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How to Draw and Paint
Drawing: Landscapes with William F. Powell: Learn to draw outdoor scenes step by step
In this book, William F. Powell invites you into his artistic world as he shows you how to render a variety of beautiful landscape subjects in pencil. The author explores a number of basic drawing techniques as he presents his own methods for developing a drawing to its fullest through a series of step-by-step demonstrations. You'll discover different methods of shading, ways of manipulating drawing tools to produce specific textures, and tips on how to design a well-balanced composition, providing you with the necessary knowledge to create your own landscape drawings from preliminary sketch to the completed work.
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2003
431 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
William F. Powell
60 books10 followersWilliam F. Powell is an internationally recognized artist recognized as one of America's foremost colorists. He has written and illustrated more than 30 instructional art books.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 28, 2016
This book helped me a lot in sketching. Great ways and methods to fill paper outdoors!
May 4, 2020
This is a very short book so it only gives a cursory glance to instruction at the beginning (which is not necessarily bad --as many art books give too much space here IMO. This is a standard type of art book that jumps from a fairly simple picture to a more complex one without much instruction (which unfortunately I do not care for) however I will say they really tried to cover as much ground as possible in such a short book, showing many different landscape types.
February 15, 2020
Quarto publishers are my favorite publishes lately because; thay publish books with wide spectrum and practical usage.
And they create easy to read beautiful books aimed at a particular aspect of mental faculty.
This books is to be read after reading similar book by Quarto which teaches basics of drawing.
This one expands horizons of learners further as they try to draw difficult landscapes.
A good drawing educator with simple and practical tips.
Aspiring and artists who are just warming up should get a look at it.
Thanks netgalley and publisher for review.
And they create easy to read beautiful books aimed at a particular aspect of mental faculty.
This books is to be read after reading similar book by Quarto which teaches basics of drawing.
This one expands horizons of learners further as they try to draw difficult landscapes.
A good drawing educator with simple and practical tips.
Aspiring and artists who are just warming up should get a look at it.
Thanks netgalley and publisher for review.
May 14, 2019
🏞 أين كنت عن رسم الطبيعة ؟ ما أجملها و ما أجمل دراستها
كتاب مختصر لكنه أفادني كثيراً في الأساسيات كالضوء و الظل و الأبعاد و في جلب إحساس أعمق للمشهد . أُفضل تبسيط الفن و الابتعاد عن التعقيد و هذا تماماً ما وجدته هنا.
كتاب مختصر لكنه أفادني كثيراً في الأساسيات كالضوء و الظل و الأبعاد و في جلب إحساس أعمق للمشهد . أُفضل تبسيط الفن و الابتعاد عن التعقيد و هذا تماماً ما وجدته هنا.
February 18, 2020
Step-by-step instructions with a lot of detail on drawing practices. Focus on textures really worked with some of the most difficult things when drawing landscapes (stones, waves, clouds, etc) to help someone really become a better artist
October 1, 2023
I also have a newer copy of this book too, if you've read my review on the Trees by the same author, you will know I rated the complimentary book as a four star due to the newer prints sheer sizing. It's non standard sizing is a bit clunky. The newer version is paperback and purple.
These are great books for style, inspiration, for artists of any skill level. But especially really great books for beginners or those looking to try out different topics in art. I usually draw characters. I've been drawing for decades, but landscape for me is new. These books are friendly and build good foundations for beginners to advanced artists. The also make great resources for inspiration and are well worth having in your library!
These are great books for style, inspiration, for artists of any skill level. But especially really great books for beginners or those looking to try out different topics in art. I usually draw characters. I've been drawing for decades, but landscape for me is new. These books are friendly and build good foundations for beginners to advanced artists. The also make great resources for inspiration and are well worth having in your library!
October 6, 2025
Makes learning how to draw landscapes seem easy and simple!
I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always had some kind of mental block with landscapes. Flipping through this and looking at the examples made me feel like they seemed easy instead of hard. I appreciate that everything uses pencil—a versatile but accessible tool. I’m excited to get started on the examples and to improve my eye for sketching landscapes, especially when it comes to composition and framing.
I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always had some kind of mental block with landscapes. Flipping through this and looking at the examples made me feel like they seemed easy instead of hard. I appreciate that everything uses pencil—a versatile but accessible tool. I’m excited to get started on the examples and to improve my eye for sketching landscapes, especially when it comes to composition and framing.
October 2, 2024
Great tips
I have been getting into watercolor and needed some more practice on sketching so my paintings look more realistic when it comes to perspective and the details of things. I have been sketching a rough draft before I want and This book gave great tips and walked me through what I would need to sketch out my paintings. Thank you William Powell!!
I have been getting into watercolor and needed some more practice on sketching so my paintings look more realistic when it comes to perspective and the details of things. I have been sketching a rough draft before I want and This book gave great tips and walked me through what I would need to sketch out my paintings. Thank you William Powell!!
February 27, 2025
Comprehensive guide to grow your skills
Helpful tutorial in blocking out a scene, tips on perspective, shading, blending elements to create a satisfying whole. For beginners like myself and more advanced learners. I remember an uncle teaching me simple techniques as a child and now I'm trying these landscapes - brings back happy memories.
Helpful tutorial in blocking out a scene, tips on perspective, shading, blending elements to create a satisfying whole. For beginners like myself and more advanced learners. I remember an uncle teaching me simple techniques as a child and now I'm trying these landscapes - brings back happy memories.
October 3, 2024
Short but Helpful for a Beginner
It was surprisingly short, but I found the techniques to be more helpful than other guides I've tried. I would recommend it for those starting out or struggling with basic techniques.
It was surprisingly short, but I found the techniques to be more helpful than other guides I've tried. I would recommend it for those starting out or struggling with basic techniques.
September 26, 2023
very helpful
Like the way Instruction is simple and clear. Illustrations are excellent….really good value.. so many gems. Really a good read and easy to apply to my own work.
Like the way Instruction is simple and clear. Illustrations are excellent….really good value.. so many gems. Really a good read and easy to apply to my own work.
December 23, 2023
landscape architect
This is a good way to practice drawing backgrounds and landscapes. I will definitely start practicing today and I will get better one step at a time.
This is a good way to practice drawing backgrounds and landscapes. I will definitely start practicing today and I will get better one step at a time.
May 7, 2025
love it!
Great info for beginners for sure! Much more knowledge and education than I thought there would be! Great choice for sure!
Great info for beginners for sure! Much more knowledge and education than I thought there would be! Great choice for sure!
September 9, 2020
I've never been one to draw landscapes, because I didn't really know how. But I wanted to learn, and this book was really helpful. I've always drawn people and animals, but now I can draw landscapes as well.
February 18, 2020
Do you need help to learn to draw landscapes?
In his book "Drawing: Landscapes with William F. Powell. Learn to Draw outdoor scenes step by step" the artist William F. Powell states: "You can discover beautiful landscapes almost anywhere—in your vacation photographs, at local parks, and even in your own backyard! ... with a little practice, you’ll be able to apply your newfound skills and draw your own beautiful masterpieces!" The steps that he deems necessary to get from the preliminary sketch to the completed work are exploring how to choose suitable subjects, creating a sense of depth through perspective, and utilizing various points of view. The readers will also learn simple techniques for developing trees, clouds, rocks, water, and shading methods.
The book is one of the 40-page books from the "Drawing ... step by step" series for beginners, published by Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster. The Book contains fifteen chapters, starting out with the basic information about tools & materials and shading techniques before diving into the specific step-by-step teaching that is needed to draw landscapes, such as surfaces and textures, composition, clouds, or trees and bushes.
The book presents itself with great graphics and design. Tips and additional instructions are included throughout the book. They are a great help for the budding artist. It is helpful and inspirational for beginning (and advanced) artists who are wanting to draw landscapes. It would make a nice gift and I would recommend it for them. Readers need to be aware that it is a basic book, index and information where the needed materials can be bought are missing. It is also important to know that the book only touches drawing with graphite pencil, drawing with colored pencils is not included in the book.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#DrawingLandscapesWithWilliamFPowell #NetGalley
In his book "Drawing: Landscapes with William F. Powell. Learn to Draw outdoor scenes step by step" the artist William F. Powell states: "You can discover beautiful landscapes almost anywhere—in your vacation photographs, at local parks, and even in your own backyard! ... with a little practice, you’ll be able to apply your newfound skills and draw your own beautiful masterpieces!" The steps that he deems necessary to get from the preliminary sketch to the completed work are exploring how to choose suitable subjects, creating a sense of depth through perspective, and utilizing various points of view. The readers will also learn simple techniques for developing trees, clouds, rocks, water, and shading methods.
The book is one of the 40-page books from the "Drawing ... step by step" series for beginners, published by Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster. The Book contains fifteen chapters, starting out with the basic information about tools & materials and shading techniques before diving into the specific step-by-step teaching that is needed to draw landscapes, such as surfaces and textures, composition, clouds, or trees and bushes.
The book presents itself with great graphics and design. Tips and additional instructions are included throughout the book. They are a great help for the budding artist. It is helpful and inspirational for beginning (and advanced) artists who are wanting to draw landscapes. It would make a nice gift and I would recommend it for them. Readers need to be aware that it is a basic book, index and information where the needed materials can be bought are missing. It is also important to know that the book only touches drawing with graphite pencil, drawing with colored pencils is not included in the book.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#DrawingLandscapesWithWilliamFPowell #NetGalley
February 23, 2020
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Drawing Landscapes with William F. Powell is a new title in the Learn to Draw Step by Step series. Due out 3rd March 2020 from Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 40 pages and available in paperback format. This appears to be a reformat and re-release of material first released in 1997 with the same title by the same author.
The titles in this series are all formatted in a similar manner and this one is no exception.
A short general introduction (10%) covers tools and materials including pencils, paper, blending tools, etc. The intro is followed by a group of non-specific tutorials on graphite techniques, shading, light, shapes and perspective. The following tutorial chapters are specific for different subjects (landscapes) and include specific tutorials: clouds, rocks, trees & branches, etc, leading to some full studies. There is also a very abbreviated tutorial on rendering some surfaces and finishes. It should be noted that the style of these renderings is very retro/traditional in a style which was popular in the early to mid 20th century, much of that popularity springing from the art of Mr. Powell himself.
I like these tutorial booklets, they're inexpensive and full of useful info for artists looking for improvement in their own work. It's nice to see them getting a re-release for a new audience of artists and learners.
Four stars - for what it covers and for a very short tutorial guide, it does the job admirably well.
Disclosure: I received an eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Drawing Landscapes with William F. Powell is a new title in the Learn to Draw Step by Step series. Due out 3rd March 2020 from Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 40 pages and available in paperback format. This appears to be a reformat and re-release of material first released in 1997 with the same title by the same author.
The titles in this series are all formatted in a similar manner and this one is no exception.
A short general introduction (10%) covers tools and materials including pencils, paper, blending tools, etc. The intro is followed by a group of non-specific tutorials on graphite techniques, shading, light, shapes and perspective. The following tutorial chapters are specific for different subjects (landscapes) and include specific tutorials: clouds, rocks, trees & branches, etc, leading to some full studies. There is also a very abbreviated tutorial on rendering some surfaces and finishes. It should be noted that the style of these renderings is very retro/traditional in a style which was popular in the early to mid 20th century, much of that popularity springing from the art of Mr. Powell himself.
I like these tutorial booklets, they're inexpensive and full of useful info for artists looking for improvement in their own work. It's nice to see them getting a re-release for a new audience of artists and learners.
Four stars - for what it covers and for a very short tutorial guide, it does the job admirably well.
Disclosure: I received an eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
January 31, 2020
"Drawing: Landscapes" is an art instruction book on drawing landscapes using graphite pencil. The finished drawings are more like detailed sketches than highly detailed drawings, but they still look very nice. There is enough instruction that this would be appropriate for a beginner. The author started by describing the various tools and materials, various shading techniques, how to create various textures, and the basics of composition and perspective. He then provided step-by-step details on how to draw clouds, rocks, trees and bushes, buildings, mountains, deserts, creeks, and waterfalls. He ended with two step-by-step projects: Half Dome in Yosemite and Grand Falls in Yellowstone. I'd recommend this short book to beginners at drawing landscapes.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 18, 2020
This is a short golden gem for drawing landscapes. I love art books by William Powell and this one does not disappoint. I love the helpful tips and suggestions as well as the talented artwork. I highly recommend this book as a reference and I have already pre-ordered it. I love the tips for drawing tree with in the foreground as silhouettes and creating the illusion of mist in a waterfall. The tips for realistic water and adding reflections is excellent.
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
February 6, 2020
Drawing: Landscapes with William F. Powell by William F. Powell is a useful guide to help you learn how to draw landscapes. It gives illustrations to help show you the steps as well as providing tips here and there to offer assistance.
January 25, 2020
Another nice drawing book from them. Some nice tips and examples to draw. Good for those who like to draw and want a few tips to help you get better.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews