Lee J. Ames - 12 Feb

Draw 50 Airplanes, Aircraft, and Spacecraft

Draw 50 Aliens

Draw 50 Animal Toons

Draw 50 Animals

Draw 50 Athletes

Draw 50 Baby Animals

Draw 50 Beasties

Draw 50 Birds

Draw 50 Boats, Ships, Trucks, and Trains

Draw 50 Buildings and Other Structures

Draw 50 Cars, Trucks, and Motorcycles

Draw 50 Cats

Draw 50 Creepy Crawlies

Draw 50 Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals

Draw 50 Dogs

Draw 50 Endangered Animals

Draw 50 Famous Cartoons

Draw 50 Flowers, Trees, and Other Plants

Draw 50 Horses

Draw 50 Magical Creatures

Draw 50 Monsters

Draw 50 People

Draw 50 Princesses

Draw 50 Sharks, Whales, and Other Sea Creatures

Draw 50 Vehicles

Draw the Draw 50 Way

Copyright 1992 by Jocelyn S. Ames and Murray D. Zak

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Watson-Guptill Publications, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, in 2013.

www.crownpublishing.com
www.watsonguptill.com

WATSON-GUPTILL and the WG and Horse designs are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

Originally published in hardcover in the United States by Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc., New York, in 1992.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Ames, Lee J.
Draw 50 endangered animals / Lee J. Ames with Warren Budd.
p. cm.
1. Animals in art. 2. Endangered species in art. 3. DrawingTechnique. I. Budd, Warren. II. Title. III. Title: Draw fifty endangered animals.
NC780.A4 1993
743.6dc20 93-25334
CIP

eISBN: 978-0-8230-8609-2

v3.1

This book dedicated,
With deep concern, to us all.
For we, too are endangered.

To be able to see, and for the most part, to have enjoyed what Ive been able to see, has filled my life with constant pleasure. Being able to reproduce, by drawing, what I see, or what I visualize in my imagination, adds even more satisfaction. Being able to show others, like yourselves, how to construct a drawing, tops it all.

In this world of glorious things to see, some may not be with us for long. Among these are many wonderful living creatures. These are the endangered animals with whom, as long as weve existed, weve shared this earth. Lets learn to draw these friends before they may leave us forever.

Warren Budd, whom Ive known and worked with for many years, did a lions share of the research and the art for this book. Ive watched him develop from a raw, insecure art school student to the accomplished artist with whom Im delighted to share coauthorship.

When you start working I suggest you use clean white bond paper or drawing paper and a pencil with moderately soft lead (HB or No. 2). Keep a kneaded eraser handy (available at art supply stores). Choose the subject you want to draw and then, very lightly and very carefully, sketch out the first step. Also very lightly and carefully, add the second step. As you go along, study not only the lines but the spaces between the lines. Size your first steps to fill your drawing paper agreeably, not too large, not too small. Remember, the first steps must be constructed with the greatest care. A mistake here could ruin the whole thing.

As you work its a good idea, from time to time, to hold a mirror to your sketch. The image in the mirror frequently shows distortion you may not recognize otherwise.

You will notice that new-step additions (in color) are printed darker. This is so they can be clearly seen. But remember to always keep your construction steps very light. Heres where the kneaded eraser can be useful. You can lighten a pencil stroke that is too dark by pressing on it with the eraser.

When youve softly sketched all the light steps, and youre sure you have everything the way you want it, finish your drawing with firm, strong penciling.

If you like, you can go over your drawing with India Ink (applied with a fine brush or pen), or a permanent fine-tipped ballpoint or felt-tipped marker. When thoroughly dry, you can then use the kneaded eraser to clean off all the underlying pencil marks.

Remember, if your first attempts at drawing do not turn out the way youd like, its important to keep trying. Your efforts will eventually pay off and youll be pleased and surprised at what you can accomplish. I sincerely hope youll improve your drawing skills and have a great time recording drawings of our endangered friends.

As a preteen student in New York Citys public school system, I did well enough. During the drawing periods, however, I had an edge. Drawing classes were relaxed and, for the most part, easy fun. There, I was better than average. There, I was able to do what I most loved. The approval I received encouraged me to avidly pursue further drawing skills. In addition, that pleasant time carried over and enhanced my entire school experience. Then, while I was in the sixth grade, in the middle of the school term my family moved to another borough of the city. I was enrolled in a new school.

A difficult time followed. Some of the courses were entirely different; the new way of teaching familiar subjects had me totally confused. It all seemed so overwhelming, what with new kids, no friends, and a great deal of homework to catch up on.

There was, however, something to look forward to a drawing period on Friday afternoon! Now, I would have a chance to display what I could do best. Now, I might receive friendly, favorable recognition.

Finally Friday came. But just as the drawing period was about to begin, the teacher brought another students history notebook to my desk. Here, she said, you can spend this time copying Roberts notes into your notebook. Drawing is not that important.

Three unpleasant weeks followed. Then I had an incredible stroke of luck! My parents were notified that Id been placed in the wrong school district. I was transferred to another school, Public School 12 in the borough of Queens. At P.S. 12, drawing class was considered important. There, I began to experience wonderful things.

Not only did this school regard the drawing class as important, but the teacher understood the significant value of encouraging each and every student.

We were permitted to invent, to explore, to copy. Being allowed to copy was unusual then. That teacher, I feel, was way ahead of her time. Copying permitted me to explore many different kinds of drawings and ways to draw. It also helped me develop the necessary drawing muscles enabling me to hone my skills.

Mimicry and copying, I find, are prerequisites to creativity!

It is my hope that you will be able to come up with drawings that will bring gratifying approval from friends and family. After that I look forward to the competition.

L EE J. A MES