Picasso's One-Liners.

Susan Grace Gallassi. New York: Artison/Workman Publishing (212-254-5900), 1997. Illus., 80 pp., hardcover, $14.95.

This is a delightfully formatted small book premised on a quote by Picasso, "You have to begin drawing to know what you're going to draw." Following a brief four-page introduction, the pages that follow are filled with Picasso's lyrical continuous line interpretations of animals, birds, harlequins, dancers, musicians, and circus scenes. While many seem conceived as cartoonish doodles, the flowing lines swell and narrow as testimony to the artist's fascination with process, discovery, and imagination. Interspersed throughout the book are insightful aphorisms by Picasso that relate to the spirit of the drawings. While some pages might present only one figure, others show many expressive "one liners" executed in pencil, pen and ink, brush wash, and crayon. If you ever teach continuous line or contour drawing, or can enjoy an exuberant display of drawing ability, you will find value in this publication.