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Drawing and Painting Beautiful Faces: A Mixed-Media Portrait Workshop
Drawing and Painting Beautiful Faces is an inspiring, mixed media workbook on how to draw and paint beautiful, fashion illustration-style faces. Author Jane Davenport is a beloved artist, and popular international workshop instructor known by her students and fans for her effervescent, enthusiastic, happy and encouraging style.
In this book, she guides you step-by-step through the foundations of drawing a face, developing harmonious features, creating smooth skin tones, playing with bright colors, shading, highlighting and so much more. This book is full of new techniques to engage and inspire your imagination.
Master a variety of techniques that employ pencil, marker, pen, watercolor, acrylic paint, ink, pastel, and ephemera as you happily dance your way through the exercises in this brilliant guide.
In this book, she guides you step-by-step through the foundations of drawing a face, developing harmonious features, creating smooth skin tones, playing with bright colors, shading, highlighting and so much more. This book is full of new techniques to engage and inspire your imagination.
Master a variety of techniques that employ pencil, marker, pen, watercolor, acrylic paint, ink, pastel, and ephemera as you happily dance your way through the exercises in this brilliant guide.
136 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
163 people are currently reading
875 people want to read
About the author
Jane Davenport
19 books88 followersJane “Danger” Davenport is an internationally recognized artist and prize-winning author. She is based at ’The Nest’ overlooking Byron Bay, Australia, and has koalas in her garden.
Girls’ faces feature strongly in Davenport's whimsical Mixed-Media artwork, often with somewhat wistful or melancholy expressions and surrounded by interacting colour and nature.
Davenport started her creative career as a fashion illustrator and the evidence of her Parisian training lingers in her elongated figures. Davenport's work has been featured in a diverse array of media including major motion pictures.
As a gifted teacher, she is dedicated to making the world a better place, one drawing at a time. Through her online Art Schools, publications and Escape Artist Retreats, Davenport has enabled tens of thousands of creative people from all around the world to embrace their innate artistic selves and accelerate their progression.
You can find her hanging out here:
MY BLOG
http://www.janedavenport.com
INSTAGRAM
http://instagram.com/janedavenport
PINTEREST
http://www.pinterest.com/janedavenport/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/jane.davenpo...
Girls’ faces feature strongly in Davenport's whimsical Mixed-Media artwork, often with somewhat wistful or melancholy expressions and surrounded by interacting colour and nature.
Davenport started her creative career as a fashion illustrator and the evidence of her Parisian training lingers in her elongated figures. Davenport's work has been featured in a diverse array of media including major motion pictures.
As a gifted teacher, she is dedicated to making the world a better place, one drawing at a time. Through her online Art Schools, publications and Escape Artist Retreats, Davenport has enabled tens of thousands of creative people from all around the world to embrace their innate artistic selves and accelerate their progression.
You can find her hanging out here:
MY BLOG
http://www.janedavenport.com
http://instagram.com/janedavenport
http://www.pinterest.com/janedavenport/
https://www.facebook.com/jane.davenpo...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
February 6, 2020
4.5. And absolutely good book for beginners and some which want to learn more. Lots of informations, materials and so on plus little to do’s. I really liked this book for how to ...art. <3
September 19, 2019
WOW! I LOVE THIS BOOK.
I had reservations because of "Drawing Happy" mantra, but Davenport has really unique ideas. Even if you aren't interested in creating anything, her images are fabulous. She takes you through creating a face (shape of the head, eyes, nose, lips, shadows, hair, etc). Davenport also adds mixed media to her final creations, with many of her works having stamps, newspapers, and washi tape textures (she's a big fan of "ephemera"). It may seem overwhelming because of the detail and mixed media she utilizes, but she takes it step by step.
-Amanda T.
http://librarycatalog.pwcgov.org/pola...
I had reservations because of "Drawing Happy" mantra, but Davenport has really unique ideas. Even if you aren't interested in creating anything, her images are fabulous. She takes you through creating a face (shape of the head, eyes, nose, lips, shadows, hair, etc). Davenport also adds mixed media to her final creations, with many of her works having stamps, newspapers, and washi tape textures (she's a big fan of "ephemera"). It may seem overwhelming because of the detail and mixed media she utilizes, but she takes it step by step.
-Amanda T.
http://librarycatalog.pwcgov.org/pola...
March 7, 2017
This mixed media how to book is excellent!
I love Jane Davenport's style and how she shares her tips and tricks without hesitation which is wonderful! Artists that like to make whimsical faces with mixed media will get looks of great tips and tricks.
With great how to's and step by steps, you really can not get lost with book. Jane encourages all creators from very beginners to more advanced artists, so nobody is sitting on the sidelines wondering if they can create what she does. Practice makes perfect and Jane's whole point to art is just try it, go with it, and embrace the mess!
I took this out from the library, but will be buying it when I get the chance.
Side note: if you are a huge fan of Jane's and ever wondered what products she uses, she lets you know on her website. Even better, she currently has a collection with Michael's and American Crafts that is selling her own line of craft supplies. They include but are not limited to: acrylic paints, watercolors, colored pencils, art journals and so much more! So go check this book and her collection out and get creating!
I love Jane Davenport's style and how she shares her tips and tricks without hesitation which is wonderful! Artists that like to make whimsical faces with mixed media will get looks of great tips and tricks.
With great how to's and step by steps, you really can not get lost with book. Jane encourages all creators from very beginners to more advanced artists, so nobody is sitting on the sidelines wondering if they can create what she does. Practice makes perfect and Jane's whole point to art is just try it, go with it, and embrace the mess!
I took this out from the library, but will be buying it when I get the chance.
Side note: if you are a huge fan of Jane's and ever wondered what products she uses, she lets you know on her website. Even better, she currently has a collection with Michael's and American Crafts that is selling her own line of craft supplies. They include but are not limited to: acrylic paints, watercolors, colored pencils, art journals and so much more! So go check this book and her collection out and get creating!
August 8, 2017
The other day the hubby was making a purchase online and needed something to toss in to get free shipping. So he asks me if there's anything I need. Need? Nope. I do plan on buying this book I have checked out from the library though. He asks me to send him a link. As soon as he saw what this book was he actually said "If I had seen this book while I was out shopping somewhere, I would have bought it for you even if you hadn't sent me the link". Not because he knows who Jane Davenport is, but because faces are pretty much all I draw and he knows I love that art journal girl kind of look.
Honestly, I'm all but obsessed with drawing girl faces. If you open any of my random sketchbooks, pretty much all you will find is faces. I discovered long ago I didn't have the patience to master drawing. I don't like guides. I don't like plotting things out. I suck at shading, etc etc. Still, faces and me are friends. So this book would be, if nothing else, eye candy for me.
And yes, it tells you how to plot things out, how to draw guide lines, how to do shading (something I must practice if I ever want to do a decent nose). Still I have found it more useful than the average how to draw book. This truly on focuses on faces, faces, and more faces. Drawing, painting, collaging. I've actually used some of the tips, which is more than I can say about most art books I've tried.
Most of the projects in the book could be tried by beginners using the most basic of supplies (she covers what supplies she recommends - which is pretty much all / any). The only one I found that would have be scratching my head about what to use is an exercise where she does shading with pan pastels. As a not so practiced artist I've tried lots of supplies, but not pan pastels. I looked at them because why not but found even the small sets run around $30 (more than I am willing to spend to play with something I may not like). Needless to say I'll be practicing that shading project with something else. But that's the good thing about this book. Jane Davenport encourages you to use whatever you have. If you have what she does, bonus, you can play along easier. If not, improvise. Most can be done using pencils and your preferred paints. I do think there is, at the very least, also inspiration to be found here if you're a more advanced artist already.
I have been looking for another book like this that would inspire me as much, but haven't found one.
Honestly, I'm all but obsessed with drawing girl faces. If you open any of my random sketchbooks, pretty much all you will find is faces. I discovered long ago I didn't have the patience to master drawing. I don't like guides. I don't like plotting things out. I suck at shading, etc etc. Still, faces and me are friends. So this book would be, if nothing else, eye candy for me.
And yes, it tells you how to plot things out, how to draw guide lines, how to do shading (something I must practice if I ever want to do a decent nose). Still I have found it more useful than the average how to draw book. This truly on focuses on faces, faces, and more faces. Drawing, painting, collaging. I've actually used some of the tips, which is more than I can say about most art books I've tried.
Most of the projects in the book could be tried by beginners using the most basic of supplies (she covers what supplies she recommends - which is pretty much all / any). The only one I found that would have be scratching my head about what to use is an exercise where she does shading with pan pastels. As a not so practiced artist I've tried lots of supplies, but not pan pastels. I looked at them because why not but found even the small sets run around $30 (more than I am willing to spend to play with something I may not like). Needless to say I'll be practicing that shading project with something else. But that's the good thing about this book. Jane Davenport encourages you to use whatever you have. If you have what she does, bonus, you can play along easier. If not, improvise. Most can be done using pencils and your preferred paints. I do think there is, at the very least, also inspiration to be found here if you're a more advanced artist already.
I have been looking for another book like this that would inspire me as much, but haven't found one.
December 29, 2014
Absolutely beautiful book, full of information on drawing and painting faces. There is an e-course to partner with this book which starts in March 2015. Definately a must have for anyone who loves to draw faces or would like to learn.
August 31, 2018
I truly love this book. Jane Davenport starts off by discussing different types of mediums and supplies. From different types of paintbrushes to use, to tips on gesso. She gives little explanations on the best way to use pastels, markers, etc. in order to get the effect you want. Davenport goes step by step on how to draw faces which makes it easy to follow along. She really simplifies it all for you by breaking down each facial feature. She teaches guidelines on how to draw proportional faces. Whether you want realistic proportions or “whimsical” proportions, whimsical is her specialty. Davenport then moves on to “whimsical techniques” you can do with different mediums. I love that she gives you the basics and then expands on ways to “let loose” with the supplies. She wants you to get to know the supplies and how to use them the way you're most comfortable.
When I first came across this book I was mesmerized by all of the different ways to use the supplies she talks about. For a long time I thought I had to pick one medium and stick to it. This book made me realize that mixed media artists exist and that I was one of them. This is a great book to refer to every now and then. Whether it be for inspiration or to brush up on a technique. I personally love to draw while reading these types of books and I find that it really helps improve my skills. Davenport encourages a lot of experimentation with your supplies. This is one of my favorite art books out there. I give this 5 out of 5 stars!
When I first came across this book I was mesmerized by all of the different ways to use the supplies she talks about. For a long time I thought I had to pick one medium and stick to it. This book made me realize that mixed media artists exist and that I was one of them. This is a great book to refer to every now and then. Whether it be for inspiration or to brush up on a technique. I personally love to draw while reading these types of books and I find that it really helps improve my skills. Davenport encourages a lot of experimentation with your supplies. This is one of my favorite art books out there. I give this 5 out of 5 stars!
September 3, 2019
Jane Davenport istennő azok szemében, akik a mixed-media világába egyszer is bekukkantottak: természetesen én is feltétel nélkül csodálom. Igazi művész és remek tanár is – mármint annak, aki bírja csicsergő ausztrál akcentust és elég vastag a pénztárcája. Szerencsére vannak ingyenes videói és több könyve elérhető áron, sőt, havonta új termékekkel is elkényezteti már rajongóit (ezek egy része itthon is beszerezhető).
Persze ezeket a könyveket nem csak olvassa az ember, hanem megpróbálja reprodukálni is a tanultakat. Ebben még bőven vannak hiányosságaim, de az arc rajzolásának, festésének alapjait, a különféle technikák alkalmazását, a színkezelést remekül bemutatja ez a kiadvány. A kevés szöveggel, de annál több gyakorlati példával illusztrált, csodaszép könyv szerény angol nyelvtudással is élvezhető. Aki eleget gyakorol, annak a festészet is biztosan menni fog!
Persze ezeket a könyveket nem csak olvassa az ember, hanem megpróbálja reprodukálni is a tanultakat. Ebben még bőven vannak hiányosságaim, de az arc rajzolásának, festésének alapjait, a különféle technikák alkalmazását, a színkezelést remekül bemutatja ez a kiadvány. A kevés szöveggel, de annál több gyakorlati példával illusztrált, csodaszép könyv szerény angol nyelvtudással is élvezhető. Aki eleget gyakorol, annak a festészet is biztosan menni fog!
November 9, 2017
Oh my goodness, this book is so much fun. The techniques for both drawing faces and using different media to create are so helpful and the projects have given me hours of enjoyment. I love books like this that make me want to grab my sketchbook and immediately get to work.
December 20, 2017
This book starts with the basics of facial geography, so all the parts are properly spaced and proportioned. Then it provides the author's technique for drawing each part, breaking down the steps and explaining why she does it that way. She encourages experimentation in all of these, pointing to the areas where tweaking the basic design can be most successful. Then she dives into color, exploring several different mediums.
This book is about drawing and painting faces out of your imagination.
This book does not teach:
- how to draw a portrait of an actual person
- how to draw men
- how to draw children
For what it does, this book does very well. The instructions are clear and concise, and the illustrations are useful. There are even some "what not to do" drawings that made me laugh.
This book is about drawing and painting faces out of your imagination.
This book does not teach:
- how to draw a portrait of an actual person
- how to draw men
- how to draw children
For what it does, this book does very well. The instructions are clear and concise, and the illustrations are useful. There are even some "what not to do" drawings that made me laugh.
January 15, 2016
I picked up this book convinced it wouldn't teach me much. This book did the exact opposite of what I expected. Jane might not have one of her best pieces on this cover, that it can be very misleading, but her whole book is about being free and letting your inner child out. She shares vital information, from tools of the trade (and how she uses them via examples.) as well as her own personal technique of having a drawing journal (and how to build your own.) she also teaches the basics of faces, making it look so easy even a novice can do it. After reading this book I feel enlightened. She taught me things not even my illustration courses at college taught me. If I had a chance to take one of Jane davenport's classes I would love to.
March 27, 2022
Wow! This is an excellent book on how to draw faces!I have struggled with drawing faces for a while so I am glad that I found a book just for that. Her instructions are very easy to follow. I am relieved that she did a chapter on shading especially for faces. Shading is a technique I am not very good at, but reading her book has encouraged me to try. I like her whimsical flowing style of drawing female figures. For each chapter, I can definitely hear the passion in her voice and her encouragement to “trust the mess”. Lately, I have been wanting to experiment with different mediums and styles. I want to make my art more fun and stylistic and not worry about realism and other “rigid art rules” like perspective.
There are a couple of things I wish Davenport could cover though. I wish she would talk about drawing men and children too. But she did start as a fashion illustrator, so I can understand why she draws women only. And maybe I missed it in her book, but I wish she could cover shadowing on other different skin tones other than tan and peach colored. Maybe that’s something I could experiment with on my own? Or maybe one of her videos has it? 🤷♀️
Other than that, I find this book very helpful and fun! I love it so much that I just ordered a copy of my own, and I am considering doing an instructional video of hers too (one about expressing emotions which is another technique I struggle with). Highly recommend it!
There are a couple of things I wish Davenport could cover though. I wish she would talk about drawing men and children too. But she did start as a fashion illustrator, so I can understand why she draws women only. And maybe I missed it in her book, but I wish she could cover shadowing on other different skin tones other than tan and peach colored. Maybe that’s something I could experiment with on my own? Or maybe one of her videos has it? 🤷♀️
Other than that, I find this book very helpful and fun! I love it so much that I just ordered a copy of my own, and I am considering doing an instructional video of hers too (one about expressing emotions which is another technique I struggle with). Highly recommend it!
August 25, 2018
This is an inspirational and confidence building book. I only discovered Jane Davenport this year and I have to say that I feel so glad I didn't let any more time go by without this fabulous artist in my life. She generously shares all her experience, talent and enlightenment with you through her fabulous style. This first book is a great launch pad. It enabled me to feel like I could actually put something in my art journal and make myself feel like I had actually achieved something. That is a great feeling. Better than anything. Better than sitting around talking endlessly trying to work things out. The products which Jane also sells are just so gorgeous and rich. It is a great pastime and I am just in love with this new aspect of my life. Do yourself a favour - whatever your mood is, Jane and all her books can help you. The great thing about her books is that you can really sit and endlessly study all the details up close. Better than on a screen. But then you can also listen to so many videos about these books and ideas from so many people. Fabulous community to enter. So positive and such a help with your life.
November 14, 2017
3.5 / 5 stars
This book proved to be a surprise. I would describe it as a mixed media book, as it isn't solely focused on illustrating female faces.
It was more technical than I had imagined and filled with techniques I'm excited to try.
As for the rating, it is as such because I felt the book to be quite short. There were techniques not discussed in full detail. There were also a few nitpicky bits I didn't enjoy (like how some parts of the layout looked). But like I said, it's just me being nitpicky as a graphic designer.
I would recommend it to anyone who finds Jane Davenport's style interesting and anyone looking to get into mixed media art. It is catered to mostly beginners but I recommend those in the intermediate level to look into this too.
This book proved to be a surprise. I would describe it as a mixed media book, as it isn't solely focused on illustrating female faces.
It was more technical than I had imagined and filled with techniques I'm excited to try.
As for the rating, it is as such because I felt the book to be quite short. There were techniques not discussed in full detail. There were also a few nitpicky bits I didn't enjoy (like how some parts of the layout looked). But like I said, it's just me being nitpicky as a graphic designer.
I would recommend it to anyone who finds Jane Davenport's style interesting and anyone looking to get into mixed media art. It is catered to mostly beginners but I recommend those in the intermediate level to look into this too.
September 18, 2017
Pretty but simple book. Loved the layers and colors, didn't like the super long necks and eyes. Obviously the idea is to take what you enjoy, play with it, and make it your own... but Davenport focuses solely on her style for the most part. There are a few prompts that look interesting, but the page list of materials and introduction runs for about 30 pages and this isn't a long book at all either. Overall I'm glad I got it from my library! :-)
October 21, 2018
This is just what I was looking for. Not only does the author have several projects that show how to draw faces, she also explains different types of art supplies and how they are used. I haven't been in an art class in quite a while, and I needed a refresher course on what to use and how to use it.
October 6, 2017
Actually, I am not really finished with the book - meaning I didn't do all the exercises. But overall I really like the style of the book. It was also quite motivating, although drawing needs practise practise practise.
December 20, 2017
An excellent resource for any artist that is trying to improve on their face drawing and mixed media techniques. I learned a few tips I will be able to use right away. A great resource for an artist’s library.
February 9, 2019
Fun drawing book with lots of "face" exercises. I am going to purchase my own copy. I borrowed this one from the Berea Public Library. Doing the exercises leads the way to feature placement, orientation,and expression.
January 12, 2021
I adored all the illustrations in Beautiful Faces, as I am still learning the skills of sketching and illustration, this gave me insight into different modes of depicting expressions. I feel confident to practise the techniques or adapt them to my own theme's
October 10, 2021
This was the first book I picked up to help me get started with drawing and painting. Davenport's style isn't really my style, but this book still really helped me take my first steps as a learning artist.
June 27, 2024
Beautiful fun
This gorgeous book will guide you into painting and drawing if it's your first time. Colors are luscious and inviting and makes one free to explore and experiment in multimedia.
This gorgeous book will guide you into painting and drawing if it's your first time. Colors are luscious and inviting and makes one free to explore and experiment in multimedia.
October 7, 2017
She is a great teacher, makes attempting faces possible
December 12, 2017
This was a great book! Step by step instructions that were easy to follow. I also love how she explained how to use different mediums.
April 19, 2018
Buy this book! Especially if you are a hobbyist mixed media artist. Jane is a fantastic artist and teacher. Keep this book for referrals. This is my go-to book when I'm suffering from artist's block.
March 27, 2019
Can faces besides young, porcelain-skinned, swan-necked white girls be beautiful? According to this book, not even worth considering.
January 2, 2020
How to draw gorgeous easy faces
February 25, 2020
Wow wow wow wow! Wow! I truly believe anyone can learn to sketch and paint the human figure and face with Jane. She took my little art world and installed a giant skylight. I feel illuminated.
March 7, 2021
What a great resource of “how to” to use those oodles of supplies that I love to collect. Jane Davenport is amazing, inspiring, and encouraging in this book.
Read
June 2, 2022,
August 16, 2023
Great fun
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews