On-the-Spot Drawing by Nick Meglin is a 1969 Watson-Guptill hardcover that examines how twelve working illustrators approached drawing people, places, and events directly on location.
Rather than teaching one fixed drawing style, the book lets artists explain their own materials, techniques, and working methods through examples of finished art and field sketches. The featured illustrators include Tom Allen, Alan E. Cober, Tom Feelings, Robert Frankenberg, John Gundelfinger, Franklin McMahon, Bill Negron, Anthony Saris, Noel Sickles, Tracy Sugarman, and Robert Weaver.
It is especially useful for readers interested in illustration, location sketching, reportage drawing, and the working process behind mid-century commercial art.
Details
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Item: illustrated art instruction and reference book
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Title: On-the-Spot Drawing: Twelve Famous Illustrators Describe Their Materials and Working Methods on Location
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Author: Nick Meglin
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Illustrator: Includes work by Tom Allen, Alan E. Cober, Tom Feelings, Robert Frankenberg, John Gundelfinger, Franklin McMahon, Nick Meglin, Bill Negron, Anthony Saris, Noel Sickles, Tracy Sugarman, and Robert Weaver
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Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications
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Publication Year: 1969
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Edition and Printing: 1969 hardcover issue. The photographed copyright page does not state a printing, so first printing is not confirmed.
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Format and Binding: hardcover with yellow cloth boards and illustrated dust jacket
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Dust Jacket: present
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Pages: 160 pages
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Genre: art, drawing, illustration, visual reportage
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Language: English
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ISBN: not confirmed from this copy. No ISBN is visible on the photographed copyright page.
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Dimensions: publisher jacket states approximately 7 7/8 inches by 10 1/4 inches. Provided depth is approximately 1 inch.
Condition Grade: Good
Positives
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Graded Good: This copy is complete and usable with noticeable exterior wear, while the illustrated interior remains clean and easy to study.
- The yellow hardcover boards remain bright, and the black front-cover title is clear and strong.
- Interior pages shown are clean and legible with numerous full-page and partial-page examples of drawing techniques.
- Pages remain firmly held in the book in the photographed openings, including pages near the beginning and near the back.
- The original illustrated dust jacket is still present, an important part of this copy's visual appeal.
Issues / Wear
- The dust jacket has noticeable edge wear, rubbing, small tears, creasing, and chipping, especially around the spine ends and upper corners.
- The jacket and page edges show age toning and yellowing.
- There is visible handling wear and discoloration along portions of the dust jacket edges and folds.
- The hardcover corners show light wear where the jacket has shifted or worn through.
Condition Grade Key
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Near Fine: Almost perfect. Very minor signs of age only.
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Very Good: Shows light use. Sound and attractive with minor flaws.
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Good: Complete and intact. Noticeable wear consistent with age and use.
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Fair: Shows significant wear. Readable or usable but clearly used.
Collector's Notes
The 160-page book presents twelve illustrators through their actual location drawings and explanations of how they worked. It captures a period when drawn visual reporting still had an important place beside photography in magazines and publishing.
The mix of finished images, loose sketches, and working commentary makes this useful for illustrators, art students, urban sketchers, and readers interested in mid-century commercial art.
This copy retains its original illustrated dust jacket and bright yellow hardcover beneath it. The contrast between the worn jacket and clean illustrated pages makes the condition easy to understand before buying.
It is the kind of older art book that can still be opened and used for what it was made to do, studying how experienced artists actually looked at a scene and put it on paper.
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Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece, please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
Care and Handling:
Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40 to 50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
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