The Art of Portrait Drawing: Learn the Essential Techniques of the Masters

by Joy Thomas

""Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.""—Edgar DegasLearn how to turn what you see into masterful, expressive art. With the practical instruction and advice in these pages, you can develop the skills necessary to draw fine portraits in the realist tradition.

In "The Art of Portrait Drawing," skilled artist Joy Thomas passes on to you the lessons she has gathered from generations of the world's greatest artists. Learn about the golden mean, the traditional three-color portrait, the secrets of proportion and more methods used by the Old Masters and today's best artists alike!

Inside you'll find:


An introduction to every commonly used drawing medium, including charcoal, Conte and graphite
An illustrated overview of the history of portrait drawing
Time-honored methods for drawing accurately
Insights on how to capture not only the likeness, but also the mood and essence of your subject
Advice on posing a subject, setting up lighting, choosing the right tools and composing effectively
9 in-depth, step-by-step drawing demonstrations to develop your skills and your confidence
Portraying the human face is the ultimate expression of art. Use "The Art of Portrait Drawing" as the road map for your artistic quest.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Creative

144 pages, Hardcover

First published May 29, 2006

Reviews

[RQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packed full of useful tips & advice

This book is full of practical advice - whether it be technique, form, setting up or just being an artist. Good for all level of artists from beginning to professionals.

[Kevin de Ataíde · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, although a very short book, good for an introduction. The first half, quite promising, describes the author's techniques and her basic set-up. The second half, with the step-by-step projects, relies very much upon the personal experience of the artist, and is better a window on her creative process than a detailed instruction. I thought best of the Conclusion of the book, where the author describes her attempts to find a decent art instruction in her youth and the usual opposition she discovered from the modernism in the art schools and how she was able to overcome it with her enthusiasm for her work. Three stars.

[Serge Pierro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Art of Portrait Drawing is a concise approach to the subject. The first section of the book contains topics such as Materials, Lighting, Poses and various instructional material. However, it is the second section that is probably the most interesting, as nine multi-page tutorials are presented - each done with various techniques and media.