Interview with Ashley Edge, author of Draw Like a Boss 3: Secrets of Composition
Ashley Edge, author of Draw Like a Boss 3: Secrets of Composition recommends a brilliant bunch of books! Before jumping into the interview, please check out Ashley's book:
Description from Bookshop.org: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
Draw Like a Boss 3: Secrets of Composition
A Knight Templar, more interested in the secrets behind making great art than stabbing things, stumbles into the Watcher's Library, a labyrinth of boundless knowledge where art, mystery, secret societies, and the occasional talking bird collide. What begins as a simple quest to understand visual composition soon spirals into a grand adventure through time, space, and art history itself.
From the biological roots of creativity to the elusive secrets of the Masters, the Knight's journey uncovers the long-lost 'Hierarchy of Visual Elements', unravels the mysteries of Flow, and crosses paths with Hans Holbein, Pieter Bruegel, Johannes Vermeer, Ilya Repin, John-Singer Sargent, and many more. Along the way, ancient wisdom is challenged, artistic traditions are questioned, and maybe... just maybe... the Louvre gets burgled of its secrets.
Blending practical insight with irreverent humour, Secrets of Composition is a deep dive into the unseen forces that shape powerful images, told through the eyes of an unlikely and possibly immortal guide.
Packed with knowledge, hidden stories, and inserts (documents pilfered throughout the Knight's journey), this fully illustrated journal is more than a book. It's a collector's item. A jewel in the artist's bookshelf.
Now. Are you ready to see the Art World like never before?
Buy On:
Bookshop.org UK £60.00
Blackwells £60.00
Waterstones £60.00
Q. Do you have a favourite smart thinking book (and why that book)?
The Practice and Science of Drawing by Harold Speed. Description from Blackwells: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
While doing my art degree in Manchester, I found that most of the curriculum was centred around modern art, which personally felt confusing and often deprived of meaning. Feeling dissatisfied and frustrated, I turned to classical drawing in my own time, reading all there was on the subject. I couldn’t afford to study in Florence, so books became my teachers and Harold Speed’s The Practice and Science of Drawing quickly became one of my favourites and later on it shaped a lot of the ideas that grew into my Draw Like a Boss series.
Speed was a painter writing at a time when classical training was slipping out of fashion and modern art was taking centre stage. What makes his book so valuable is that he wasn’t just clinging to the past he shows how principles like line, mass, and form can give structure and clarity to any artist’s work, even today. With a passionate style rooted in practice rather than theory, Speed doesn’t just tell you what to do; he explains why drawings work the way they do, weaving in psychology, philosophy, and aesthetics. It’s as much a smart book about seeing and thinking as it is a manual on technique.
The Practice and Science of Drawing
Unlock the secrets to masterful drawing with Harold Speed's The Practice and Science Of Drawing. A timeless guide for aspiring artists, this book delves into the fundamental principles of art instruction and technique. Emphasizing both the practical application and the underlying science of drawing, Speed provides invaluable insights into figure drawing, sketching, and general artistic principles.
Explore essential concepts that will elevate your artistic skills, regardless of your current level. This meticulously prepared edition offers clear and concise guidance, making it an indispensable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of drawing. Perfect for both self-study and classroom use, The Practice and Science Of Drawing remains a cornerstone text in the world of art, offering enduring wisdom for artists of all disciplines.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Buy On:
Blackwells £25.99
Waterstones £14.50
Q. What's the most recent smart thinking book you've read (and how would you rate it)?
Milton's Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré by John Milton. Description from Bookshop.org: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
This luxurious hardback edition presents John Milton''s celebrated epic poem, Paradise Lost, with opulent gold cover embossing, striking illustrated page edges and classic illustrations by Gustave Doré.
John Milton''s Paradise Lost is considered one of the greatest works in the English language, narrating the familiar Christian myth of the fall from grace. Influencing such writers as J. R. R. Tolkien and Philip Pullman, this epic poem explores the darker side of the human soul through the struggle for ascendancy between God and Satan.
This beautiful hardback edition is produced with faux-cloth binding, stamped lettering in gold foil and stunning printed edges. It also features 50 magnificent engravings by legendary French artist Gustave Doré. These visual details make this collector''s edition a truly wonderful gift.
Milton's Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré
his luxurious hardback edition presents John Milton''s celebrated epic poem, Paradise Lost, with opulent gold cover embossing, striking illustrated page edges and classic illustrations by Gustave Doré.
John Milton''s Paradise Lost is considered one of the greatest works in the English language, narrating the familiar Christian myth of the fall from grace. Influencing such writers as J. R. R. Tolkien and Philip Pullman, this epic poem explores the darker side of the human soul through the struggle for ascendancy between God and Satan.
This beautiful hardback edition is produced with faux-cloth binding, stamped lettering in gold foil and stunning printed edges. It also features 50 magnificent engravings by legendary French artist Gustave Doré. These visual details make this collector''s edition a truly wonderful gift.
Buy On:
Bookshop.org UK £23.75
Bookshop.org US $36.95
Blackwells £22.44
Q. Do you have a favourite childhood book?
The Belgariad #1: Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. Description from Bookshop.org: (All links earn commission from purchases. Prices accurate at time of writing)
David Eddings’ Belgariad and Mallorean series were the first books that really got me into reading as a child. I think they sparked my love for characters who exist over long stretches of time, and for stories that explore how the human mind might cope with living for hundreds of years, or fail to, as some of his characters do. They made me realise how much of our own perspective is shaped by the short span of a single lifetime, and how powerful it is when a story overcomes that narrowness by connecting individual lives to history.
The Belgariad #1: Pawn of Prophecy
BOOK 1 OF THE BELGARIAD, the worldwide bestselling fantasy series by one of the godfathers of the tradition. Discover the epic stories that inspired generations of fantasy writers - from Raymond Feist's The Riftwar Cycle to George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones.
A battle is coming...
...And in that battle shall be decided
the fate of the world
Myths tell of the ancient wars of Gods and men, and a powerful object – the Orb – that ended the bloodshed. As long as it was held by the line of Riva, it would assure the peace.
But a dark force has stolen the Orb, and the prophecies tell of war.
Young farm boy Garion knows nothing of myth or fate. But then the mysterious Old Storyteller visits his aunt, and they embark on a sudden journey. Pursued by evil forces, with only a small band of companions they can trust, Garion begins to doubt all he thought he knew...
Buy On:
Bookshop.org UK £9.49
Blackwells £9.99
Waterstones £9.99
Q. Do you prefer reading on paper, Kindle or listening to an audiobook?
Reading is an aesthetic thing for me. I need the feel of the paper’s texture, the smell of the ink and the cracking sound the binding makes as I open a book. To my knowledge, Terry Pratchett never brought out leather bound books for his Discworld novels and so, I learned to rebind my collection of Pratchett hardcover books to give them a nice faux leather binding which adds to their character.
Q. Do you have a favourite bookshop (and why that shop)?
House of Books and Friends
My favourite bookshop is one I discovered as a student in Manchester and still visit when I travel to see family. The bookshop is called House of Books and Friends, a cosy, welcoming spot where you can lose yourself in books while enjoying a lovely cup of coffee. Housed in a beautifully restored 1871 building, it combines grand architecture with a bookshop, café, and an events space, all supporting projects to combat social isolation. It’s mission reinforces the importance of bookshops as public spaces and for that reason it’s one of my favourites.
Many thanks to Ashley for recommending a brilliant bunch of books! Please don't forget to check out Draw Like a Boss 3: Secrets of Composition.
Daryl
Image Copyrights: (Draw Like a Boss 3: Secrets of Composition), Creative Media Partners, LLC (The Practice and Science of Drawing), Arcturus Publishing (Milton's Paradise Lost: Illustrated by Gustave Doré), Transworld Publishers Ltd (The Belgariad #1: Pawn of Prophecy).
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