Smith maintains that anybody willing to practice can be taught to draw. He sets out to prove his theory in this complete, step-by-step course, providing all the necessary techniques in a simple, easy-to-follow style. Each phase of every project is accompanied by illustrations and photos demonstrating the skills involved. 600 photos.

"Your step-by-step guide to drawing and sketching in pencil, ink, charcoal, pastel, and colored pencil"--Cover.

From achieving those first professional strokes to mastering composition, lighting, and color to finishing beautiful still lifes, portraits, and landscapes, here is a course that covers every basic skill as well as more challenging lessons for the developing artist.

Award-winning author and artist John Raynes shows you how to develop your drawing style. Gain a wealth of artistic insight and practical knowledge by following his advice that has been successful for over 30 years. He explores shape, form and volume, perspective and structure, composition, light and texture in easy-to-follow, step-by-step exercises to help you build your confidence and skill. You can practise your newly acquired skills on still life, landscape, buildings, portraits and figure painting, all executed in a wide range of media from pencil, charcoal and pastel to watercolour pencil and ink. Packed with practical tips and invaluable advice, 'The Complete Drawing Course' will allow you to tackle any subject with confidence.

“Lively and accessible...progressing nicely from quick-pose sketches to more ambitious interpretations of both the character and the form of the person one is drawing...covers a variety of media and explores light and shadow, clothing and drapery....[Constance’s] use of cropping, pastels, collage, and monotypes attests to her preference for creative expressions....an outstanding book for public libraries.”—Library Journal.

This progressive course enables even the complete novice to tap into the magic of drawing, to use art to discover the world, and to create significant personal responses to reality and ideas. 768 illustrations.

The human figure, with its myriad curves and contours, can be challenging for anyone to draw. In this invaluable reference, well-known art instructor and author E. L. Koller simplifies the process, making it easy for artists to learn new methods of rendering the figure—in action and repose—with accuracy and style. Using figure-drawing exercises, numerous photos, and illustrations, Koller reduces the task at hand into manageable steps for intermediate and advanced artists. Beginning with drawing basics, this step-by-step guide explores the structure of the human figure and the comparative proportions of child and adult figures, showing how to depict individual parts of the head and body, facial expressions, and gestures. It also shows the merits of sketching from memory; drawing from casts, photographs, and living models; and sketching both undraped and costumed figures. Once the still figure is mastered, the artist can explore the more challenging action poses, including walking, running, and catching. Filled with guidance and insight on the human form, Life Drawing is an essential addition to every artist's reference shelf.

This internationally bestselling guide covers essential drawing techniques, written by expert practical art author Barrington Barber. The Fundamentals of Drawing is a practical and comprehensive drawing course from beginner to advanced levels. Opportunities for practice and improvement are offered across a wide spectrum of subjects with step-by-step examples to guide you through. Subjects include: • Still life • Plants, nature and animals • Portraiture and life drawing • Perspective and composition The methods used in this book are time-honored and proven, having been practiced through the centuries by art students and professional artists. Barrington Barber brings his invaluable expertise as a working artist and teacher to the task of showing you how to use them effectively to create successful drawings. No matter what your level of expertise, you will find his clear approach encouraging and his way of teaching inspirational.

The ability to draw the human form accurately and competently is a primary goal for many aspiring artists, despite the current trend in the art establishment away from figurative subjects. The book is intended for anyone who wants to discover every aspect of what for centuries was regarded as the real test of an artist's mettle. Renowned teacher and artist Barrington Barber begins his exploration with anatomy, an understanding which is vital if the artist is to handle form and translate what he sees into a believable representation of life. He goes on to look at the whole figure: clothed, drawn from life, in action and in detail. Supported by sections on composition, styles and a step-by-step guide to a final composition, he has once again achieved a brilliantly inspirational art book. Comprehensive, easy to follow and packed with over 300 of Barrington Barber's illustrations, The Fundamentals of Figure Drawing is a must for artists of all abilities.