How To Draw And Paint

Ah, the 1964 masterpiece “How To Draw and Paint” by the illustrious Henry Gasser—an art instruction manual that has somehow survived the decades like a scruffy cat that refuses to die, even as it dodges the metaphorical traffic of modernity. One can only imagine Gasser, clad in a beret and a paint-smeared smock, sitting amidst a swirling storm of oil paints, charcoal, and existential dread, as he endeavours to impart the secrets of artistic prowess to the unsuspecting public. What could possibly go wrong?

Written in a time when artists still believed that creativity could be streamlined like a factory assembly line, this delightful tome takes you on a journey through the world of brush strokes, color theory, and the kind of self-doubt that comes with being caught in a staring contest with an unfinished canvas. With diagrams that may or may not have been produced during a particularly frantic coffee break, Gasser offers insights that might just have you questioning whether you should take up finger painting instead. After all, who needs precision when you’ve got passion?

In this book, Gasser’s words leap off the page with all the grace of a drunken gazelle. He covers various topics that will either ignite your artistic flame or make you want to toss your paintbrush out the nearest window. Among the glorious secrets contained within these pages are:

• The best way to make your canvas look like a confused abstract expression of your innermost thoughts.
• How to mix colours in a manner that suggests you might have had a fight with a rainbow.
• Techniques for creating stunning landscapes that, if squinted at just right, might remind you of a scene from a holiday postcard.
• And the ever-elusive ’how to draw without inadvertently conjuring the spirit of a five-year-old’s crayon masterpiece.’
• Plus, a helpful section on the fine art of framing your work, so that no one will ever know what you actually created.

As you flip through the pages, you can’t help but feel a sense of camaraderie with Gasser, a man who either had a tremendous amount of faith in humanity’s creative potential or an insatiable desire to watch the world suffer through poorly executed still lifes. The pages exude a certain charm that can only come from a book that has been read, re-read, and perhaps even used as a makeshift coffee table during that one particularly uninspired Sunday afternoon.

Condition: Used, but barely. You see, this copy has all the telltale signs of a book that has been lovingly thumbed through, perhaps by a soul seeking artistic enlightenment or someone just trying to figure out what to do with the last of their paint supplies from the early ’80s. It’s got creased corners, a cover that has seen better days, and the kind of slightly yellowed pages that suggest an air of nostalgia, or maybe just a touch of mildew. Either way, this volume is full of character—much like the drawings you will produce after following Gasser’s instructions (or lack thereof).

So whether you’re a seasoned artist looking for that elusive spark, or an enthusiastic novice whose greatest achievement is a stick figure that somehow resembles a malfunctioning octopus, “How To Draw and Paint” holds the promise of both intrigue and bewilderment. Perhaps you will emerge from its pages equipped to create the next masterpiece—or at least, to keep your refrigerator adorned with colourful mishaps that will confuse your guests and delight your cat.

Available exclusively at Crappy Old Books, where every book comes with a story and a side of irony. Who knows? You might even find your inner Gasser lurking within its worn pages, ready to spring forth and create chaos on canvas—or at the very least, in your living room.

Keep browsing: See more Art books Other books by Henry Gasser