Step-by-Step Studio: Drawing Lifelike Subjects: A complete guide to rendering flowers, landscapes, and animals: Volume 4 (Step-by-Step Studio, 4)

Step-by-Step Studio: Drawing Lifelike SubjectsA complete guide to rendering flowers, landscapes, and animalsby Diane Cardaci; Nolon Stacey; Linda Weil; Diane WrightQuarto Publishing Group – Walter FosterThis book is beautiful! The lifelike images and the detailed drawings, and the clear and concise instructions make this one of my favorite drawing tutorial books, even for beginners! The book starts out letting the reader know what tools and materials they will need then some basic techniques for drawing exercises.Chapter one is all doggies and puppies! There are instructions and images on how to draw fur of different types then various features of the dog. Then the book gives five very detailed step by step exercises for different adorable canines!Chapter two has flowers and botanicals. There are directions for drawing various parts of flowers, stems, etc. Then there are nine step by step projects to accomplish!Chapter three tackles landscapes! There are directions to draw the sky, grass, various trees, foliage, wood, rocks, and clouds. Then six unique and beautiful landscapes are presented in detailed step by step instructions!Chapter four has wild lifelike animals! There are some tips on drawing from life, using sketchbooks, and fur patterns. Then seven wonderful wild animal tutorials using pictures and directions, all step by step.This really is a terrific book for step by step tutorial learning! I like them best myself. I don't get overwhelmed and can do bit by bit. At the same time my mind is learning to make sense of the pieces, the form, and shapes.I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book.

There is nothing better for an artist than to find a drawing book that really teaches you to draw what you see. Most teach you how to spend hours in frustrating practice not knowing what you're doing wrong and then maybe, maybe, stumbling onto the answer. There are few out there that help you beyond that huge hump or teach you how to avoid it altogether. This is one that does. The key here is to take it step by step. No jumping ahead. Start where you wish with any of the artists and then follow them through. Go on to the next one and follow them through. These artists are masters of the art of graphite drawing(pencil) and are teaching you how to see and coordinate your hand to execute a movement at the same time. Each is accomplished in a specific area or prefrence and teaches that, but gradually as you work your way through this book you realize that you are learning to draw anything you wish. You are learning "to see." Not what someone else sees, what You see. That Is the Key difference in this book and it is a vital one. It isn't a long drawn out process. They know how to make it simple and fun, and it is. I have the privilage of being accquainted with Diane Wright as a working artist and that She is. She teaches online and works at her art on a daily basis. It feeds her Soul. That is what she and the other artists want to pass on to you. There is no artistic tool purer than the pencil. It invites the viewer to be a part of the work. It is the raw element of all construction, all art. It sets the stage and sometimes, as here, is complete in itself. Do make this a part of your collection. Draw through this book and you will definitely be an accomplished and happy artist by the time you finish.

Me han sorprendido mucho las opiniones positivas que he leído aquí. Con la cantidad de libros de dibujo que hay, me hicieron pensar que este libro era, como mínimo, uno más de muchos, con más ejemplos que pueda seguir para aprender a dibujar. Y quizá podía dar con un libro un poco mejor que otros. Pero no ha sido así.En el libro aparecen los nombres de artistas importantes, que seguramente son los que hicieron el boceto inicial y el dibujo terminado que aparecen en las demostraciones. El problema viene por que los pasos entre ambos (boceto inicial y dibujo terminado), en la mayoría de los casos, no son tales. Por ejemplo, te ponen una hoja completamente terminada en un paso, y luego en el siguiente paso, pues otra hoja completamente terminada. Por bloques completos, como si eso sirviera para algo. Parece editado por ordenador totalmente, cortando y pegando trozos del dibujo terminado sobre el boceto inicial y ya está. El detalle del dibujo tampoco se ve bien, con lo que cualquier explicación que aparece junto a cada uno de ellos, parece que hablara de otra cosa, porque no ves el detalle con la precisión como para poder entender y seguir un flujo de ideas, o sacarle provecho a cualquier consejo.La edición del libro parece buena, parece buen papel y muy vistoso, pero luego es todo fachada. No sirve de gran cosa si los paso a paso no son buenos y no se ve el detalle de los dibujos. Lo he devuelto.

not sure if any of you have ever watched the hercules series back in the 90s, but....DISAPPOINTED!!! thats how i felt.four great, talented artists. this highly informative book is filled with splendid drawings that are clear and detailed.each artist takes over a chapter, writing about their process and technique (even what number pencil they used) every step of the way.the main theme seems to be drawing from photographs, except for the last chapter, where the artist does that once with a koala (and even then, the pictures are just for reference, she doesnt really draw it exactly as is).so why not a five star rating?because the first chapter is just about dogs. thats it, thats my beef with this book. but a whole chapter! variety wouldve been great, why not, 'domestic animals' or 'pets' or 'dogs AND cats'??i dont know why the artist chose to have his whole chapter be dogs, and nothing but dogs. i simply wouldve bought a book on how to draw dogs (there are plenty out there) if thats what i was looking for.anyway...dont mind me, im just throwing a tantrum because there wasnt a single felis catus in the book. so if youre a dog person, dont even hesitate, this is a great book with tons of information.but if youre a cat person... youve been warned ahead of time so you dont end up bitter and disappointed like me :'(

This book markets itself for beginners and has "step by step" in the branding. In my mind, this suggests that the activities in the book show people without a great deal of experience how to progress in small, manageable stages with illustrations and "step by step" guidance at each stage. That is NOT the case in this book. Instead, my experience was that each illustration started on step 5 (skipping what I would have needed help with to get to their starting image) and then provided steps 8, 12, 22, and 30 but nothing in between. So, if you are an intermediate or very gifted beginner, you might enjoy this book. If you are a normal beginner, forget it. You will feel frustrated and incompetent, which is not what an art book should inspire!