Sheila SturrockBesprekingen

Sturrock produced an easy-to-follow guide for drawing Celtic images in complex patterns. These patterns include intertwined dragons and other creatures interlaced in traditional knot work. The uniquely spun examples modeled after the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne text give the amateur an adequate starting point to develop an enriching hobby. Each example is divided into three or four steps, beginning with the skeletal outline to trace the knot work. Then once the knot work design is established, the "fleshing out" of the knots with thicker tracing can occur. At this stage, the heads of mythical animals are sketched. Lastly, while erasing the extraneous intermittent lines used as earlier guides, the artist can then focus on the bold demarcations to bring out the final form. It is exciting to see the change in one's rudimentary design come alive with an impressive spiral or interwoven projection. Also the author suggests other design innovations for going beyond traditional sources. Although extra examples would have made this book more encyclopedic, the ideas depicted make for an unobstructed sense of completion for the beginning illustrator.

More than a book of examples of the author's artwork, this book contains instructions on how to design your own knotwork. It begins with a list of tools and descriptions of basics. Then it moves into the spirals and how to construct your own using graph paper or a grid system. The final chapter opens the topic of color.

A manual for reproducing the intricate design from the Celtic culture called knotwork. This was most often used in carving, but also lends itself well to textiles and painting. Basic designs are shown for copying, as well as graphs for you to learn to recreate these and similar designs of your own.

This has extremely clear, step-wise instructions to creating knotwork designs. Worked on graph paper, it eliminates the terror of totally free-hand drawing. It includes some precise instructions for creating several different types of corners, rather than simply urging the worker to use a small mirror. A very useful book, not only in itself but as a supplement for adapting designs in other pattern books.