Arthur L. Guptill - Sketching as a Hobby

Sketching as a Hobby

Sketching as a Hobby

ARTHUR L. GUPTILL

Introduction by

Carroll Leja Nichols, M.D.

DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC.

Mineola, New York

Copyright

Copyright 1936, 1963 by William Guptill and Ann Cooke

All rights reserved.

Bibliographical Note

This Dover edition, first published in 2018, is an unabridged republication of the work originally published in 1936 by Harper & Brothers Publishers, New York. The color frontispiece has been moved to the inside front cover for this edition.

International Standard Book Number

ISBN-13: 978-0-486-82837-4

ISBN-10: 0-486-82837-9

Manufactured in the United States by LSC Communications

82837901 2018

www.doverpublications.com

To a friend of long standing

WILLIAM P. F. ROBIE

Sketching Hobbyist

Who, when the author was of tender years, first pointed out to him the joys of sketching, and proffered the needed advice and encouragement

Contents

Illustrations

FIGURE

Introduction

W HETHER or not I had ever read this book, I could recommend it most highly to anyone in the slightest degree interested in the several varieties of sketching, or to anyone desiring to improve his understanding and appreciation of the graphic arts. My certainty rests upon my intimate acquaintance with the author, Arthur L. Guptill, and his work. It has been my good fortune to have him as an instructor and a privilege to claim him my friend.

I know that whether in a classroom of beginners or with an advanced group, in a museum or on a sketching expedition, creating a fantastic dorg for a youngster or designing a difficult layout for a client, he is never at a loss artistically or in the expression of his thought. This latter ability is well reflected in the present volume. A novitiate or an advanced student will benefit much by a perusal of the following pages; and many individuals in addition to those who already have had the opportunity of studying under him will be grateful to Guppy for having provided a hobby or a career.

His column, Guptills Corner, in the magazine Pencil Points, is replete with humor and satire; his classes full of fun. Yet the fact that for so long a time he has been designing and illustrating advertisements of national scope, to say nothing of carrying on an architectural practice, is evidence of his serious side as well as his inexhaustible proficiency. Someone once remarked, Were Guppy sent to jail for life, he could each day make a finished drawing which would be totally unlike any other he had ever created. Why jail was selected as a locale was not disclosed!

From the viewpoint of mental security it is practically a necessity, in these times of intense and stressful existence, for each normal person to have a hobby to ride. And what could take one more out of himself than to sit and sketch a magnificent elm, a century-old doorway or a charming Wiscasset dwelling? Complete forgetfulness of pressing cares is often the reward, even though the graphic results of the attempt to perpetuate the visual impression may not equal ones ambition. The compensation usually comes, in other words, from the making of the attemptthe striving for worth-while accomplishmentrather than from the accomplishment itself. Yet a certain type of success usually accompanies any serious effort. Much has been done with the stub of a pencil and the back of an envelope when the soul has been stirred. Then, too, the companionship of congenial fellow beings with a common enjoyment is not lightly to be dismissed.

The authors forthright directness, his clarity of explanation, his freedom from dogmatism, his happy selection of example, and, last but not least, the immense fun he has in doing it alla fun which the reader is taught to shareprovide plenty of reason for the existence of this record of his observations. And what a wealth of instruction and inspiration he has managed to compress within this one small volume!

C ARROLL L EJA N ICHOLS, M.D.

Brooklyn, New York,

August, 1936

Preface

G LAD I am, indeed, to have the privilege of addressing this little volume to sketching hobbyists, for despite my twenty-odd years as artist, architect, and designer, I have always been, and without doubt always shall be, a sketching hobbyist myself. Often after a day of professional drawing or related work, I amaze my friends by choosing to devote my evening to the same sort of thing.

And as it is ever a pleasure to share ones knowledge and enthusiasm with others, I have enjoyed the teaching to which I have long devoted a portion of my time. Especially have I felt keen fellowship with those students who, whether holding professional aspirations or not, have found real happiness in their work. As my writing has been merely an extension of my teaching, it has brought me similar satisfaction. And I am honest when I say that I welcome this opportunity to reach a new group of congenial spirits with whom I can chat about my favorite subject. If this chatting proves of any value I shall be highly gratified: if it wins a few new sketching converts that will be satisfying.

Art is by no means as complex and mysterious as many people believe. In fact the phase of art with which these pages are mainly concernedthe sketching of actual persons, places, and thingsis, while not exactly easy, far less difficult than commonly supposed. If we can but strip away the shroud of verbose ambiguity with which sketching, like other art subjects, has too often been clothed, we find that there are only a few real essentials, each of which can easily be comprehended, assimilated, and put into practice. These essentials are here taken up one at a time. Starting with the representation of form and of values of light and dark, and the interpretation of color, the beginner is led by degrees from elementary to advanced considerations, every step being clearly explained and, if necessary, fully illustrated.

Many chapters deal with the technique of such media as pencil, crayon, charcoal, pen and ink, wash, water color, etc., with emphasis on modern styles and up-to-date procedure. Various unique methods which make for originality are presented, as are certain practices of the professional. Considerable space is also devoted to such joy-bringing matters as the sketching of objects, outdoor subjects, landscapes, animals, people, etc. Everywhere the reader is urged to think for himself, and to experiment constantly with the development in view of a natural and individual style.

While this volume is designed primarily for the amateur, its content is far from superficial, and so should prove of equal value to any student of art and allied subjects, as well as to the art teacher and the younger professional. Frequent references to authoritative books point the way to a logical extension of ones study.

I present the claim (reason or another, he eventually falls by the wayside, he will at least have gained considerable interest in and appreciation of the work of other artists. This alone should make the effort worth while. It is hoped, however, that every reader will find such fun in his attempts to sketch that, whatever his progress or ultimate achievement, sketching will become a lasting and soul-satisfying hobby!