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Learn to Paint People Quickly
A practical guide to learn painting individual people and crowds, with simple exercises and step-by-step demonstrations.
Bestselling artist and writer Hazel Soan has distilled her art teaching into the things that matter most and can be digested in a short period of time. Learning to paint is one of the life-long aspirations of many of us and the techniques of painting lively crowd scenes or portraits of loved ones can be picked up faster than you think.
In this concise book, Hazel Soan explains everything you need to know about figurative painting in an accessible way. She advises on how to paint people in a variety of poses and settings, dealing with the theories of colour and light in a way that beginners will understand and more experienced painters will find invaluable. She also guides you through ways to insert people into your pre-existing painting to bring them to life; scenes like urban streets and on the beach are explored. Subjects like how to paint portraits and getting to grips with body proportion and perspective are also covered. Both media of watercolours and oils are covered, making this the perfect book for any type of artist.
Filled with easy-to-follow exercises and demonstrations, this is a practical and helpful guide to learning to paint people very quickly.
Bestselling artist and writer Hazel Soan has distilled her art teaching into the things that matter most and can be digested in a short period of time. Learning to paint is one of the life-long aspirations of many of us and the techniques of painting lively crowd scenes or portraits of loved ones can be picked up faster than you think.
In this concise book, Hazel Soan explains everything you need to know about figurative painting in an accessible way. She advises on how to paint people in a variety of poses and settings, dealing with the theories of colour and light in a way that beginners will understand and more experienced painters will find invaluable. She also guides you through ways to insert people into your pre-existing painting to bring them to life; scenes like urban streets and on the beach are explored. Subjects like how to paint portraits and getting to grips with body proportion and perspective are also covered. Both media of watercolours and oils are covered, making this the perfect book for any type of artist.
Filled with easy-to-follow exercises and demonstrations, this is a practical and helpful guide to learning to paint people very quickly.
- GenresArtNonfictionDrawing
112 pages, Hardcover
Published March 7, 2017
235 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 24, 2023
I love that I found Hazel Soan. Her books are beautiful as well as informative and inspiring! I love trying to recreate the people in her book. The only thing that could have made it better would have been having the examples and tutorials all devoted exclusively to watercolors as oils and pastels are not even remotely similar. Still, the chapters on proportions, poses, lighting, and placing figures in a setting were just what I needed to finally understand why my people often looked so wonky.
August 26, 2022
This little book is chock full of information, don’t let the easy-reading language fool you. So many sentences packed with information I’ve never heard before, and I’ve been through a lot of art books and classes through the years. It’s refreshing to know Ms. Sloan actually wants our paintings to be good and I appreciate it. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, @HazelSloan.
The small, short book makes it easy to digest and get to the painting while referring back to the book. I’m so glad I stumbled across it at the big book store at the mall. I’ve now bought several others on Amazon, kindle version for even easier referencing.
The small, short book makes it easy to digest and get to the painting while referring back to the book. I’m so glad I stumbled across it at the big book store at the mall. I’ve now bought several others on Amazon, kindle version for even easier referencing.
December 26, 2024
not what I expected
I didn’t realize the quickly was modifying the learn versus the paint.
It didn’t teach me anything new.
There wasn’t much special about the examples.
I didn’t realize the quickly was modifying the learn versus the paint.
It didn’t teach me anything new.
There wasn’t much special about the examples.
September 1, 2019
The drawings are beautiful, but overall the explanation themselves are rather simplistic, General and quick.
That doesn’t mean they are not good comments, but it’s just a taste of what painting is really about. Like the book suggest, the rest of the knowledge will come from practice and experience, but I’m afraid you need more than this book to accomplish it.
This book aims mostly to watercolors, and I really like the art itself and its “stain” quality. The drawings, like the philosophy of the books, deal with tonality, shapes, and forms rather than hyper-realistic details. In that sense, the book offers a refreshing approach.
That doesn’t mean they are not good comments, but it’s just a taste of what painting is really about. Like the book suggest, the rest of the knowledge will come from practice and experience, but I’m afraid you need more than this book to accomplish it.
This book aims mostly to watercolors, and I really like the art itself and its “stain” quality. The drawings, like the philosophy of the books, deal with tonality, shapes, and forms rather than hyper-realistic details. In that sense, the book offers a refreshing approach.
July 8, 2022
For such a small book, it contains a lot of information.
September 4, 2019
Very good book.
This book is quite good. I thought it was informative and easy to follow. I would have liked to have seen more demonstrations.
This book is quite good. I thought it was informative and easy to follow. I would have liked to have seen more demonstrations.
May 6, 2021
A goldmine of valuable information
I am an enthusiastic canvas torturer rather than an artist, but even so, I gained such an enormous amount of valuable tuition and information from this very easy to read book. I now have a good idea of what I need to understand, pay attention to, and where to start.I
The expose and tips are accompanied by some awesome examples and closeup views of the author's paintings to demonstrate various points.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. There is nothing unnecessary in the book and it doesn't assume anyone is an idiot. There is only clear easy to learn from information and a strong encouragement to start making paintings come alive by adding people.
I'm genuinely grateful that I stumbled upon this gem!
I am an enthusiastic canvas torturer rather than an artist, but even so, I gained such an enormous amount of valuable tuition and information from this very easy to read book. I now have a good idea of what I need to understand, pay attention to, and where to start.I
The expose and tips are accompanied by some awesome examples and closeup views of the author's paintings to demonstrate various points.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. There is nothing unnecessary in the book and it doesn't assume anyone is an idiot. There is only clear easy to learn from information and a strong encouragement to start making paintings come alive by adding people.
I'm genuinely grateful that I stumbled upon this gem!
May 6, 2018
Informative but shallow
Very nice references which somewhat illustrated the techniques, however the presentation was too shallow. The book needs move examples to support and illustrate from several angles the ideas
Very nice references which somewhat illustrated the techniques, however the presentation was too shallow. The book needs move examples to support and illustrate from several angles the ideas
September 27, 2019
A quick read, packed with valuable information!
I only wish the book has been longer, but the read and content was 5 star. I will definitely seek out other works from this artist\author.
I only wish the book has been longer, but the read and content was 5 star. I will definitely seek out other works from this artist\author.
May 21, 2019
Very good guide
It is very useful book, I recomend every one who wants to know key points of watercolor painting. Thank you very much Hazel Soan
It is very useful book, I recomend every one who wants to know key points of watercolor painting. Thank you very much Hazel Soan
February 1, 2021
Very illuminating!
August 23, 2023
Clear, concise and unbelievably well presented. I am now painting people quickly...
March 20, 2025
Didn't prove as useful as I'd hoped for what I needed, but it did have a lot of useful tips and tricks
November 15, 2017
I’m new to sketching and watercolor and newly retired. I started reading this today and found a great tip for proportion. Visual step by step instructions. Great book for me.
March 12, 2019
I found this book very useful, handy and convenient, especially as I do water colour classes once a week. Highly recommend!
March 25, 2019
This was a quick read - 1 hour - but full of good information. However, not super detailed.
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February 23, 2018I was hoping for excersises for each chapter but it was fun to read and helpful.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews