I am using this book for a design and illustration class in the retail merchandising program. The book has a lot of great pictures and broke down the steps of drawing really well. I never considered myself a good artist, but I am pleasently surprised by how well I have done and the progression I have made in this class, and I think Nine Heads had a lot to do with it!!!

I can say that Chapters Four and Five alone is worth their weight in gold. This book is used on a daily basis by our CAD department as a reference when making flat sketches for specs. To take a designer's drawing or a sample of the garment and turn it into detailed, flat sketches takes skills. That particular section is great when it comes to drawing details for sewing such as types of stitching, where pleats/folds/darts should go, placements of notions/trimmings, etc. Flat sketching for specs is very important when a garment is produced in huge quantities by numerous operators. There's also a section in the front on proportion drawing using the croquis which is also very helpful. Since the company I work for produces a wide range of theatrical costumes that has tons and tons of details (think odd shapes and sizes), this book has come to the rescue many times.

Each section/chapter also comes with excerises/pratices that you use do to improve your sketching. It also mentions the Do's and Don'ts and common mistakes made when sketching. Anyhow, practice makes perfect.

I suggest getting a hold of the book at school or a book store to look through it and make sure it's what you're looking for or need before purchasing it and then not meeting your expectations.

I've had this book for awhile and I've noticed that some of the drawings, especially the fashion illustrations look rather unprofessional. There are drawings, renderings, that you would never see in fashion world. Some of the drawings look like they are fine art life drawings; others look very much like student work, some look just badly drawn and should not be shown as explemary work for those who wish to learn. I think that they are better books out there and this is not one of them.

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