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Drawing the Head for Artists

Techniques for Mastering Expressive Portraiture
Series: For Artists
4.06 goodreads logo

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( 125 ratings, 22 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Drawing the Head for Artists by Oliver Sin is a comprehensive guide to drawing the human head and portrait. It combines classic Old Masters' techniques with modern instruction, guiding artists step-by-step from establishing viewpoint to capturing an expressive likeness. Topics include essential materials and techniques, applying sight-sizing and value, creating depth with perspective, and conveying three-dimensional form through edges and value changes. Richly illustrated, it documents every phase of the process and is suitable for artists at all levels.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for aspiring and accomplished artists keen on mastering portrait drawing using classical and modern methods.

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Drawing the Head for Artists teaches time-honored techniques for drawing the human head and portrait in charcoal, graphite, and other classic drawing mediums.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Drawing the Head for Artists is the definitive modern guide to drawing the human head and portrait, featuring the classic mediums and methods of the Old Masters. Written by celebrated portrait artist and veteran studio instructor Oliver Sin, this richly informative and beautifully illustrated volume leads readers step-by-step through his method, from establishing a point of view to applying the timeless principles for creating an accurate and expressive likeness.

Among the topics covered:

Essential Materials & Techniques: Learn about necessary supplies and basic drawing techniques, including hatching, various stroke styles, and blending.

Applying the Essentials: Explore how the concepts of sight-sizing, value, negative space/shapes, and plane changes factor into a portrait's underlying structure.

Techniques for Creating Depth & Dimension: Investigate how contrasting shapes, overlapping forms, and linear and atmospheric perspective are used to enhance depth.

Creating the Illusion of Three Dimensions: Examine how edges-contours as well as changes in value-are used to convey three-dimensional form.

Brimming with striking images that document all the phases and details of the author's process, Drawing the Head for Artists inspires and informs all artists, from aspiring to accomplished, on how to successfully portray the physical subtleties and emotional eloquence of the human face.

Series: For Artists

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  • Facial Expressions for Artists
    Breathe life into your portraiture with this inclusive guide to drawing the full range of human emotions, from fear to rage, grief to joy. An accurate depiction of a subject or character's facial expression is the key to conveying their individuality as well as authentic emotion or mood. Written and illustrated by Oliver Sin, celebrated portrait artist, veteran instructor, and...
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  • Essential Human Anatomy for Artists
    Study human anatomy to translate nature into drawings that are both anatomically accurate and artistically beautiful.Essential Human Anatomy for Artists is an anatomy course in a book thats designed to offer you new tools to help you understand the connections between exterior forms and deeper structures. Along with demonstrations of key materials are in-depth discussions of the skeleton and the...
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  • The Landscape Painter's Workbook
    The Landscape Painter's Workbook is the definitive hands-on guide to the time-honoured techniques and essential elements of landscape painting. Written by celebrated landscape artist, instructor, and author Mitchell Albala, this richly informative and beautifully illustrated volume leads you step by step through his approach to the genre, from establishing a composition using basic shapes to applying time-tested colour strategies, with...
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  • Painting Luminous Portraits for Artists
    The complete guide to painting the portrait in oils.From Steve Forster, award-winning portrait artist and co-director of the Long Island Academy of Fine Art, Painting Luminous Portraits for Artists presents essential lessons on how to paint a radiant likeness in oils in five comprehensive chapters, each with skill-building exercises and QR codes to instructional videos:Discover fundamental materials, techniques, and basic...
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  • Figure Drawing for Artists
    How often does an aspiring artist read a book or take a class on drawing the human body, only to end up with page after page of stiff lifeless marks rather than the well-conceived figure the course promised? Though there are many books on drawing the human figure, none teach how to draw a figure from the first few marks...
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  • Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists
    Originally developed in the 18th century as a visual supplement to botanical nomenclature, botanical illustration and art uniquely fuse art and science by documenting the parts, details, and life cycles of plant species. In Drawing and Painting Botanicals for Artists, eminent botanical artist and veteran workshop instructor Karen Kluglein reveals her secrets for rendering leaves, flowers, berries, and branches both...
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  • Drawing the Head for Artists
    Drawing the Head for Artists is the definitive modern guide to drawing the human head and portrait, featuring the classic mediums and methods of the Old Masters. Written by celebrated portrait artist and veteran studio instructor Oliver Sin, this richly informative and beautifully illustrated volume leads readers step-by-step through his method, from establishing a point of view to applying the...
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  • Plein Air Techniques for Artists
    From award-winning artist Aimee Erickson, Plein Air Techniques for Artists presents the step-by-step process for plein air for landscape, still life, and the figure, along with exercises to strengthen skills. In Plein Air Techniques for Artists, award-winning artist and respected workshop instructor Aimee Erickson demystifies how to capture a variety of light effects and guides you in strengthening your plein...
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  • Sketching Techniques for Artists
    Learn dynamic sketching and watercolour techniques for creating cityscapes, landscapes, figures and faces, still lifes, and more, enhancing the story you want to tell with form, line, and colour. Discover incredible methods and tips for creating dramatic street scenes and vivid landscapes, and capturing dynamic figures and graphic architectural details. Artist Alex Hillkurtz, a top Hollywood storyboard artist and international...
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  • Life Drawing for Artists
    Life Drawing for Artists teaches a contemporary approach to figure drawing that includes both the familiar posesโ€”standing, sitting, lying downโ€”but also how to capture figures in movement and in more dynamic and engaging positions. Author Chris Legaspi is a dedicated, life-long artist and admired instructor who is known for his dynamic figurative drawings and paintings, and as a successful illustrator...
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  • Light and Color in the Watercolor Landscape
    Master light and colour to create stunning watercolor landscapes. Discover the secrets to capturing depth, atmosphere, and emotion in your watercolor landscapes with Light and Color in the Watercolor Landscape. Acclaimed artist and instructor Vladislav Yeliseyev shares his proven techniques for harnessing light and shadow, creating luminous colours, and refining compositions to enhance realism and impact. With step-by-step guidance, detailed...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

My Modern Met praises it as an exceptional step-by-step guide for those seeking portraiture drawing guidance, ideal for helping artists flourish. Artists Magazine highlights Sin's clear explanations of materials, lighting, perspective, and feature depiction, supported by breath-taking portraits that reveal the unique essence of his subjects.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781631596926

Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 August 2019

Country: United States

Imprint: Quarry Books

Illustration: 200 color illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 216.0mm

Height: 279.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 160

About the Author

Oliver Sin graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration. He began his career as a computer games concept artist, including stints at LucasArts and 3DO, and has been teaching for the Academy's School of 2D Animation and the School of Fine Art since 2001. His award-winning portrait art has been featured in Southwest Art magazine. Born in Hong Kong, Sin has lived in San Francisco since 1990.

Also by Oliver Sin

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  • Facial Expressions for Artists
    Breathe life into your portraiture with this inclusive guide to drawing the full range of human emotions, from fear to rage, grief to joy. An accurate depiction of a subject or character's facial expression is the key to conveying their individuality as well as authentic emotion or mood. Written and illustrated by Oliver Sin, celebrated portrait artist, veteran instructor, and...
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    Ships in 4-6 weeks

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