Simply Draw with Bob Parsons: An Honest Review

My kids are all both pretty crafty, so when Timberdoodle asked if I’d be willing to review Simply Draw with Bob Parsons, I replied with an enthusiastic YES!

The spiral bound book contains 77 separate drawing lessons that progress from basic shapes and shading through increasingly more detailed sketching to hand lettering and figure and portrait drawing.

In addition to the written lessons in the book, this Simply Draw Course contains 25 instructional videos you can access through QR codes printed right beside the featured lessons. These allow students to watch the author do the drawing exercises and observe his smooth, steady strokes.

Some of the lessons include guidelines for students to use in completing their drawings. Others have blank space for them to use in sketching the assignment from start to finish.

One of the features I was most excited about was the fact I could download the practice pages from a PDF, because that would allow me to use the program with multiple students (including myself!) while keeping the textbook pristine.

The PDF originally came on a CD-Rom that accompanied the book. Unfortunately, when they switched to QR-codes and digital access, that feature seemed to be lost in the shuffle. I couldn’t locate it anywhere among the other instruction aids, despite several mentions both in the book and on the product page listing. So I ended up just making photocopies of the practice pages we wanted to share.

My daughter and I have been working through the Simply Draw Course together and are delighted by the results. We were both fairly good at sketching already, but had never tried using the crosshatch shading technique so central to this program.

It is fun and relaxing, and really elevates our artwork. You can choose to complete the sketches using drawing pencil s or micro-pens.

We chose the latter, which made things a little more challenging in the beginning — no erasing! But our sketches took shape much faster, and with practice, we’ve grown more confident in using these tools and techniques.

That’s the wonderful thing about Simply Draw with Bob Parsons: The skills you develop translate readily to a variety of other artistic endeavors. You’ll see them show up, for instance, in the scripture based coloring pages I publish weekly on this website (in fact, I’ll be sharing a free printable version of the Bob Parsons-inspired lettering pictured below this Sunday).

Would you or any of your children/ grandchildren be interested in this Simply Draw with Bob Parsons Program? It’s available exclusively through Timberdoodle, both for individual purchase or as part of their 7th Grade Curriculum Kit. I hope you’ll check it out. And happy drawing!

And while you’re on the Timberdoodle website, I’d encourage you to look around. We love everything we’ve ever ordered from this small family-owned company!

Be sure to sign up for their Doodle Dollar program to save on future purchases. And to read more of my Timberdoodle Reviews, follow this link.

PLEASE NOTE: As a member of the Timberdoodle blog team, I routinely receive free or deeply discounted products in exchange for writing honest reviews. Opinions expressed in these posts are 100% my own. I’ve been a happy and enthusiastic Timberdoodle customer for decades — long before I ever started blogging for their company.