Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this book

When I was a child I loved doing art and also writing but I stopped and only recently have become serious about picking it up again to learn and get back into one of my passions, I was told about this artist and read up on him becoming interested in this book... I am glad I was because this is a great book to read, and learn from and also to see how he makes things more accessible for u to learn and grow through the chapters.

This is a book I plan to buy to add to my collection so I can always look back on the information given & if ur looking for a book that's easy to read, follow with digestible chapters giving u time to not only go at our pace but to see each example he gives in drawings and pictures.. including at the end of each chapter some small assessments for you to do ... then this book is for you.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a budding artist in your family, check out Marco Bucci’s Foundations in Drawing. YouTube star Bucci writes in that comfortable, conversational style that comes naturally to YouTubers who must engage their audience to keep them. The instruction is clear yet simple as he breaks down the drawing process to a few simple shapes anyone can master. Lots of fun to read and to practice.

Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Rockport Publishing and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

A very practical guide to drawing, with lots of examples and photographs. The book focuses on drawing people, but also includes elements such as shading and colour. Really helpful assignments at the end of each chapter to help you to apply what you've learnt.

Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to read a digital ARC of Debt-Free Art Degree: Foundations in Drawing by Marco Bucci. Caveat: a scant few illustrations were missing from my copy, so I've not seen every single picture contained within the final copy.

The book consists of a short introduction, then eight chapters covering 2D shapes, gesture drawing, 3D form and space, building the figure, capturing poses, shapes and characters, constructing the head, shading and lighting, and finally colour, before ending with a helpful index.

The introduction details Bucci's own journey and concludes with a helpful section on how to effectively study using the book. The chapters are very informative and thorough. So thorough, in fact, that I can in all honestly only give a cursory review. I'll really need time to absorb and study the information in order to fully understand it all.

The QR codes scattered throughout lead to some fantastic videos showing the concepts in a way that can be easier for some to absorb. I also really like that assignments are given at the end of each chapter. Another thing I really appreciated was Bucci using pictures of himself showing poses etc. throughout, it's helpful in reinforcing references are useful and that you can and should make them yourself.

This isn't a book for complete novices, but I believe any experienced beginners and those of higher skill levels will gain a lot from this book. I'm a somewhat experienced beginner and this is squarely aimed at my skill level and well above it. I can understand the concepts covered and studying this book will help me learn how to leverage them better.

I really, really, really liked this book. I'm buying a copy of this to add to my art library immediately.

Marco Bucci has written an insightful, step by step way of honing your talents in drawing. I was a bit nervous to dig into this as all of the beautiful illustrations look top notch and very hard to do. As I read and absorbed the lessons I found it an easy read and began practicing bit by bit. He really takes each chapter and goes in depth with the learning and yet breaks it down into manageable chunks at the same time.

He covers topics such as shapes, form and space and also covers character poses, shading and lighting and colour. The activities and assignments at the end of the chapter are really good and think focussing on those first would be good for beginners.

More experienced artists could use this book as a reference book, going to the chapter they need, but it can also be read from start to finish while your skills improve.

Thank you to Netgalley, Rockport Publishers and Marco Bucci for allowing me to read the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is such a good reference guide for anyone trying to learn or might be struggling with the foundations of art. Marco Bucci starts off with shapes and gesture drawing to color theory and drawing the human face. My favorite part of this reference book are the assignments after every chapter to keep exploring & practicing the concepts taught.

*Debt-Free Art Degree: Foundations in Drawing* is a practical, no-nonsense guide by Marco Bucci for anyone serious about learning art without breaking the bank. Marco shares his personal journey from self-doubt to successful artist, offering affordable, high-quality lessons on everything from basic shapes to color theory. With QR codes for video demos, it’s perfect for beginners or anyone looking to brush up on their skills. Forget expensive degrees—this book gives you the essentials to start your artistic career on your own terms.

Great book, really easily to follow and great tips. Would definitely recommend for beginners but also people who are just looking to improve their skills.

A comprehensive book on figure drawing, taking you from the basic forms to creating a complete person. Each chapter goes into it's topic in depth, with exercises at the end to reinforce what you've learnt. With chapters on perspective and colour, it's perfect for beginners or intermediate artists who want to improve their techniques. Highly recommended.

Debt-Free Art Degree: Foundations in Drawing is a clear and concise exploration of how to draw, and think, like a professional artist. Starting from three simple lines: C-curve, S-curve, and Straight; and ending with color theory, this book really does contain all you need to begin your drawing journey. The book is fully illustrated to explain complex ideas simply.

If you have someone in your life interested in improving their drawing skills, Debt-Free Art Degree: Foundations in Drawing is a great choice. It is even good for intermediate amateur artists so they can understand why some of their drawings work better than others. 5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Rockport Publishers for providing me with an advanced review copy.

The book is a.good guide of the basics and fundamentals of drawing. I was not impressed with the fact that every female in the book was barely dressed in undergarments whereas the male models were fully clothed. I understand that the human form is important to study, but you should be able to study both forms equally.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! Debt free art degree: foundations in drawing is one of the most helpful drawing books I have ever read, and that's saying something since I've read quite a few.

Absolutely amazing resource. It started off as a simple easy to follow refresher. But oh my. As I got further into the material it became increasingly more intense. I had to take breaks because though it was broken down into simple steps it made my brain hurt. This is a great read that will be a resource to go back to time and time again as I continue to develop my skills. Recommend for any aspiring artists.

I recently got an Apple Pencil for my iPad and this is going to be such a great resource! It is very informative and easy to follow

This is an extremely informative book. The illustrations are good to follow although I'll need a lot of practice to get mine like one's in the book. Drawing is a talent that takes time and this book is a good way to improve, it shows perspective, male and female forms, shading and how to plan out your drawing correctly.

Would recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this book! Marco begins by letting the reader know anyone can learn to draw, and then breaks it down into manageable chunks with step-by-step instructions. He includes many illustrations that are broken into parts so the reader can follow along and be successful in their endeavor in practicing and repeating lessons. He addresses many things such as how to draw movement in a way that is interesting to the eye, how to balance shading and light and discussing color temperature and color theory. I especially loved in his final note where he discussed that learning isn’t linear and that as you improve there will be new challenges you face, but to continue to practice and one day you will see the results of your efforts and hard work. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to improve or learn new drawing skills.

I really liked this book! I have a daughter who loves to draw and I think she could learn a lot from just this book alone. The illustrations are marvelous, and the steps that are shown really make you see how to create the art in a less intimidating way. I love that it is called a Art degree that is debt-free, because I love the idea of going into learning how to draw from scratch and being walked through it, without a huge investment. I think if you have an artist at home, or just want to try your hand at drawing, this is the book for you. Just a quick heads up on the content, because bodies are used often as the example.... you may see some possible nudity in some of the lessons.

This book stands out with it emphasis on movement, shape, and interpretation.
I have never seen a foundations art book that explains the practice of moving figures this well before.

I love Marco Bucci's YouTube channel and am thrilled to see that he has released this guide to help more artists. This guide is very useful for aspiring artists who do not want to commit to the pressure of art school or for those who just want to learn art as a side hobby. There is a lot of useful information and techniques in this book to help someone get started on their art journey or simply enhance their skills. The lessons are straightforward and simple enough to encourage one to continue practicing. The implementation of QR codes for video demonstrations is an amazing tool as well.