Drawing and Reinventing Landscape (Architectural Design Primer) 1st Edition

I've used this book when teaching Lanscape architecture students and finally bought my own copy.

It's wonderful having a multitude of full-colour illustrations of mostly non-computerized graphic landscape representations of many types - photographs, pencil drawings, ink and watercolor renderings, charts - in this book; details regarding history and current status of landscape architecture and garden design are interesting and illuminating, as well.I chose Drawing and Reinventing Landscape because of my lifelong interest in cities and in the process of urbanization, and because of my current work as a graphic artist and designer. Author Diana Balmori has worked in the field of landscape architecture most of her life, and since she has achieved a well-deserved degree of renown; her expertise and perspective makes this book especially insightful and valuable.However, I've removed a star because the text is too tiny for comfort, and its size adds an unattractive sense of miniaturization to the book. In natural light or with reading glasses I can read it easily enough, but a little less information - or the same information expressed more succinctly - would greatly increase the visual appeal. I assume all books in this AD Primer series carry the same general format, but related to my remarks about point size of text, if the publishers were not going to produce this book or the series in a larger format (not necessarily coffee-table size), I'd recommend increasing the font size. But happily, there's still enough literal "white space" on each page for create an altogether pleasing presentation.

I am a landscape architect with a strong background in fine arts and graphic design. One of the biggest debates in our profession today is do we draw designs by hand or is it quicker to illustration on the computer? This book examines the ever-changing ways in which our profession represents landscapes and designs. The book begins by discussing why we draw and the different effects on how we feel about what we are drawing simply by using different media. Several illustrations both of the author's own drawings as well as other well known designers help to convey the idea that just as our landscape is ever changing, so too are the ways in which we see the landscape through our graphic representations.I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations and historical references, however my only complaint is that often the illustrations on a page are referenced on another part of the text so there is some flipping back and forth to find the illustration that goes with the text.

Drawing and Reinventing Landscape, by Diana Balmori, is part of the AD Primer Series. This means that it is intended for use as an Architectural Design Primer.I love to draw. I am not a student of Architectural Design.However, because I am openminded and love to learn, I found this elegant book mesmirizing.Even if you don't normally go outside your comfort zone when you learn about art, you will find that Drawing and Reinventing Landscape will meet you wherever you are and draw you in.I enjoy reading beautiful books. I am not kidding when I say I could probably read Drawing and Reinventing Landscape four or five times and still be fascinated.It is a great teaching book.Let's get down to what is so cool about it.It is incredibly poetic. This appeals to the reader in me as well as the artist.It offers counter references. The author has chosen gorgeous art for this book. When you see how each art work enhances and plays off the other art, it is mindblowing.One other thing.Digital art is a huge movement. Just look at the cover art of Drawing and Reinventing Landscape. It so perfectly represents the massive movement in digital art which plays a big part in this book.Recommended.Smashing job by Diana Balmori!

This is an interesting landscape design and drawing text which takes the reader from "seventeenth-century France and eighteenth-century England through to modern attempts at representation made by contemporary landscape artists" to quote the author. What I found interesting is that this text lays a very interesting and thoughtful foundation by exploring the history of landscape artistry. The author demonstrates a variety of styles including analog, digital, and hybrid landscape artistry and design.This is a great text for those interested in landscape design, landscape drawing, presentation, and general knowledge of the field. Very useful and well worth owning.