Essential Guide to Drawing

Full of character and endlessly varied, our furry friends make great drawing subjects. In this book, author and artist Duncan Smith shows how you can use simple shapes to build up realistic drawings of all types of animals, from cats and dogs to farmyard animals, horses and birds. Whether you want to sketch wildlife on location or create a memorable portrait of your pet, the inspiring examples and step-by-step demonstrations will help you to achieve stunning results.

Perspective is key to making your artworks look convincing and three-dimensional, yet it can be a daunting prospect for artists. This handy guide sets out the rules of perspective clearly and simply, using demonstrations and step-by-step exercises. You will learn how the same perspective rules underpin compositions of all types, from panoramic landscapes to urban scenes, interiors, simple objects and human figures.

Ready-to-hand, varied and versatile, still-life subjects are ideal drawing material. This handy guide provides an accessible introduction to the genre, from drawing single objects such as vases and fruit, to more complex themed compositions. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced draughtsman, the clear demonstrations and step-by-step exercises in these pages will teach you to create realistic, attractive still-life drawings.

Capturing a likeness of another human being is one of the greatest and most enjoyable challenges for artists. In this guide, author and artist Barrington Barber provides an accessible introduction to portrait drawing, backed up by step-by-step demonstrations and inspiring examples. Starting with the proportions of the head and how to measure it accurately, you will learn to closely observe your sitter's features and build up a convincing likeness. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Essential Guides to Drawing are practical books for artists who wish to improve their skills in a particular subject area. The series covers Animals, Landscapes, Perspective & Composition, Portraits, Still Life and Landscapes.

Landscape presents endless possibilities for artists, from simple garden views to mountainous panoramas, seascapes and urban scenes. This handy guide shows how to create successful landscape drawings, with advice on choosing your composition and rendering elements of the natural world such as water, trees and rocks. Whether you are an experienced draughtsman or a complete beginner, the inspiring examples and step-by-step exercises in this book will help you achieve the best results. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Essential Guides to Drawing are practical books for artists who wish to improve their skills in a particular subject area. The series covers Animals, Landscapes, Perspective & Composition, Portraits, Still Life and Landscapes.

The bold form of the human figure has inspired artists for centuries, providing endless variety and interest. In this inspirational workbook, author and artist Barrington Barber provides an accessible introduction to life drawing. Learn to: • Portray figures in movement • Create believable dimension • Correctly gauge figure proportions and foreshorten limbs • Get the most out of a life drawing class • And more! Examples from master artists such as Giorgione, Manet and Freud show the range of materials and stylistic approaches to life drawing. This book is perfect for both budding and professional artists, providing tips and tricks to mastering this subtle art. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Essential Guides to Drawing are practical books for artists who wish to improve their skills in a particular subject area. The series covers Animals, Landscapes, Perspective & Composition, Portraits, Still Life and Landscapes.