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Draw Faces in 15 Minutes: How to Get Started in Portrait Drawing

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Yes, you can draw! And Draw Faces in 15 Minutes will show you how. By the time you finish this book, you'll have all the skills you need to achieve a striking likeness in a drawn portrait, using a proven method from a professional life-drawing teacher.

Artist and life-drawing expert Jake Spicer takes you through a series of carefully crafted tutorials, from how to put together a basic portrait sketch to developing your portraits and then taking your drawings further. From understanding and constructing the head and shaping the hair, to checking the relationships of the features and achieving a lifelike expression, every aspect of the portrait process is examined, along with advice on which materials to use and how to find a model.

Inside you'll find beautifully illustrated, easy-to-follow, step-by-step chapters that make it easy for anyone to create an amazing likeness.

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2013

85 people are currently reading
213 people want to read

About the author

Jake Spicer

28 books32 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

This is Jake^Spicer, where ^=space.

About the Author:
Jake Spicer is a Brighton-based artist, drawing tutor and author of several popular instructional drawing books.

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5 stars
47 (35%)
4 stars
45 (33%)
3 stars
34 (25%)
2 stars
5 (3%)
1 star
3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Angela Maher.
Author 20 books32 followers
June 13, 2021
The title to this is perhaps a bit misleading. You're not going to be able to draw portraits in 15 minutes after reading it. What it does show is how to get the basics right, and some common beginner mistakes to avoid. So, in time, you might be able to achieve a quick basic portrait, but it will take a lot of practice. I read this to get some tips on how to improve, and there were a couple of things I can now keep in mind.
It won't give you instant artistic ability, but it will show you what you need to pay attention to, which will help you to create better work.
Profile Image for Catherine.
30 reviews
August 3, 2022
This book does a really good job of explaining ways to identify how far features of the face should be apart. It's has given me several tools in this regard. It's also pretty good at giving you an idea of how to sketch out a proportional and mostly accurate portrait quickly. When it comes to likeness, expression, and more in-depth details, this book is pretty lacking.

The book spends a lot of time setting up the process of drawing and how it relates to portraiture. There's a really nice walkthrough of how to work generally through each feature of the face in a quick manner, and as stated above, the tools for identifying the width, space, and length of each feature and their positions are really helpful. When it gets to the finer details and the greater complexities of the face, it looks more and more like notes from a sketchbook rather than anything actually instructional. In reference to likeness, the message is basically "don't worry about it" and then "focus on what you find interesting about that person's face." When it came to expression, it was more vague advice.

The first half of the book is definitely worth a read-through, the second half not so much. Check it out from your local library.
Profile Image for rachel kleypas-sparrow.
14 reviews
March 1, 2020
GREAT BOOK TO LEARN HOW TO DO FACES

I purchase both paperback and online books. I enjoyed this one in it's simplicity showing how to sketch . It teaches that errors are good
and teaches us to learn by mistakes and how to make corrections. Easy sketches to follow and to learn by and not showing how to do
portraits, but sketching out the face. You can follow his collection and purchase more of his work. Great art teacher and great author.

He shows us what to look for and angles, perspectives of the face. This book is ideal for beginner's and anybody with some idea how to
draw . IF you have basic idea how to draw faces, then this book pulls it together. I believe drawing should be fun and not a chore. In other
word's, you want to enjoy your construction of the face, and not get burnt out on detail, before you get started. He does the work for you
with common mistakes and showing how easy it is to correct your mistakes. I enjoyed it and will go over it several times to put it all
together in my mind.
Profile Image for Intesar Alemadi.
592 reviews19 followers
September 13, 2020
Draw Faces in 15 min ..
Jake Spicer ..
London ..

2017 ..
هذا الكتاب يسعى إلى منحك كل الأدوات التي تحتاجها لرسم الوجه خلال ١٥ دقيقة ..
يقول الكتاب إن الرسم من خلال صورة فوتوغرافية تختلف اختلافاً كلياً عن الرسم مباشرة من الطبيعة ..
فالرسم من الصور المطبوعة .. هو مجرد نقل من 2D إلى 2D .. لكن الرسم من الطبيعة هو نقل من 3D إلى 2D ..
الكتاب رائع جداً ومفيد لمن يميل قلبه لرسم البورتريه .. اقتنيت هذا الكتاب خلال إحدى رحلاتي للندن .. وماندمت من اقتناءه ..
Profile Image for Dan.
175 reviews4 followers
September 3, 2022
I have had this book for many years and have tried to use it to assist in the few portraits I've attempted since I bought it at the Tate in London long ago. After completing a new portrait over the last few weeks, investing many more than 15 minutes, I have found this book to be nearly useless. And the idea that anyone but a highly skilled artist could create a good portrait in 15 minutes seems very unlikely to me. There must be better instructional resources.
Profile Image for James Clarke.
9 reviews
March 16, 2018
This is not a book for beginners

I can't draw but want to learn. This book is not a good place to start for others like me. It doesn't really help with the most basic skills needed. Other than drawing textures and realizing I can't even draw a convincing cube, this book offered me next to nothing
Profile Image for Barbara.
540 reviews5 followers
January 27, 2018
Great resource in my art library to help with faces, my nemesis. I am hoping to conquer my fear to capture faces realistically. This book offers many structural hints on how the body is made and spacing hints. I am looking forward to putting those hints to practice.
161 reviews1 follower
November 27, 2022
GREAT BOOK FOR LEARNING THE BASICS

If you know little or nothing about drawing faces, read this book. By reading this book and following its instructions your drawing will greatly improve.
Profile Image for Joellen.
102 reviews28 followers
June 8, 2017
A lot of great info for such a small volume. I am going to need a lot of practice before I can accurately draw a face in 15 minutes :p
Profile Image for James.
3,915 reviews30 followers
June 17, 2018
A good introduction to drawing faces from life. It wouldn't surprise me if the author uses it as a supplement for his classes. Best used with an instructor and of course a live model.
Profile Image for Iren.
Author 7 books30 followers
December 16, 2022
Good for a simple and clear first introduction to drawing with pencils
5 reviews
June 10, 2021
Great to speed draw

Brilliant book that’s so helpful for Trainee and qualified Artists. I found it very helpful as my sketching isn’t too great, I draw detailed work so find it harder to sketch.
Profile Image for Gregory.
625 reviews12 followers
January 30, 2016
A couple of good tips. The problem is you have to know the basics of drawing before any of these types of books will help much.

There is good information about proportion, measuring, blocking, and reference points.
Profile Image for Katie Rose.
17 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2014
This is a great book if you have a lot of trouble with shape and proportion when it comes to drawing faces. Forever recommend.
Profile Image for S.
276 reviews27 followers
June 14, 2018
A very good and even extensive introduction to drawing faces. Good example and step-by-step images, clear and easy to follow principles and instructions. As a beginner at least, I can't find anything lacking from this guide.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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