The Big Book of Realistic Drawing Secrets: Easy Techniques for drawing people, animals, flowers and nature

This book is inspiring. I've been an artist for a long time (my whole life!), but I was trained as a cartoonist and animator. Sometimes I like to get back to the roots of classical art, and this was a great way to revisit that.The author does a great job of explaining her techniques from start to finish. The book goes from basic concepts like shading a ball, to using advanced tools I've never even heard of before like electric erasers and french curves! The depth and breadth of the instruction she's able to take you through in these pages is amazing, and has expanded my view of something as "simple" as a pencil sketch.While this book does take you from beginning to end, I would set it at a slightly higher level than "beginner." For some reason, art books are always marketed at people who have never drawn in their entire lives. Every art book is a beginner book if you read the back. Realistically, the author makes a decent number of assumptions about your experience with art and the types of techniques you may have already tried on your own or in a class. And the level goes from beginner to advanced very quickly.I also felt that the book focuses overly much on portraits. I think portraits are extremely difficult and interesting, and are a great subject to cover in detail when you're talking about realistic drawing. However, there was almost no attention covered on other components. One page, and two paragraphs, cover fabric. One or two pages on backgrounds. A few objects or images based on pets. And that's about it. It makes sense to me that the authors are primarily portrait artists, but for a general book on drawing it seemed to be a bit lacking in other areas.Overall, despite my critiques, I highly recommend this book. If you're a true beginner, don't be afraid to pick it up - but be warned that it may take you a long time to get to the level of the examples shown. If you're a mid-level artist trying to improve your skills, please check it out! You'll find an extraordinary amount of knowledge and experience on the best ways to make your drawings more realistic.

I love the illustrations and instructions. I just know this will help me hone my craft quickly while enjoying beautiful pictures.

I loved the fact it reminded me of what and how I could draw with realistic drawjngs.

Alot of things I didn't know about so very helpful

In my retirement, I took up drawing, bringing to the quest no more than a good eye and a strong desire to learn. This book has been IMMENSELY helpful:The author is knowledgable, clear, and very encouraging. She has convinced me that learning to draw has more to do with desire and effort than some inborn talent. The book includes lists of drawing tools and supplies one should have, basic exercises I've never heard of (e.g., continuous line drawing and "blind" continuous line drawing) which have been helpful and insightful, and every technique you could need to create professional looking drawings. Best of all, she has given me a confidence in holding a pencil I never thought I would enjoy. I recommend this excellent teaching tool highly.

You read most art books and you see the art in it and theres usually a mismatch. the books themselves are good at showing you some really basic foundational information. But when the art in the cover is this good the book rarely shows how to get at that same level. it's more like ok take what we showed you in this book and maybe in a few years of practice you can get this good.This book delivers. and it didn't really take that long. mind you I have been draw (more cartoon, more comic book type stuff) for a long time. and there was a wall, there was a learning curve. It's wasn't easy by no means. but within a few weeks, and a few failed attempts, I really feel like I was drawing realistically. and I was really impressed with myself.The book implores that you do the easier exercises before you move on to the more advanced stuff, no matter how good you think you are and they are right. I tried skipping and failed, fell on my face and it wasn't pleasant. But I went back and took the first few exercises seriously. and I really found them helpful. still wasn't great it took a few turns at practice. But once I got it, I got it.and let me tell you I tried for years to learn on my own or a few other books. and I never got the results I had with this book. I honestly gave up on this book like I did my other tries at drawing realistically. But I broke that wall finally.even if this isn't your style and or your like me who is studying animation and works in comics. still I'd get this book. style and dynamics you might have to learn some where else but drawing realistically, drawing from observation. this is your book. at least it was for me.

Note: a cursory examination and review. At some point learning artists work with reference imagery. This book provides tips for reproducing reference imagery with graphite pencils. The authors visits many of the issues artists will encounter. The book is a useful addition to an artist's library. That is very good. On the other hand many things are missing such as a discussion of stippling shading and lithography implicit in photographs and books. The media is restricted to graphite neglecting charcoal, ink, and pigmented washes which are standards for drawing. The technique is mainly cartesian measuring resulting in the aspect ratio artifacts in the drawings. Creative drawing, dynamism, impressionism, illustration, and simplistic exaggeration are not covered possibly considering them to be non-realistic. Even missing these things, I recommend the book for the skills, technology, and tips it does provide. Quite useful. Again, this is a cursory examination and review which may have missed some content.

It seems like there are some good techniques in here, but all in all I didn't personally get a ton out of it.

This book was very informative and was written in a way that makes you understand the concept of drawing. I personally recommend this book.

Great book. But I'm a real beginner, and got completely lost. I've got some valuable tips from it, but it's really above my level.

I found this to be a very thorough reference book and am sure I will be picking it up constantly. Excellent explanations on a wide variety of drawing processes and written in a way that is easily followed. Definitely not disappointed in this purchase. I bought three other books when I ordered this one, and the others have barely been opened. If you only want one instructional drawing book I'd say this is the one.

This Book is what I needed. Lots of helpful tips. doesn't matter if you draw People, Animals or the nature. you will find in this book what you need.if you need answers, what paper or pencil you need or how to draw hair or realistic skin, the answer is in this book with pictures. easy and step by step.Thanks a bunch for this great, great bookhave fun with this book and your art.

Received in good condition & thank you. Good guide for beginner. Note that this book mainly contains portrait drawings in blk-and-white, so good for graphite/charcoal ref. Would be great if the book incorporates more pics variety (e.g. animals, botanical, landscape) & coloured drawings as well.