System Requirements: PC with a 386 or higher processor, MS-DOS 3.2 or later, Windows 3.1 or later, 2MB RAM (4MB recommended), 8MB free space on hard drive, VGA or higher resolution graphics card, color monitor, mouse. Sound card recommended (must have a Windows driver).
My phobia of drawing probably started in first grade. It was the first hour of the first day of my first year in school (I didn't go to kindergarten, I flunked the stick figure and finger paint portion of the entrance exam.), and the whole class was doing an art exercise called, "Draw Your Favorite Thing." With my birthday a couple of weeks away, there was no question about what I would draw -- the object that occupied nearly every thought of every waking minute since I'd seen it in the Sear's catalogue --a toy replica of Marshall Dillon's six-gun.
I was just putting the finishing touches on my masterpiece, drawing a wisp of smoke coming out of the barrel, when my teacher, Sister Brunhilda Marie, came up behind me. Looking at my picture, she reached down, picked up my picture, turned it slowly one way and then another, and finally said, "My, what a nice looking house! And look at the smoke coming out of the chimney!"
Maybe if I'd had a computer and Microsoft Fine Artist back in 1958, I wouldn't have grown up with a phobia of drawing. This program is genuinely fun to use, and it's easy to undo or erase something you've drawn that's not quite ready for public view. A real blessing for someone like me is that you don't have to draw freehand. There's plenty of pre-drawn art you can select from and modify to suit your taste. Fine Artist's best feature is the step-by-step tutoring in drawing techniques. In fact when I got to the end of the short three dimensional drawing lesson, I wanted more, and was a little upset that only one lesson was provided.
The only shortcoming of the program was in the documentation. The poster promised on the package was missing, and a "Parenting for Dummies," excuse me, a parent's guide would have been helpful.
I would rate this package as very good. I know this because I'm getting closer to being able to color within the lines. Maybe I should go back and take that entrance exam again.
Reviewed by Jeremy Greene for NautilusCD August, 1994.
