Eye Training

About the Book

This eye training/beginning drawing workbook focuses on engaging the learner in a series of visual exercises the author likes to call, “visual calisthenics.” They are warm up drills, as in athletics or music or any other hand-eye coordination activity, take repetition, do over, and repeat. The concept assumes the reader is a total beginner, no experience or little experience in drawing. Similar to sitting at the piano for the first time playing a whole note/ half/note, or beginning golf or beginning any activity for the first time. You need a good coach or teacher to direct fundamentals you can practice to improve your skill level. The exercises or calisthenics were designed by Professor/ Art Coach, Douglas A. Eckheart, a 45 year veteran art instructor at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. Professor Eckheart’s philosophy includes, TO DRAW=eye training= new awareness= change therapy= new person. This workbook concept emphasizes the word, “ WORK” and directs the participant through a series of brief written easy to understand instructions followed by hand-eye coordination “calisthenics”, and by drawing directly into the booklet. Read a little, draw a lot!! Practice, practice, practice!! Hit a thousand gold balls, shoot hundreds of free throws. To go beyond whole note/ half note from “Mary had a little Lamb”, to Mozart will take practice. Get instruction-then repeat! Art coach Eckheart sez, “Do you want to change?? Do you want to see into your world and not just look at it?? Do you want to activate the inner you?? Try this workbook- change your life.

About the Author

Douglas Eckheart’s work and life are intricately woven together through a long term residency of 40+ years in northeast Iowa, a region of little known, yet uncommon natural beauty. His artwork expresses a love and deep appreciation for the subtle moods and mysteries found in nature as revealed through the ever-changing seasons. Although representational, Doug’s work should not be considered a naturalistic copy of photographic realism. Color, shape, texture, and light are transformed and modified to portray nature as a life force. Doug compares this process of personification of the spirit in the land and its Creator to poetry or music. In describing his work as tone poems, he uses a visual metaphor to communicate and translate the expression of moods, experience, and feeling. Doug is a productive, active artist, as well as professor emeriti at Luther College. He has presented over 75 one-person exhibits and 40 group shows in New York City, Chicago, Des Moines, in addition to Malta and Norway. He has served as an artist-in-residence, keynote speaker, juror for regional and national competitions, department head, gallery director, and curator. He has been featured in American Artist magazine and the Iowa Public Television’s series, Living in Iowa. Doug received his BA at Concordia College in Minnesota and his MFA degree from Bowling Green University in Ohio. In 2009, Doug retired from full time teaching. He has since opened an art gallery/studio/workshop space in downtown Decorah, Iowa. Doug continues to create his signature artwork in studio. He also teaches workshops in drawing and painting in his gallery. He has taught workshops in many Midwest locations, in Norway, and on the island of Malta. Most recently he taught a successful workshop in San Clemente, California. For more information check out his website at www.eckheart.com