Concepts are where all great ideas begin. Whether scribbled in a sketch pad or on a napkin, concepts are a way for artists to develop their skills and discover interesting shapes and forms that can be developed into their next masterpiece. In Sketching from the Imagination, 50 talented traditional and digital artists have been chosen to share their sketchbook works, from doodled concept sketches to fully rendered drawings. A visually stunning collection packed full with useful tips, Sketching from the Imagination is an excellent value resource for concept design to inspire artists of all abilities.

This stunningly illustrated new book focuses on 76 intricate, expressive and individual examples of calligraphy from the unparalleled collection of the British Library. The author, a renowned expert on the history of the form as well as a fine calligrapher herself, writes - uniquely - from a practitioner's point of view. Ranging from the Middle Ages, when beautiful calligraphy was a way of celebrating the divine, to the renaissance of the art form by William Morris, to the modern school of calligraphers following in the wake of master typographer Edward Johnston, Patricia Lovett charts the development of calligraphy through the history of European manuscripts. Large-scale full-colour reproductions enable the reader to see the fine detail of each manuscript, and to understand more clearly than ever before the painstaking craft and great artistic skill that were necessary to create these strikingly beautiful pieces of writing. Now in paperback, this stunningly illustrated book draws on the unparalleled collections of the British Library, as well as numerous world-leading institutions, to highlight 76 important, expressive and individual examples of calligraphy.

Superb collection of 55 lovely plates, reproduced from rare, early editions, includes a rich selection of fairy tale images by one of England's leading illustrators of the early 20th century. Includes scenes from Irish Fairy Tales, English Fairy Tales, Hansel and Gretel, Snowdrop and Other Tales, Little Brother & Little Sister, and more. A dazzling archive for lovers of art, Rackham devotees, and fairy tale enthusiasts.

Written by a long-time expert on drawing and painting human anatomy, Classic Human Anatomy in Motion offers artists everything they need to realistically draw the human figure as it is affected by movement. Written in a friendly style, the book is illustrated with hundreds of life drawing studies (both quick poses and long studies), along with charts and diagrams showing the various anatomical and structural components. This comprehensive manual features five distinct sections, each focusing on a different aspect of the human figure: bones and joint movement, muscle groups, surface form and soft tissue characteristics, structure, and movement. Each chapter builds an artistic understanding of how motion transforms the human figure and can create a sense of expressive vibrancy in one's art.

As a response to the ubiquity of drawing in contemporary consciousness and a corresponding dearth of critical engagement with the medium, these collected essays provide original interpretations of artists' drawing today. Questions of process, politics, scale, and community raised in the work of the diverse group of artists are situated within the historic discourse on drawing and demonstrate the extent to which contemporary practice challenges previous definitions of the medium. From the room-encompassing drawings of Monika Grzymala and Barbara Bernstein or Sophie Calle's expansive exploration of the Jerusalem eruv to Andrea Bowers's graphite renditions of protest to Ellsworth Kelly's proposal for a memorial to September 11, the essays explore the implications of drawings' departure from the confines of a sheet of paper. Essential reading for both the academic and general audience, this book provides in-depth discussions of artists and projects that have never been treated in a sustained, analytical way; each essay will interest the wider contemporary art audience, as well as students of drawing. Taken as a whole, the volume represents a pertinent and stimulating engagement with issues of paramount importance to our understanding of contemporary art and its place in museums, galleries, and the public sphere.

Bestselling how-to-draw author Christopher Hart here taps into his vast experience to prove that anyone can depict the human body. Chris has carefully designed his step-by-step instructions so that they're accessible to absolute beginners, especially kids 12 and up. His simplified, yet detailed, guidance covers drawing the head and body of men, women and children in a wide variety of facial features, expressions, styles and poses. Learn to capture the many personalities and activities of people in everyday life, from firefighters, doctors, soldiers and students to swimmers, skateboarders, gymnasts and even daydreamers. A quick look through this book will make it clear to any aspiring artist that you can learn to draw, quickly and easily - and love every step along the way!

This reader-friendly guide allows artists and would-be artists at all levels of achievement to experience the satisfaction of drawing with pen and ink techniques. Richly illustrated and containing dozens of simple exercises, it covers everything from the basic tools and materials to the production of advanced effects.
A seasoned instructor, author Frank Lohan presents dozens of exercises for beginning, intermediate, and advanced artists. His topics range from the creation of hatching, tones, and stippling to dealing with the problems that can arise when adding texture, light, and shade. An extensive reference section features examples of landscapes, trees and foliage, flowers, faces, animals, and a wealth of other subjects. Helpful suggestions include tips for copying, reducing, and enlarging sketches; instructions for easy matting; and guidelines for reproducing sketches on greeting cards and notepaper.

Relax and unwind the creative way! Learn to use drawing as a pathway to relaxation with the creative art exercises and soothing meditations found inside this inspiring book. Anyone who has ever experienced a relaxed, calm state while doodling understands the powerful connection between hand and mind. From flowing one-line designs to calm-inducing repetitive patterns, drawing can put us into a state of flow. And, with this book, you'll return to that feeling repeatedly with the meditative exercises offered. Each exercise includes instructions, a pattern, and a practice area for drawing. Also included are guided meditations in the form of key words to ponder as you draw. Finally, inspirational quotes and short prompts help you put each lesson into practice. A more calm, present, and mindful moment is waiting. A pencil and this book are all that's needed!

A clear and concise guide to pen-and-ink work, this step-by-step presentation features 37 demonstrations -- each with multiple sketches that show the progression from pencil sketch to ink outline and from shadows and detail to the completed work. The drawings advance from easy to complex, accompanied by advice for artists at every level of experience.
Written in a direct and engaging style and richly illustrated throughout, this guide discusses the fundamentals of pen and ink as well as materials and basic techniques. It addresses common problems such as foreshortening, breaking up monotony, and executing delicate details. Sketches include rustic scenes of barns and other buildings as well as landscapes and portraits of owls, deer, squirrels, ducks, and other wildlife. Equally valuable for classroom use and independent study, this volume also forms a practical sourcebook and reference.

Master of art, science, philosophy, architecture and much more, Leonardo da Vinci was the definition of a Renaissance Man. While many of his works were left unfinished or have badly deteriorated, his drawings and words preserve his genius and remain a critical resource for artists today. Delve into one of history's greatest minds to be guided and inspired by his works and wisdom in The Leonardo da Vinci Sketchbook. From anatomical studies to tonal compositions, master essential techniques, principles and subjects. Pour over the most compelling details of Leonardo's work and follow the guidance within to become a master artist.

When did drawing become an integral part of architecture? Among several architects and artists who brought about this change during the Renaissance, Francesco di Giorgio Martini's ideas on drawing recorded in his Trattati di architettura, ingegneria e arte militare (1475-1490) are significant. Francesco suggests that drawing is linked to the architect's imagination and central in conveying images and ideas to others. Starting with the broader edges of Francesco's written work and steadily penetrating into the fantastic world of his drawings, the book examines his singular formulation of the act of drawing and its significance in the context of the Renaissance. The book concludes with speculations on how Francesco's work is relevant to us at the onset of another major shift in architecture caused by the proliferation of digital media.

The must-have guide for all artists who draw the human figure!This book provides a simplified and practical vision of the human skeleton to help all artists in their drawing studies. Here you will find the most common and useful approaches to the body's underlying skeleton and bone structure, which will fuel your imagination and enrich your observational skills as you draw the living form. In this small, portable guide, artist and teacher Michel Lauricella focuses on the essentials you need to know.Geared toward artists of all levels--from beginners through professionals--this handy, pocket-sized book will help spark your imagination and creativity. Whether your interest is in figure drawing, fine arts, fashion design, game design, or creating comic book or manga art, you will find this helpful book filled with actionable insights.(Publisher's Note: This book features an "exposed" binding style. This is intentional, as it is designed to help the book lay flat as you draw.) TABLE OF CONTENTSForewordIntroductionHead and NeckTorsoUpper LimbsLower LimbsResources

Everybody loves flowers, and here are 100 beautiful blooms for you to draw! Whether you prefer the understated beauty of a simple daisy or the garish good looks of a flamingo lily, you're bound to discover a flower in this book that you will find irresistible - and you will just want to pick up your pencil and start drawing! There are everyday garden blooms such as roses and tulips, delicate wild varieties such as primroses and bluebells, and a whole range of exotics, too, if you want to try something a bit different. Each flower is broken down into six simple stages that lead you effortlessly through to the finished drawing. There are no written instructions to follow - just basic shapes and pencil strokes. Even if you've never drawn anything before, you will be amazed at how quickly you will achieve incredibly impressive drawings. Every project also shows two finished examples of the flower - one shaded with pencil and the other with colour. This is the perfect book for budding artists yearning to draw their favourite posies, or the experienced artist looking for a variety of subjects to inspire. The material in this book is taken from the following books in Search Press's successful How to Draw series: Flowers, Garden Flowers, Wild Flowers, Exotic Flowers.

From soft pencils to graphite powder, ballpoint to fibre-tip pens, conte sticks to watercolour pencils, this unique guide covers everything you need to know to begin mastering and combining different media in your drawing. This visual directory of drawing techniques beyond the pencil provides you with the skills to explore and experiment with all the different techniques and mediums. Use it as a handy reference for when you want to know how to use a particular tool, or as a catalogue of inspiration when seeking new ideas to try. A wealth of media and equipment is demonstrated, and each page features invaluable information for beginners and accomplished artists alike. As the techniques progress, you'll explore the creative possibilities beyond one medium, and be encouraged to look at your work and style in a new light. Use the examples shown to aid expression and skill development and to look at the myriad possibilities of mixed media, which have all been selected because of their compatibility. Start with basic graphite pencils, sticks and powder to explore line and tone, shading, creating textures and erasing. Then move on to coloured pencils to cover techniques such as burnishing, lifting and sgraffito. There are various interesting methods to try with water-soluble coloured pencils too, including different ways of applying water, blending and overlaying colours. Explore the effects that you can create with charcoal or conte sticks on different coloured and textured papers, and discover how to use pastel pencils and chalks for expressive drawing. Then master blending, shading and scumbling with hard and soft pastels, and perfect your techniques with crayons, oil pastels and oil paint sticks. There are some really interesting ways to use ink pens for painting effects and instructions are included for cutting your own quill pen. Ballpoint pens, fibre-tips, marker pens and brush pens are also great tools for creating modern, graphic drawings - pick up some handy tips for mark making and blending. Finally, experiment with mixed media and combining various pencils, pastels, crayons, powder, sticks and pens for some stunning results. Be inspired by the huge range of drawings in this book to expand and develop your own skills.

Building on the foundation established with the first book in the series, Framed Perspective 2 guides artists through the challenging tasks of projecting shadows in proper perspective on a variety of environments and working with characters in perspective set in particular situation or setting. Author and artist Marcos Mateu-Mestre reveals the many techniques and mechanics he has used to become proficient in such endeavors, including using anatomy, shadows, and clothing folds to define the shape and volume of characters within an environment. He also shares how to effectively observe a model or object to extract the right amount of information to then translate it into an impactful graphic and visual image, the goal of every visual storyteller.

Bringing together a broad range of contributors including art, architecture, and design academic theorists and historians, in addition to practicing artists, architects, and designers, this volume explores the place of the sketchbook in contemporary art and architecture. Drawing upon a diverse range of theories, practices, and reflections common to the contemporary conceptualisation of the sketchbook and its associated environments, it offers a dialogue in which the sketchbook can be understood as a pivotal working tool that contributes to the creative process and the formulation and production of visual ideas. Along with exploring the theoretical, philosophical, psychological, and curatorial implications of the sketchbook, the book addresses emergent digital practices by way of examining contemporary developments in sketchbook productions and pedagogical applications. Consequently, these more recent developments question the validity of the sketchbook as both an instrument of practice and creativity, and as an educational device. International in scope, it not only explores European intellectual and artistic traditions, but also intercultural and cross-cultural perspectives, including reviews of practices in Chinese artworks or Islamic calligraphy, and situational contexts that deal with historical examples, such as Roman art, or modern practices in geographical-cultural regions like Pakistan.

The Ashmolean Museum and the Albertina are collaborating on a two-part exhibition project that will examine anew the role and the significance of drawing in Raphael's career. The Ashmolean holds the greatest collection of Raphael drawings in the world, and the Albertina is the custodian of a major collection including some of the most beautiful and important of the artist's sketches. Taken together, the two collections provide extraordinary resources that, amplified by carefully-selected international loans, will allow us to transform our understanding of the art of Raphael. The Oxford exhibition is based on new research by Dr Catherine Whistler of the Ashmolean Museum and Dr Ben Thomas from the University of Kent, in collaboration with Dr Achim Gnann of the Albertina. It will take Raphael's art of drawing as its focus, with the concept of eloquence as its underlying structure. Oratory runs as a linking thread in Raphael's drawings, which stand out for the importance given to the study of gestures, facial expressions, and drapery.Moreover, Raphael treated the expressive figure of the orator - poet, philosopher, muse, apostle, saint or sibyl - in fascinating and significant ways throughout his life. This selection of drawings demonstrates how Raphael created a specific mode of visual invention and persuasive communication through drawing. He used drawing both as conceptual art (including brainstorming sheets) and as a practice based on attentive observation (such as drawing from the posed model). Yet Raphael's drawings also reveal how the process of drawing in itself, with its gestural rhythms and spontaneity, can be a form of thought, generating new ideas. The Oxford exhibition will present drawings that span Raphael's entire career, encompassing many of his major projects and exploring his visual language from inventive ideas to full compositions. The extraordinary range of drawings by Raphael in the Ashmolean and the Albertina, enhanced by appropriate loans, will enable this exhibition to cast new light on this familiar artist, transforming our understanding of Raphael's art.

This sparkling Tiny Folio edition of Audubon's Birds of America displays all 435 of Audubon's hand-coloured engravings, graced with an illuminating introduction by Roger Tory Peterson that places Audubon in his ornithological and art historical context. Issued with the full endorsement and cooperation of the Audubon Society, the stunning Baby Elephant Folio - here reproduced in a miniature-like version - was the first work ever to arrange Audubon's plates in scientific order.

Featuring more than 600 sketches depicting a vast array of architecturally and culturally significant buildings, bridges, towers, monuments, and more, Draw Like an Artist: 100 Buildings and Architectural Forms is a must-have visual reference for student and aspiring architects, artists, illustrators, and urban sketchers. This contemporary step-by-step guidebook demonstrates fundamental art and architectural concepts like proportion, perspective, and spatial relationships as you learn to draw a wide range of important residential, commercial, historic, and cultural buildings, bridges, towers, and other structures from all over the world and from ancient to modern-all shown from a variety of perspectives and scales. Each set of illustrations takes you from beginning sketch lines to a finished drawing. Author David Drazil's classic drawing style will make this a go-to sourcebook for years to come. Learn how to establish basic shapes; articulate lines for structure, forms, and shading; and add defining details by drawing these celebrated sites and many others: Residential: Fallingwater in the US and the Silo in Copenhagen Commercial: Dancing House in Prague and Sugamo Shinkin Bank in Tokyo Monuments/Sacred: Stonehenge in the UK and the Cathedral of Brasilia Bridges: Jade Belt Bridge in Beijing and the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Sydney, Australia Draw Like an Artist: 100 Buildings and Architectural Forms is a library essential for any artist or architect who's interested in learning how to draw and explore the underlying design principles of influential constructions. The books in the Draw Like an Artist series are richly visual references for learning how to draw classic subjects realistically through hundreds of step-by-step images created by expert artists and illustrators.

With this high-quality sketchbook, experienced and aspiring manga artists can take what they've learned about drawing manga and create their own manga graphic novels. The opening pages of this sketchbook include information on filling the panels, creating drama with angles, using speech balloons, and creating special effects. After that, the book is divided into six sections, each with a cover template and blank, black-framed panels that allow artists to create different manga stories from start to finish. The possibilities are endless!

Learn about key elements of character art from traditional and digital illustrator, Simone Grunewald. Simone, also known as "Schmoe", creates heart-felt and personal designs inspired by her everyday life experiences and passion for the arts. As a new mother, she also draws on her humorous experiences of bringing up a small child in the modern world. Discover in-depth visual breakdowns of Simone's techniques as well as a varied and extensive collection of Simone's stunning art. From linework advice to character design considerations, Simone generously shares her creative practice. A book that appeals to artists at every stage of their creative journey, this title teaches how to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls, as well as how to improve technique. Feel motivated to practice every day to develop engaging characters of all shapes, ages and sizes. With special focus on developing dynamic poses and expressions, Simone's advice will ensure that you create emotive characters with energy and personality.

""Anyone who can hold a pencil can learn to draw with some degree of proficiency," Bert Dodson proclaims."

In this book he shares a complete drawing system that you can use for any subject or type of drawing-even if you doubt your ability to draw. It's based on fifty-five "keys to drawing," which are introduced at a comfortable pace. The keys are interspersed with dozens of practice exercises that help you learn by doing.

You'll learn how to: Restate, focus, map and intensify.Free your hand action, and then learn to control it.Convey the illusions of light, depth and texture.Stimulate your imagination through "creative play"

This beautifully illustrated catalogue presents a selection of exceptional seventeenth-century Dutch drawings from the Peck Collection in the Ackland Art Museum at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Featuring many previously unpublished and rarely exhibited works, the catalogue brings together examples by some of the best-known artists of the era such as Rembrandt, Jacques de Gheyn II, Samuel van Hoogstraten, and Frans van Mieris. The collection was donated to the museum in 2017 by the late Drs. Sheldon and Leena Peck. The transformative gift is comprised of over 130 largely seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Dutch and Flemish drawings, establishing the Ackland as one of a handful of university art museums in the United States where northern European drawings can be studied in depth. Drawn to Life presents around 70 works from this exceptional and diverse group of drawings amassed by the Pecks over four decades. Featuring new research and fresh insights into seventeenth-century drawing practice, the catalogue and accompanying exhibition celebrates the creativity and technical skills of Dutch artists who explored the beauty of the natural world and the multifaceted aspects of humanity. The catalogue features a broad selection of scenes of everyday life, landscapes, biblical and historical scenes, portraits, and preparatory studies, forming a dynamic and representative group of Dutch drawings made by some of the most outstanding artists of the period, including Abraham Bloemaert, Jacob van Ruisdael, Esaias van de Velde, Bartholomeus Breenbergh, Pieter Molijn, Aelbert Cuyp, Adriaen van Ostade, Ferdinand Bol, Nicolaes Maes, Jan Lievens, Gerard ter Borch, Adriaen van de Velde, Nicolaes Berchem, and Cornelis Dusart. Key sheets of remarkable quality by lesserknown artists such as Guillam Dubois, Herman Naiwincx, Willem Romeyn, and Jacob van der Ulft, also comprise a core strength of the collection, and serve as a testament to the visual acuity of the Pecks as collectors. At the heart of the Peck Collection are several sheets by Rembrandt, including the sublime Noli me Tangere; a beautifully rendered late landscape, Canal and Boats with a Distant View of Amsterdam; and the superbly charming Studies of Women and Children, which was the last of Rembrandt's seventeen known drawings with an inscription in his own hand to reach a public collection. Meticulously researched and written by Robert Fucci, Ph.D., Drawn to Life introduces both scholars and drawings enthusiasts to the depth and beauty of the Peck Collection at the Ackland Art Museum.