Of Strokes and Shades

With many of her subjects rendered in hyper-realistic style, wearing a second skin of black paint or dark florals, Laura Rubin's art is unmistakeable.

To tell the story behind her art, Laura begins Of Strokes and Shades by sharing her journey from art student to professional artist, providing encouragement for budding pros and enthusiasts alike. Laura also talks about what inspires her, with mythology and psychology being just two subjects that feed into her emotion-infused work. The reader is then invited behind the scenes to watch the artist at work in her studio, located in her hometown of Thun, Switzerland.

Laura's portraiture sketchbook is opened to reveal simple drawings and recent studies made as the early stages of future paintings. Throughout these sections are artworks from past and present. In addition, there is brand new art by Laura, created exclusively for this book.

Finally, the reader is led through detailed, step-by-step tutorials demonstrating the artist's workflow and the key fundamentals of portraiture, including pose, light, and composition. From using reference models and expert tips for working in Procreate to sketching, colouring, and advancing the portrait from realism to hyperrealism, the process is explained from start to finish.