The elements of drawing in three letters to beginners
John Ruskin's 1895 drawing primer, published in London by George Allen, written as three letters to beginners and held by the Getty Research Institute. The pictures are plain pen-and-ink studies of plant forms, showing how a draughtsman can build up foliage from loose, broken strokes rather than outlines. A designer might take from them a method for rendering leaves, twigs and sprays with economical, varied line.
