Keys to drawing: introduction, chapter 1

I have owned this book for a very long time (gasp since 1985) and every time I move it to a new shelf, I promise myself I will take a longer view of it. But I will procrastinate no longer.
Here is a pet peeve if it is a working book it should lie flat.  My binding is breaking and that irritates me.  Well a lot of things irritate me but this would have been easy to solve.  Working books and cook books should lie flat.

As an aside - I always love reading dedications - his wife is included which I like because I am a wife and if my husband didn't thank me and acknowledge me, he would be very very very sorry.

The  introduction explains that drawing is a process of seeing.  How true. Isn't it strange when you see a building torn down and can't remember what it was before but if I would have drawn, I probably would have remembered.  Not that I see many building torn down in Montreal they usually fall down, but I digress. He says you can do any chapter in any sequence but being the anal person that I am, I will do them in order because it would kill me if I didn't do it that way.
Chapter 1
I took an hour to fill up all my pencils with lead, found some scrap paper, walked the dog and now I am ready to begin - oh but wait I  still have to do a load of laundry check the mail. etc..  I am embarrassed to admit what a procrastinator I am but now I really am going to start. As I said before Chapter one.  He explains the difference between critical dialogue (this stinks, can't paint trees ) and practical dialogue (the angle of the arm is steeper, the tree has this shape).  I can understand one just ends the conversation and makes you feel bad and the other tells you either how to improve or how to do it. I will try to turn off the critical dialogue.
Bert asks the question where do you look when you draw.  this makes me think of when people ask you how do you breath - I just stop breathing because I forget how I breath and only start again when I pass out.
Anyway I will ask someone to watch me when I draw - do I watch the object more or my paper more. According to Bert, watching the object more means you are in critical mode. Here is a suggestion that he says will keep you focused use trigger words that you keep repeating (sharp, long bristly)  and repeat them.
Here are his instructions to draw  and I am quoting
1 - look at the object
2 - hold that contour or shape in your mind for a moment
3 - draw it while it is still fresh  in your mind

Pretty simple look hold draw.
project 1 a
draw your own  crossed feet looking more then drawing

Clean up your mess

 - I have a billion art books - OK maybe a slight exaggeration but I do have a lot. I love to buy them and put them on my shelves, take them down, peruse them.  If I was forced to limit myself to just one, I think I would rather give up my first born.
While I am not as bad as some of the subjects of  the TV show Hoarders, I think it is time to whittle down my library and keep only the best. There are also some new ones I would love but I have decided that if I want a new one I have to give one away (oh the pain and agony).
My art has also been in a rut so maybe working through a book will inspire me. Well, it can't hurt.

First on the list is Keys to Drawing by Bert Dodson. I will post as I struggle in the exercises. This blog is really just my diary just for me

Added sites
Worldcat.org searches libraries for a book  I wish all the libraries close to me would subscribe to it
Bookfinder.com searches sites that sell books

Added wish books
Color and Light - I really want this book.  I came across it in a  book store and thought it was great.  The cover didn't attract me because I am not interested in dinosaurs but it has so much information.  I would still be reading it if the book store hadn't kicked me out.
The artist's book of excuses  - I really don't need this book but the cover looks so funny and I suspect I probably use some the excuses