reading "the funny pages"!
- LEARN THE BASICS-THEN BUY THIS BOOK!
By AZWZHZANQ5CJU on 2006-05-25
If you are just learning to draw, learn some of the basics first. I suggest Doug Dubosques' Drawing 3-d and Ernest Norlings' Perspective Drawing. Then buy Mr. Chelseas' book. The book features 11 chapters, everything from diminution to 3-point perspective, ellipses; even short cuts and sampling of perspective grids. I hope you find this book as helpful to you as it is to me.
- Art teachers buy this book!
By A1CHJL8IY2IC4F on 2001-08-08
David Chelsea recognized a great book that was easy to learn from when he read "Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud". His talents and knowledge as an artist are demonstrated with the formost understanding of illustrating in perspective with this great technique. I'm a better artist because of this book. He demonstrates his technique step by step to make accurate illustrated perspective and gives you what you need to know to break the rules and get away with it.
- waste of time
By A3DYEOY7Q7ZR3V on 2004-05-21
Buy "How to draw comics the Marvel Way" instead, as Stan Lee and John Buscema cover all the necessary points in a few pages, as opposed to wasting your money on a book like this. Although kudos to this guy for padding a book this size. He must be close with Scott McCloud.
- Waste of paper.
By A3V1SE4FLTHO4I on 2008-06-07
Since I'm a storyboard artist I like a good book on perspective; I bought this one. What a disappointment. It only teaches the basics, and takes a long time doing it. It spends 3 whole pages teaching us that things bigger are closer and things smaller are further away. I kid you not. About 20 pages are spent on 1 point perspective. And so on. The examples are teensy, about 2 inches by 2 inches, so even if you're trying to learn the basics it doesn't give you much room to see it. The jokes are lame. Some of the perspective is even incorrect! (Check out the way the characters stand/sit in some of the panels. Also there's a frame on how to draw women's [...] in perspective...I've honestly never seen anyone with as badly drawn "perspective" as that.)
If you want to get a book on perspective, you don't want to get a sissy book like this. You want to get a man's book. Check out Brian LeMay's layout books, or even "Perspective Made Easy" by Norling. I'm a little crabby I got suckered into this book.
- A visual guide to realistic perspective
By on 1997-11-20
Artist David Chelsea has put together a great guide to the principles of perspective in drawing. Written in a comic-strip format inspired by Understanding Comics, David presents what he calls "the first user-friendly book on Perspective." The plot here isn't particularly harrowing -- David's friend Mugg, who sort of looks like a realistic Too Much Coffee Man, is having problems getting his superhero slugfests to come out right. And no wonder -- his perspective is all wrong. Enter David to save the day with example after example of the techniques of constructing one-point, two-point and three point perspectives, and short cuts to "fake" perspective. Very nicely illustrated, with lots of elaborate examples, and a great testament to Chelsea's ability to use his visual gifts to teach a complex subject. Copyright 1997 Twist and Shout Comics. Used with permission.
- Oh baby, what a book!!!
By on 2003-04-15
I've gone through college and university for fine art and no where did I learn proper perspective. But, this book is going to change all that. I'm not recommending this book, I'm telling you, IT'S AWESOME!!! GET IT!!! If you want to KNOW perspective this book is it and it SO EASY to read.
- excellent-but-
By A2WFZ0X25R6SCP on 2006-09-10
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are entertaining and
the explanations are okay although sometimes you have to read
it a few times until you "get it".
One important thing readers should know; there is ALOT of female
and MALE nudity in this book. the author could very well have
put shorts or underwear on the dozens of men in the book, but chose not too. I didn't like it. Also, if someone is embarrassed to take their clothes off, they don't have to be made fun of. Other than than that, the book does explain perspective quite well.
- Fun for Non-Artists Too!
By on 1999-11-25
I bought this for my young nephew who is interested in drawing. I started to read it myself and enjoyed it very much, even though I don't understand any of the techniques he is talking about. The characters are enjoyable, the writing is entertaining and the examples are fun to look at. I laughed out loud several times. Oh, my nephew says it has helped him to be better at drawing too. I would recommend it for any art student.
- I learned how to draw from this book.
By on 1999-10-17
This is the best book on any subject I have ever read. I could not draw at all - and now I can!Thanks Dave!
- Wonderful guide to perspective for artists.
By on 1998-05-07
Perspective is hard stuff, but this book does make it much easier. Chelsea approaches perspective through a comic-book format, using himself and the coffee-cup headed 'Mugg' as student and teacher. The comic format works wonderfully to give you the words alongside the pictures, and the book moves step by step through basic pespective concepts, then to one-point, two-point, three-point, and a unfortunately over-basic coverage of the human figure in perspective. This book is aimed mainly at the beginning and intermediate artist who needs to draw backgrounds, and it fills that role perfectly. Understandable to anyone from about age 13 and up, and highly recommended. My backgrounds don't suck anymore thanks to David Chelsea (and Mugg).
- Excellent!... It's *easily* in my Top 5 perspective books...
By A1KAAVZOHW640S on 2006-11-09
Some people will *love* that this is a 176 page comic book on perspective. Others may find this not to their taste. Either way, it's obvious that this is a truly unique & original take on a subject that's often exceedingly difficult to learn. I highly recommend this book to everyone, along with 2 others: Perspective Drawing Handbook by Joseph D'Amelio, and Perspective Made Easy by Ernest Norling. These 3 perspective books are currently my favorites, with Basic Perspective Drawing: A Visual Guide, 4th edition; and Creative Perspective for Artists and Illustrators, rounding out my Top 5. David Chelsea's book is *easily* the most entertaining to read. If anyone thinks learning can't be fun- think again! I can actually read this book as entertainment 1st and learning 2nd, although it's intended to be the other way around. It's not *just* for comic book artists either: it's purely done in this format for the sake of clear communication. Perspective is both explained & demonstrated with sincerity & proficiency. There's a reason this book is getting so many positive reviews, and it's not just due to effective marketing: Watson-Guptill publications truly has a unique hit on their hands. It's highly recommended!
- i got this book a couple of weeks ago and haven't used it
By on 1999-07-27
this book is not a real help to me and proably wouldn't be a real help to anyone at all the techniques are very primitive and confusing and the tips are useless
- Chris
By A2G1TW81QCPLIY on 2006-03-31
Alright. There are many perspective books on this planet, and none, are as EASY to understand, and so perfect and complete as this. This perspective book is done in comic form, which is a very interesting touch and deviation to traditional perspective books. I think its an honor just to have the book recommended to me by my art teacher. It teaches about the field of view, 2 to N points of perspective, perspective as applied to the body, shortcuts and all...and it teaches it all on a very human level, quite brilliant and funny too :)
- Incomprehensible
By AG29PHZHC011T on 2008-08-08
I purchased this book for it's intended purpose, to aid in the production of realistic comic books. Apart from it's routine treatment of one, two and three point perspective drawing, the book is by and large incomprehensible. I simply could not follow the author's diagrams and explanations in any way that made sense. The fact that it is written and presented like an actual comic book may have something to do with this.
A comic book artist needs to understand perspective in the same way as an architect. You have to understand scale, plan drawing and how to project a drawing in three dimensions. For example, a room layout sketched as a rough plan and placed into perspective and scale. This book offers the reader very little easily understood or practical instruction in these crucial techniques.
The Andrew Loomis books, sadly, are long out of print, but if you can get hold of 'Creative Illustration', 'Successful Drawing' and 'Fun With a Pencil' do so, as the subject is beautifully, almost magically explained.
'Vanishing Point-Perspective for Comics From the Ground Up' by Jason Cheeseman-Meyer is a very good book for the comic artist that lucidly explains the basics as well as providing many 'cheats' and solutions to specific problems.
However as far as perspective is concerned, you are better off biting the bullet and learning the whole thing from the ground up. Your drawing will take on a totally different, life-like quality and will progress much quicker.
Knowing perspective inside out will take your art to another level, but not with this book.
- This book is great!
By A2IE140KOAYG0E on 2005-09-13
I have found this book to be one of the most helpful "how to" books i've ever read. Fixed my perspective problem in two-three readings. Highly recommended if you're struggling with perspective.
- Very complicated, poorly organised, but lots of interesting pictures for reference.
By A2AN3XGOCC6S88 on 2008-05-17
Positive aspects of the book: Unique style- comic book form. Lots of interesting pictures.
Negative aspects of the book: the writer is autistic to his reader's individual needs and capabilities coming into this book. He communicates to a fictional character called 'Mugg', who automatically knows more than I do, and so by the end of the book, Mugg graduates from his lesson and I'm in the corner left wondering, "what the hell is going on?" The problem was that the author needed to make the book a sufficient length, and so he writes more than he needs to- he even admits this in the final chapter, "Shortcuts to Perspective". The result is that the book is poorly organised and with so much information ploughed on to us, it is easier to use the pictures for reference. Consequently, I have to shop for another book on perspective because this book doesn't quite do the job. Nevertheless, I'll still keep it for future reference because the pictures are unique and intriguing, revealing an active imagination communicating with unique symbols- and that's the essence of graphic novels.
- BEST BOOK ON PERSPECTIVE EVER SEEN, GENIUS YET EVEN A KID CAN UNDERSTAND IT!!! TEACHERS SHOULD TEACH MATH, ALL COURSES THIS WAY!
By A3TTAAMM09HWVT on 2006-10-27
THIS IS THE ONE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR, THE MAN TEACHES COMPLICATED PROCEDURE LIKE A GENIUS WOULD, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE TECHNIQUES ARE SUPER SOPHISTICATED, EVEN A CHILD CAN UNDERSTAND IT (OR ATLEAST A TEENAGER) AND CAN BE USED IMMEDIATELY, YOU DONT HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE BOOK TO PUT IT TO USE IMMEDIATELY AND GET INSTANT, PROFFESSIONAL RESULTS GUARANTEED! I CANNOT WAIT FOR HIM TO MAKE BOOK TWO, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED A 10+ THIS MAN REALLY KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF AND TO THINK THERE'S MORE TO THIS, NOT JUST FOR ARTIST BUT ALSO TO LEARN ABOUT LIFE, AS YOU KNOW ART TEACHES YOU ABOUT LIFE AND IT'S HIDDEN MYSTERIES ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BE QUIET, LOOK WITH A BEGINNER'S MIND IN ALL THINGS, WITH THE EYES OF SOMEONE WHOSE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND YOU WILL LEARN AND THIS MAN USING THE KNOWLEDGE OF MANY LEGENDARY MASTERS AND GENUISES PRESENTS IT TO YOU IN A VERY EXCELLENT FORMAT AND IN ADDITION THERE ARE PARTS IN IT THAT ARE EVEN FUNNY!!! VERY TASTEFULLY DONE, IF ONLY MATH TEACHERS AND HISTORY TEACHERS AND ALL TEACHERS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AND PRESCHOOL WOULD TAKE THE SAME INTEREST AND IF ONLY THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS WOULD REALIZE THAT TEACHING, EVEN SERIOUS HEAVY DUTY LEARNING CAN BE SOO MUCH FUN, SO INTERESTING AND FANTASTIC. THUMBS WAY UP ON THIS ONE, SHOULD BE ESSENTIAL READING FOR ALL ARTIST!!!
TO THE AUTHOR PLEASE WRITE BOOK TWO AND IF POSSIBLE BOOK THREE THE WORLD DESERVES THIS KIND OF EXCELLENT THOUROUGHNESS!
- Very Thorough and Technical
By A1D1PLUZBWBV7R on 2007-06-02
This is an excellent book. It is also very technical. If you are looking for shortcuts to drawing perspective, this isn't the book for you. But if you are looking for a detail and instructive book on drawing very accurate perspectives, then this book is great. It has excellent instruction regarding complex perspective setups. The format is good for the instruction, and the prose is a little bit stiff, but not distracting. Overall a very instructive book, but not the best I've read.
- A great introduction to perspective
By A2EVR1T3PMXIWH on 2007-09-11
I got this book because it was recommended by Scott McCloud in Making Comics, and I found it to be very fun and helpful. The fact that it's written as a dialogue between two people and illustrated as a comic makes it easy and fun to read, and the tips and instruction it gives are great for someone who doesn't know a whole lot about the subject. Someone who wants to really get into perspective would probably want to look elsewhere, but for me this was a great book.
- Good teaching tool, but not boring like a text book
By A2VP7SLUF10MNI on 2007-09-19
I've always had trouble with using perspective in my drawings, especially with the image's setting fitting with the perspective shot of the subject of the image. This book is really good at explaining and giving key points to know about how to clean up your perspective techniques without becoming a dry lecture on art technique.
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