John Ruskin believed that drawing was the foundation of visual thought and was as essential to life as reading or writing. It is one of the first and most fundamental languages we use to understand the world and our place within it. His mission was not to teach people how to draw, but how to see.The last couple of years have seen a resurgence in drawing as a discipline in its own right - there is a now growing demand for general drawing courses at postgraduate level and evidence of this popularity can also been seen in the mainstream. For example, for the first time last year, drawing was exhibited at the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition and The Big Draw, now in its fifth year, is an annual month-long, UK-wide initiative to get people drawing. Patrons include Quentin Blake and David Hockney and last year, The Big Draw formed an important part of the Rolf of Art event in Trafalgar Square. In September 2004, it was quoted that 'drawing heightens perception, aids communication, and can be a tool for maintaining good health' . In response to this growing interest, The Drawing Book by Sarah Simblet aims to widen the understanding of drawing and to inspire and encourage people to pick up a pencil, a pen, or a charcoal stick, and discover their visual world.

Sarah, who teaches at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in Oxford, offers a unique blend of practical teaching, inspirational drawings from her own books alongside fascinating insights into masterpieces, both historical and contemporary. From ship plans and psychiatric drawings to botanical studies and portraits, the 11 chapters in the book present 90 different artists' way of seeing, and yet more reasons for drawing the world. Spanning all disciplines, the book covers the basic drawing techniques and the use of a wide range of materials to help improve key elements of successful drawing, like perspective, shape and tone - all of which provide a solid foundation on which to build. From quick pencil sketches to fully finished colour wash studies, Sarah skilfully demonstrates each technique in drawing classes, which appear throughout the book and as she says, 'The real drawing book has yet to come; it will be your creation as you discover your own personal vision'.THE DRAWING BOOKby Sarah SimbletPublication Date: 26th May 2005 Price: £20.00For review copies and further information, please contact Antonia Wilkinson on 020 7010 3513, or by email, antonia.wilkinson@dk.com.