Does this book include instruction in the physical movement skills needed for drawing? I was never formally taught how to hold a pencil, so I grew up using a strange and painful grip. I hated handwriting because it would leave my hand red and numb. No teachers noticed, and it wasn't until I was an adult that I realized I was doing it wrong. (I'd assumed that holding a pencil was supposed to be painful, and making us write was just another cruel thing adults did for their amusement).

Aged about 25 I taught myself regular pencil grip, and after about 6 months it began to feel natural. I then learned I was supposed to be using my arm muscles to move the pencil, not just pure hand movement. I tried this for a month or so, but I never felt I'd be able to write Japanese using arm muscle movement at a reasonable character size so I gave up. It's possible that it could work for English cursive, but I never learned that either, and I mostly handwrite because I'm teaching myself Japanese and I believe handwriting helps me remember it.

I suspect "how to hold and move a pencil" is something artists might consider too simple to need teaching. It's also something I suspect artists could be doing wrong out of tradition. I think this because most keyboards are tilted so the back is higher but a keyboard with a raised front (eg. the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000) feels more comfortable to me. I believe the only reason for the traditional design is that it was easier to build mechanical typewriters like that.