A Lifetime Supply of Fuel for Your Creative Fire!
Staggering both in originality and sheer magnitude, Keys to Drawing with Imagination shows you how to begin with sketches and spontaneous doodles and follow their lead to bigger, better things. The techniques in this brilliant book will take you time and time again to "The Zone" where great art happens! You'll shift out of the future and into the present, making connections, generating variations and surrendering to the process, enjoying the experience as you create something gratifying and worthwhile.

Experience a Visual Brainstorm!
Improve Your Confidence and Stretch Your Creativity
Published back in 1985, Bert Dodson's original Keys to Drawing has been a staple reference for thousands upon thousands of artists, outselling every other North Light fine art book. Today, with 20 more years of experience drawing and teaching creativity, Bert is back to lead you to better drawing and freer, more creative expression.

Here's how it works: First, simple projects invite you to make an original sketch or doodle. Then Bert leads you through a series of exercises that transform the original into something novel or surprising. You'll experiment with "transformation strategies" such as "adding on," "spinning off" and "mirror imaging." You'll be challenged to create letterforms, make an enlarged image of a very small object, combine two of your previous sketches into a single drawing, exaggerate proportions, invent characters, illustrate your dreams...all kinds of prompts that will take you unexpectedly into fresh, unexplored creative territory.

58 Ways to Noodle Your Doodles!
Through 58 strategies, 36 exercises and 13 step-by-step demonstrations, you'll explore how to:
* Create your own altered reality by crumbling, melting or breaking objects.
* Flip the familiar on its ear to create something utterly original.
* Experiment with visual paradox and metaphor.
* Tell vivid stories through the details in your drawings.
* Play with patterns to create captivating compositions.
* Build your drawings by borrowing ideas from different cultures.
* Develop themes in your work.

The beauty of Bert's approach is that, by distracting your "logical mind" with tasks, your creative spirit is freed to do its thing! In doing so, the most ordinary, everyday things--a crushed can, clouds, shadows--become the makings of art. Your sketchbook becomes a springboard for grand new possibilities. The most insignificant and mindless little doodle can suddenly become the template for a series of imaginative transformations. And all the while you are creating. You are using materials, observing, seeing, experimenting...you are strengthening the skills you need to improve your artwork.

Shift Your Creativity Into High-Gear!
"We tend to think of imagination and creativity as qualities that people have. But in reality these qualities show up only in action--as something you do."

Forget the typical, shrouded-in-mystery take on creativity. Keys to Drawing with Imagination skips over the all philosophical discussion and map-making. Creativity is not something to be dissected--it's something to be experienced!

Bert tosses you keys to your creative hot rod, points you in a direction, and lets you blaze your own original paths. This book, in essence, is a 192-page action-packed adventure--page after page of creative kick-starts to set you in motion. Don't sit around waiting for great ideas to strike. Just get this book and GO!