The Elements of Drawing — John Ruskin

John Ruskin shaped generations of artists, art critics and historians' understanding of how art works. He was the preeminent critic of his time, and a fine artist in his own right. In The Elements of Drawing, Ruskin explains how to draw and how to look at the drawings of others, in a wonderful primer on line, tone, weight, color, and composition. Fully illustrated by the author, to demonstrate the techniques he describes, The Elements of Drawing was and is one of the all-time classics in art and art history. This edition is a facsimile reproduction of the original 1857 work, with all Ruskin's original art included, as well as his comprehensive list of resources and works any young artist should study.