Skill-Building for the Beginner Artist: How to Draw the Portrait in Pencil Book Reviews

Skill-Building for the Beginner Artist: How to Draw the Portrait in Pencil by Jacquelyn Descanso Book Summary

Mastering portrait drawing is not only for the "talented" among us. Anyone can be taught. If you know how to write your name with a pencil, you can learn how to draw a portrait with a pencil. Don't hesitate, your time is NOW! Learn many of the secrets of making realistic, convincing portraits in this lavishly-illustrated book.

In this book you will complete several portrait projects, gaining new skills as you go along. Some lessons include step-by-step illustrations, while other projects will "hold your hand" (virtually) as you carefully add details and learn new techniques that will give your drawings extra realism.

Designed for beginners, this book is suitable for both adult and motivated older children (approximately age 11 and above). While the book does not assume that the student knows much about drawing and art, some prior experience with beginning drawing is helpful. (Some additional beginning drawing books are recommended at the end of the book.) 

The first chapters give you a supply list (pencil, paper, and eraser), introduce you to beginner drawing concepts (how to get an accurate outline of what you want to draw, how to shade). You will quickly plunge into drawing your first portrait, with a lot of guidance and advice along the way.

While several chapters use the grid method to help the beginner to gain accuracy, later chapters focus on freehand drawing and drawing from life.

Don't worry about having enough "talent"! Talent is NOT required! Don't feel discouraged if you have tried to draw portraits in the past and didn't like the results. Follow along to the exercises in the book and be amazed by your improvement!

Table of Contents include:

INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE—BEGINNING TECHNIQUES AND DRAWING OVERVIEW
CHAPTER TWO—GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR FIRST PORTRAIT
CHAPTER THREE—SOME NEW TECHNIQUES FOR BEGINNERS: SHADING LIGHTS AND DARKS
CHAPTER FOUR—MORE ABOUT VALUES AND LOST EDGES
CHAPTER FIVE—A THREE-QUARTER’S VIEW PORTRAIT
CHAPTER SIX—TACKLING THE FRONT-VIEW PORTRAIT
CHAPTER SEVEN—OVERVIEW OF FACIAL STRUCTURE, AGE AND RACE DIFFERENCES, AND OTHER DETAILS
CHAPTER EIGHT—COPYING PHOTOS VS. DRAWING FROM LIFE
CHAPTER NINE—REFINING YOUR TECHNIQUE WITH A MORE “REALISTIC” PORTRAIT
CHAPTER TEN—FAQS FOR BEGINNER ARTISTS
FINAL WORDS, BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS, & ABOUT THE ARTIST

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Skill-Building for the Beginner Artist: How to Draw the Portrait in Pencil (Jacquelyn Descanso) Book Reviews 2024

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