Andrew Loomis

Andrew Loomis (1892-1959) was an American illustrator, author and art instructor who created a highly influential series of art instruction books. His teaching materials focused on illustration techniques, figure drawing, and commercial art practices. The instructional books he authored, including "Fun with a Pencil" (1939), "Figure Drawing for All It's Worth" (1943), and "Creative Illustration" (1947), became foundational texts for generations of artists. His step-by-step methods for constructing figures and faces from basic shapes remain widely used in art education today. Loomis worked professionally as a commercial artist in Chicago, producing advertising art and editorial illustrations for clients including Coca Cola and Kellogg's. His commercial work appeared in publications such as The Saturday Evening Post, Ladies' Home Journal, and Cosmopolitan. Despite going out of print for several decades, Loomis' instruction books maintained their influence through widespread circulation of photocopies among art students and professionals. The books were eventually republished in the 2010s and continue to be considered authoritative resources for learning representational art techniques.

Readers consistently highlight Loomis' clear, systematic approach to teaching art fundamentals. Students praise his method of breaking complex drawing concepts into simple, learnable steps. What readers liked: - Detailed explanations of perspective and proportion - Progressive difficulty that builds skills gradually - Practical exercises with clear goals - High-quality reference illustrations - Focus on commercial art applications Common criticisms: - Dated cultural references and gender roles - Dense technical language can overwhelm beginners - Some find the construction methods too rigid - Paper quality in newer editions doesn't match originals Ratings across platforms: Amazon: 4.7/5 average across all titles (2,000+ reviews) Goodreads: 4.5/5 for "Figure Drawing for All It's Worth" (2,500+ ratings) One art student noted: "His method for constructing heads changed my entire approach to drawing faces." A professional illustrator commented: "The principles in Creative Illustration directly improved my client work."

Fun with a Pencil (1939) Basic instruction on drawing the human head and figure using simple shapes and construction methods.

Figure Drawing for All It's Worth (1943) Comprehensive guide to drawing the human figure with emphasis on anatomy, proportion, and perspective.

Creative Illustration (1947) Technical manual covering composition, tone, color theory, and various illustration methods for commercial artists.

Successful Drawing (1951) Detailed instruction on perspective, proportion, and drawing techniques for both realistic and commercial art.

Drawing the Head and Hands (1956) Focused study on facial features, head construction, and hand anatomy with step-by-step demonstrations.

The Eye of the Painter (1961) Analysis of artistic composition, color relationships, and visual perception in painting.

I'd Love to Draw! (2014) Posthumously published beginner's guide to drawing fundamentals and basic artistic concepts.

Burne Hogarth taught at art schools and created anatomical drawing books including "Dynamic Anatomy" and "Drawing the Human Head." His teaching methods focus on understanding the underlying structure and mechanics of the human form.

George Bridgman wrote multiple volumes on figure drawing used in art schools throughout the 20th century. His books emphasize constructive anatomy and the relationships between major muscle groups.

Jack Hamm created instruction books covering figure drawing, animals, perspective, and cartooning during the mid-1900s. His books feature clear step-by-step demonstrations with an emphasis on practical application.

Harold Speed wrote "The Practice and Science of Drawing" and other foundational art instruction texts in the early 1900s. His books explore both technical skills and theoretical concepts of drawing and painting.

Ernest Norling authored "Perspective Made Easy" and other art instruction books focused on core fundamentals. His teaching approach breaks complex concepts into simple, buildable steps.