Henry Yan's Figure Drawing

by Henry Yan

This book is focused on various techniques and styles in drawing human figures and portraits. The book has 192 pages, each page includes one or more figure/head drawings done from live models. There are about 20 step-by-step demonstrations from detailed and traditional approaches to fast and painterly styles. Along with the step-by-step demonstrations and examples, the book is filled with detailed description of methods of using charcoal pencil, vine charcoal and compressed charcoal. The text also includes opinions, tips, ways of thinking and observing. It's a book that will benefit both beginners and advanced learners.

Genres: Art, Drawing, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Parka · Rating 5 out of 5]

(More pictures at parkablogs.com)

Henry Yan is a painter and teacher at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

This book focuses on the tips and techniques in drawing human figures and portraits. All the paintings included are from his class demonstrations and workshop studies developed from many years of teaching. And all drawings are done from live models.

There are about 20 step-by-step demonstrations from quick 20-minute sketches to long poses. He shows us how he draws and teaches us what to look out for, and the various techniques to approach figure drawing — lines, mass, shadows, etc.

He has a very cool painterly style and energy to his figures that I like. Some pieces are created like chinese paintings, not drawing in too much details to invite viewers to fill in the details (in their mind) themselves.

It's an inspiring book filled with beautiful images, recommended to anyone into figure drawings.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book to have and look at, studying with it is a little tougher. I think Yan is a great artist, and you can learn a lot by taking apart some of his drawings just to see how he goes about hitting the page.
The book is presented in a matter of fact sort of format, so it in other words it doesn't give that many techniques or tips, just a few, and they are pretty well known for the most part. But worth it to see some of his marvelous charcoal work.-a moderate 3 stars.

[Lirel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Henry Yan covers has been a great help in my figure drawing studies and the work in the book is amazing!

[Valenfore Alestreneon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was written by own professor, a Figure Drawing Master!! I'm amazed at how skilled Henry is and will keep training until I can freehand as good as him!