North Light Books,1990, softcover, large format, illustrated, index, 224 pages, condition: very good.

Anyone who can hold a pencil can learn to draw.
In this book, Bert Dodson shares his complete drawing system--fifty-five "keys" that you can use to render any subject with confidence, even if you're a beginner.

These keys, along with dozens of practice exercises, will help you draw like an artist in no time. You'll learn how to:
Restore, focus, map, and intensify
Free your hand action, then learn to control it
Convey the illusions of light, depth, and texture
Stimulate your imagination through "creative play"

Bert Dobson, a talented draftsman, painter, and illustrator, graduated from Arizona State University and later studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He then taught drawing and illustration for several years at the New York Fashion Institute of Technology. He has illustrated more than 70 children's books, worked as an animation designer for the PBS series Intimate Strangers, and is the creator of the comic strip "Nuke."

I'm not sure if Dodson meant this to be more than just a drawing book. But the subtitle of the book is "Rediscover ." And that's what it's about. It's not just about learning how to draw--and it is one of the best books I've found for that. But it's more. It's about being an observant person, who looks at people and things--really looks. It's about not missing detail that makes a person and a picture come to life. I found this not only an excellent book about drawing, but great instruction about writing and the art of noticing.