Bestselling author and drawing master Catherine V. Holmes distills a lifetime of drawing knowledge into 101 easy-to-grasp tips for artists who want to improve their drawing. Artist extraordinaire Catherine V. Holmes has written numerous successful step-by-step drawing books.101 Drawing Secrets takes a different spin on the traditional how-to-draw book. Busy artists who are short on time or just want to learn something new easily can dip into the book at any point and pick up a tip or trick they can immediately apply to their own artwork. From quick written tips, to illustrated examples, to simple step-by-step tutorials, the tips provide valuable insight into drawing for anyone wanting to take their art to the next level. Tips include: Draw from different points of view; Draw what you see, not what you think, by drawing upside down; Use a grid system to improve accuracy; Look at negative space to check accuracy; Break the subject down into simple shapes; Sketch daily to improve more quickly; Create an eye-catching focal point; Draw on unusual surfaces; Convert your reference image to black and white to simplify; Draw with one continuous line to strengthen your brain, eye, and hand coordination; Develop your signature style; Draw more realistic teeth; Focus on the process, not the product; Avoid smudging that can ruin your drawings; Crop your artwork to create a more compelling piece.

Jump in and start drawing with more than 60 step-by-step projects--which take 15 minutes each--from bestselling author Catherine Holmes. Holmes's tutorials break the process down so aspiring artists can quickly achieve satisfying results. In addition to pencil renderings, she explains how to work with a variety of media and provides tips and sidebars on such techniques as blending, texture, perspective, and shading.

Art Teacherin' 101 is a book for all elementary art teachers, new and seasoned, to learn all things art teacherin' from classroom management, to taming the kindergarten beast, landing that dream job, taking on a student-teacher, setting up an art room and beyond. It's author, Cassie Stephens, has been an elementary art teacher for over 22 years and shares all that she's learned as an art educator. Art teachers, home school parents and classroom teachers alike will find tried and true ways to make art and creating a magical experience for the young artists in their life.

"How to Draw Cool Stuff: Basics, Shading, Texture, Pattern and Optical Illusions" is the second book in the How to Draw Cool Stuff series. Inside you will find simple illustrations that cover the necessities of drawing cool stuff. Specific exercises are provided that offer step-by-step guidelines for drawing a variety of subjects. Each lesson starts with an easy-to-draw shape that will become the basic structure of the drawing. From there, each step adds elements to that structure, allowing the artist to build on their creation and make a more detailed image. Starting with the basic forms, the artist is provided a guide to help see objects in terms of simplified shapes. Instructions for shading to add depth, contrast, character and movement to a drawing are then covered. The varieties of texture and pattern that can be included in an artwork offer another layer of interest and depth to a design. These elements are necessary to indicate the way something looks like it feels in a work (texture) or creating the repetition of shapes, lines or colors (patterns). Illustrated optical illusions involve images that are sensed and perceived to be different from what they really are, showing examples of how the mind and the eyes can play tricks on each other. All you need is a piece of paper, a pencil and an eraser and you are ready to draw cool stuff. Once the drawing is complete, it can be colored, shaded or designed in any way you like to make it original. Following these exercises is a great way to practice your craft and begin seeing things in terms of simple shapes within a complex object.

101 Textures in Colored Pencil provides step-by-step instruction and examples of a multitude of textures for creating realistic masterpieces in colored pencil.

The Urban Sketching Handbook: People and Motionprovides keys to help make the experience of drawing human forms and their movements fun and rewarding, using composition, depth, scale, contrast, line and creativity.

Experienced artists looking to master a new medium will relish this comprehensive guide to using colored pencils by the author of How to Color Like an Artist. Step-by-step demonstrations with photos and directions explain shading, blending, color theory, more.

Draw amazingly accurate portraits starting today! Even if you're an absolute beginner, you can render strikingly realistic faces and self-portraits! Instructor and FBI-trained artist Carrie Stuart Parks makes it simple with foolproof step-by-step instructions that are fun and easy to follow. You'll quickly begin to: • Master proportions and map facial features accurately • Study shapes within a composition and draw them realistically • Use value, light and shading to add life and depth to any portrait • Render tricky details, including eyes, noses, mouths and hair Proven, hands-on exercises and before-and-after examples from Parks' students ensure instant success! It's all the guidance and inspiration you need to draw realistic faces with precision, confidence and style!

Inside this helpful guide, accomplished artist Diane Cardaci guides readers through several shortcuts to drawing—from projecting and using the grid method to utilizing a computer. A step-by-step project accompanies each shortcut, so readers can test out the methods firsthand. The book also features an in-depth section on troubleshooting, teaching readers effective ways to grapple with the most common problems a beginner will encounter, such as establishing accurate proportions and values.