Introduce technical drawing to your children. Each page in the Complete-A-Sketch series includes a small line drawing in the top left corner, with a larger, partially completed drawing that the student completes. Beginning simply and building on previous skills, the student works independently to develop basic drawing skills. This approach to drawing instruction is different than Draw Write Now, but does share some similarities. Created by a draftsman who shared his craft with his sons, the Complete-A-Sketch lessons are perfect for the technically-inclined child, the child with visual/motor challenges, or the older child who wants to practice drawing three-dimensional art.

Complete-A-Sketch, Volume1 - Orthographic
$10.00 $8.00 each, Qty
This volume focuses on flat two-dimensional line art. The first lessons are basic shapes (circles, triangles, squares), then the lessons progress into more challenging shapes (tear drop, heart), then build on the basic skills to create two-dimensional pictures (melting candle, train engine, violin).
Volume 1 has 36 activities on 24 pages.
Age 5 to 6, but is a good starting point for any age.

Complete-A-Sketch, Volume 2 - Isometric
$10.00 $8.00 each, Qty
This volume introduces three-dimensional line art. The first lessons are basic three dimensional shapes (cubes, squares) then the lessons progress into more challenging shapes (crescent, building blocks), then build on the basic skills to create three-dimensional pictures (hot-air balloon, car).
Ages 7 to 9, or older.

Complete-A-Sketch, Volume 3 - Perspective
$10.00 $8.00 each, Qty
This volume introduces three-dimensional line art from various perspectives. The first lessons are basic three-dimensional shapes viewed from a one-point perspective (pipes, boxes) then the lessons progress into more challenging two-point objects (open box, house), then build on the basic skills to create three dimensional pictures (interior walls with fireplace, long-haul truck).
Ages 9 to 11, or older.

Complete-A-Sketch, Vision-Dexterity Focus
$18.00 $14.50 each, Qty
This book was produced as a result of input from parents, educators, and vision therapists familiar with vision, dexterity, and focus issues. This book is popular with families, since it is a compilation of many of the lessons in Volumes 1 through 3. We find the heavier lines are a nice improvement. The cost is higher than the other three books, since it has 57 pages.
All ages -- this book is a great starting point for any age group.

NEW! Complete-A-Sketch, Advanced
$28.00 each, Qty

NEW! April 2008 Advanced bridges the gap between the other Complete-A-Sketch books and Practical Drafting. This is not just a continuation -- it is a leap forward. The lessons are now on CD, making it easy to print the projects, and the CD includes links to online resources to augment the instruction. Advanced introduces sketching methods, drafting concepts, orthographic, isometric, multi-view drawings, engineering concepts and more. The CD has 37 sketch projects, 8 3-D paper model projects, and 25 bonus projects. The lessons are presented as Adobe pdf's. Your computer will need to have a CD drive and Acrobat Reader 7 or higher (a free download at Adobe.com).

Practical Drafting
$38.00 $32.00 each, Qty
Drafting is the language of engineering and in the engineering field it is imperative that all participants -- drafters, designers, engineers, machinists, electricians, and builders -- understand this language. Practical Drafting is comprised of hundreds of exercises and reference materials all in a brief, easy to read, self-teaching, self-paced book. The author, Melvin G. Peterman, strongly encourages the student to do the lessons using manual drafting before completing the lessons on the computer. 136 pages and spiral bound. Ages 12 and older.

Practical Graphic Design
$38.00 $32.00 each, Qty
Topics include design rules, page layout, dominance, repetition, rhythm, unity, contrast, gradation, and balance. There are design projects, questions, answers and the Graphic Design Police. The lessons are enjoyable, and it is obvious the authors have fun teaching the lessons. 153 pages and spiral bound. Ages 12 and older.

Instructions for the Complete a Sketch Series
1. Make photocopies of the practice sheet (as many as you wish), or place tracing paper on top of the practice sheet.
2. Look at the small complete sketch in the left hand corner to help you complete the partial sketch. Trace over all the help lines in the partial sketch -- pay close attention to the complete drawing. Check over your completed partial drawing -- you may have missed some of the details.
3. After you have mastered the partial sketch, sketch the subject onto a blank piece of paper.
4. For an extra challenge, create the subject using sketching tools (ruler, straight edge, circle templates, French curve, compass).

Photocopying Permission
Complete-A-Sketch has a gummed binding that allows the pages to be easily removed from the binding for photocopying. (Permission is granted to purchaser to make copies for personal use only.) The pages are then returned to the folder/cover for storage.

About the Author
The author, Melvin G. Peterman, is proficient in manual and computer drafting, with years of architecture, piping, electrical and machinery drafting and design experience. He initially created the lessons in Complete-A-Sketch to introduce the technical side of art to his homeschooled children, primarily because he had noticed over the span of his career that the people with no manual drafting experience lack a certain depth of understanding. The computer has taken away some of the feel and style that comes with manual drafting. Complete-A-Sketch is Mel's attempt to bring back the "art" in technical drawing.

Comments
"Today, most mechanical engineers or graphic artist use the computer for much of their work. However, I have heard from a number of business owners who look for employees with a background in drawing or manual drafting. An owner of a sheet metal contracting company stated that he has learned to hire engineers who have drawing experience. He doesn't hire them to manually create a draft of their work -- they are proficient with the computer. The reason he chooses to employ the people with drawing experience is he has found that they tend to see the "big picture" and that he can rely on them to efficiently complete their projects. Complete-A-Sketch is intriguing to children. In this age of electronic gadgets, it may be just the thing to help a child put a pencil to paper and draw. We applaud Mel for his convictions and dedication to teaching technical drawing skills."
-- Kim Stitzer, Coauthor, Draw Write Now