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How to Look, Draw & Paint
Learning to draw needn't be complicated or expensive, nor does one need a particularly spectacular subject to draw.
In this, his first practical art book, artist Matthew Rice encourages readers to look at and draw the scenes around them - the desk they are sitting at, the view out the window, a bowl of produce from the supermarket. And it is by truly sitting with and engaging with our everyday world that drawing skills can be learnt and strengthened, confidence built, and a new mindful creative activity developed.
A bunch of spring onions can be a starting point when thinking about shading and form. The view from your kitchen window becomes an exercise in perspective and measuring lines. A vase full of flowers is the perfect subject to develop your skills in detailed drawing and three-dimensional structure.
Little by little, by following the ten step-by-step exercises in the book, readers will build the skills and techniques to approach drawing any scene with confidence and ease.
"To know how to draw, you need to think about how to look, because to draw is to look and report in on what you have seen. As we learn to draw better we also learn to understand to analyze, explore and comprehend our world and its inhabitants. The exercise is more than an expression of a desire to decorate, to kill time or amuse. It is in fact a vital and near universal mode of communication that allows us to speak to those with whom we share no other common language." - Matthew Rice
In this, his first practical art book, artist Matthew Rice encourages readers to look at and draw the scenes around them - the desk they are sitting at, the view out the window, a bowl of produce from the supermarket. And it is by truly sitting with and engaging with our everyday world that drawing skills can be learnt and strengthened, confidence built, and a new mindful creative activity developed.
A bunch of spring onions can be a starting point when thinking about shading and form. The view from your kitchen window becomes an exercise in perspective and measuring lines. A vase full of flowers is the perfect subject to develop your skills in detailed drawing and three-dimensional structure.
Little by little, by following the ten step-by-step exercises in the book, readers will build the skills and techniques to approach drawing any scene with confidence and ease.
"To know how to draw, you need to think about how to look, because to draw is to look and report in on what you have seen. As we learn to draw better we also learn to understand to analyze, explore and comprehend our world and its inhabitants. The exercise is more than an expression of a desire to decorate, to kill time or amuse. It is in fact a vital and near universal mode of communication that allows us to speak to those with whom we share no other common language." - Matthew Rice
159 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 29, 2026
Not quite what I was expecting
I felt like there a lot here that feels too beginner and other aspects that feel too strict on his own way of doing things with art. But there’s some good art that he shares that you can be inspired by for your artwork. If only the book was more inspirational to view the process a bit differently versus more exact. That might be his style. I still think there’s aspects that can help to improve your art practice, but I’ve read books that have inspired my art practice more.
I felt like there a lot here that feels too beginner and other aspects that feel too strict on his own way of doing things with art. But there’s some good art that he shares that you can be inspired by for your artwork. If only the book was more inspirational to view the process a bit differently versus more exact. That might be his style. I still think there’s aspects that can help to improve your art practice, but I’ve read books that have inspired my art practice more.
June 8, 2026
I was hoping that this book would have much more detailed instructions on how to improve one's drawing and painting skills than it did. It seemed to be aimed at people already more competant than I am. It was an entertaining read but not really the comprehensive instruction book I was hoping for.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews