Drawing Portraits Fundamentals: A Portrait-Artist.org Book (How to Draw People)

This is a full-length 275-page book with approximately 200 original illustrations and lots of how-to and step-by-step tutorials, thorough explanations of beginner as well more advanced drawing concepts. Learn how to draw portraits! Don't worry about "talent"! It's not necessary. Many people who didn't think they were "artists" have discovered they have the ability to draw portraits. You can learn too! It's a matter of education and practice.



While this book is inspired by the tutorial site portrait-artist.org, a lot of the content is new and was created specifically for the book.



This is the second edition of this book, and the first time it's been available in eBook format!



Topics in the book include:

Beginning drawing, getting started, learning the grid, learning pencil techniques.

Overview of the head.

Drawing the profile.

Features of the head.

Facial "landmarks," anatomy, and proportions of the figure, an overview.

Step-by-step portraits

Working in a tighter (more detailed) technique, tips and techniques.

Shading explained: Understand values and how to make your art look more realistic

Making up your own faces from your imagination: Exercises and techniques

"Don't Do That!" Common beginner mistakes that are easy to avoid.

Advice for new artists: Taking the right attitude, dealing with discouragement, feelings of competition, art snobs, tracing photos vs. drawing freehand, digital tools.

More things artists should know: Drawing from life (live models), the current state of formal art education, introduction to working in color (color palette recommendations, brief overview of painting mediums).



Table of Contents:

Acknowledgements

Welcome & Introduction

Let's Get Started with Drawing

Introduction to Shading and Technique

Drawing the Face: Basics of Head Structure and Alignment of Features

Drawing the Profile

The Features and Hair

An Overview of the Anatomy of the Head and Figure

Shading the Portrait

Step-by-Step Portraits, Soft Edges

Working with a Tighter Technique

Drawing Different Types of People

Inventing Your Own Portraits, "Don't Do This!"

Advice for the Newbie Artist

Other Goodies Every New Artist Should Learn

A Final Word

About the Author

Important Acknowledgements and Credits

About the Second Edition

Bibliography