How to Draw Lifelike Portraits from Photographs

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Draw with black/white first! Yes!

Get Over It

Great Confidence Booster

How to draw lifelike portraits from photograps

Drawing Lifelike Potraits

How to Draw Lifelike Portraits from Photographs
Lee Hammond
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 089134635X

Customer Reviews:

Draw with black/white first! Yes!.......2007-08-13

Compared to most modern drawing books, which are pell-mell compilations using different (often color) media, which distract from basic drawing principles
of line and tone, Hammond's book, although lowbrow and hobbyist, is a breath of fresh air. Here is someone who (at first anyway) is not afraid to use
the humble pencil and make work in black and white. The strength of any drawing comes from its tonal variety, depth and realism, and in the accuracy of its contours and proportion. With Hammond's simple "grid and blend" technique, one can turn forgotten photos into powerful resources to make head-turning, realist art.

Having said that, the reader should keep in mind that the old masters never learned to draw this way. If they had photos, maybe they would have. But the old masters had to draw from life, often using red and black chalk, and shade using a hatching technique. Because the model could not sit still forever, this practice encourages an artist to get down the essentials quickly, and to not obsess over detail. They often worked larger and in more generalized terms than the constricted, almost
tedious process outlined by Hammond. And their artwork is much more
spirited and lifelike than her obsessive stumping technique.

But who cares? Hammond's technique works. You get some realistic drawings, which are more interesting than most drawings out of people's imagination. Not everyone can draw like Rubens. If you want to learn to draw
like Rubens, Watteau or Boucher, then forget this book. But if you don't
have willing models, and you like realism, then go for it. You will at least learn about the variety of tone (from darkest black to white) in life, and that is half of what drawing is about, and you'll create something from nothing.

Get Over It.......2007-07-21

I am no artist OK! I am a 52 year math and physics teacher. What does that tell you? Those who bash this book as not artistically "right" are most likely the same ones who turn people off to art by telling them to get in touch with their feelings. This is like telling an obese and out of shape guy to get in touch with his feelings through yoga. Nonsense! The guy needs to learn to walk and move and to have fun exercising. Drawing is no different.

Beginners get discouraged because art teachers tell them to draw squiggly lines and shapes and patterns. While these are OK techniques and can work for motivated artists, most beginners just want to draw somewhat realistic subjects. These techniques and skills can be incorporated into the process of drawing real things. This is how Lee does it. As a beginner, this book will get you where you want to be (as will other Lee Hammond books) and you will have fun getting there.

Is it for advanced artists? Probably, not. But these are the folks bashing the book. They bash gridding. Well, if one doesn't need to use a grid or if one does not want to use gridding, then don't use gridding! Give people some credit! We can all figure out if we want to draw a grid or go freehand. "Pushing graphite is an immature method." Well, maybe so in the eyes of expert artists. But artists have been using blending techniques for thousands of years and what is graphite pushing - blending! It is an easy way for beginners to learn to shade and to create shape and texture before learning more complex methods. Critics say Lee's work is not very good! Well I disagree! I took the book to my school and I found not one student or teacher (including the art teachers) who didn't like the drawings. Lee's books are the Fanfare For the Common Man. They appeal to the masses of beginning and intermediate art students who just want to have fun and learn to draw.

Is the book perfect? What does that mean? Nothing is perfect for all people. But Lee's book is a good one. It is very well written in easy to follow language, to the point, and provides great examples and exercises. Lee makes it a point to avoid the stuffy, abstract, gobble-d-goop that many artists seem to believe bolster their otherwise fine techniques. Lee is a very talented artist who knows how to teach and knows how to reach the rest of us aspiring wannabes.

As I said earlier, I am more the Einstein/Edison type (although I don't include myself as worthy of being in their ranks) and as I try to branch out and learn to appreciate the fine arts, I find Lee's books inspiring and exactly what this guy needs.

Get them! You won't regret it and the prices are reasonable. If you can't learn something from Lee's books, then you aren't trying very hard.

Wonderful!

Great Confidence Booster.......2007-06-16

This book has helped me to do portraits of my children and some for my co-worker's families. When I first bought this book, I could already draw and have a friend look at it and know who or what my subject was supposed to be, but it wasn't very good in my own eyes. This book has given me the confidence I needed to actually put some of my portraits in frames on my walls. My goal! I love the idea of having pencil portraits of my family as well as regular old pictures, and I was able to do it without commissioning an expensive version. I use partial graphs to help me in the areas I have trouble with and freehand the rest. I also use her example drawings to give me ideas on how features might look if my picture is too tiny to really see it. I tried using a mechanical pencil, but I found that I could avoid a lot of work if I just used regular sharpened graphite pencils and sticks. This was perfect for my friend's 12 year-old son as well. He was able to produce beautiful portraits with the help of Hammond's technique. I think it's better to not need the graphs, but this book is a real confidence booster. If you can draw something and have people ogle over it, it makes you want to do more and better. It gives you a sense of pride in your accomplishments. I recommend this book for beginners and people like me who need a bit of extra help.

How to draw lifelike portraits from photograps.......2007-02-07

Very informative book, I have improved my portrait skills dramatically by following the techniques,it arrived on a very timely manner!

Drawing Lifelike Potraits.......2006-11-10

I think this book was very informative, it changed my perspective on drawing life like portraits. After going through it and applying the techniques I could instantly see a difference just by using the methods of shading. It was and still is a good alternative tool to use if you are unable to actually receive proper classes. I use it as a reference while I'm drawing. I think some ability to draw is required to use and understand it.

Regards,
Dennis

Book Description

Turn the pages of An Introduction to Perspective -- and discover an art course that teaches you how to use perspective creatively in your drawings and paintings. An Introduction to Perspective is a practical guide to a challenging concept. More than 300 photographs guide the beginner through a series of exercises designed to teach all the essentials of using perspective. Revealing projects focus on professional artworks, all shown in the making so novices can follow the creative process step-by-step. Unique gallery pages display works of masters -- drawing and paintings that will instruct and inspire students of a variety of media. Packed with specially commissioned artworks, clear instruction, and easy-to-follow exercises, the DK Art School series offers ideal courses for "armchair" art students. The DK Art School series is a new way to learn, improve, or master drawing and painting skills. Carefully constructed courses ensure that you gain both the confidence and the know-how to create imaginative, beautiful pictures. With individual volumes on subjects like still life, portraiture, or landscape, in specific media such as oil, watercolor, or acrylic, The DK Art school series offers something for everyone, and builds into a unique collection of practical art books.

Customer Reviews:

Tools for Exploring Perspective.......1999-03-29

Linear perspective, said Leonardo da Vinci, Òis nothing else than seeing a place or objects behind a pane of glass, quite transparent, on the surface of which the objects that lie behind the glass are to be drawn.Ó Among LeonardoÕs notebook drawings, there is a tiny self-portrait (c. 1510) in which he is shown using a squared-off and window-like drawing device (sometimes called ÒAlbertiÕs veilÓ), four variations of which were depicted 15 years later in a famous series of woodcuts by German artist Albrecht Drer. This current publication is not only an introduction to perspective in book form but also a kit-like collection of tools to use in exploring for oneself its history, theory, and application. Among those tools are an acetate drawing window (like LeonardoÕs), two ÒdraftsmanÕs netsÓ (like that portrayed in DurerÕs prints), various measuring devices, pads of gridded drawing paper, and a cut-out with which one can easily make a three-dimensional model of Dutch artist M.C. EscherÕs Òimpossible triangleÓ (a well-known illusion that appears to violate certain spatial principles). Experimenting with the devices in this box could result in a deeper understanding of perspective, especially if one were to read at the same time an earlier, richer and far more interesting book on the same subject from the same publisherÕs Eyewitness Art series: Alison Cole, Perspective (Dorling Kindersley, 1992). (Review from Ballast Quarterly Review, Vol 14 No 2, Winter 1998-99)

Book Description

Imagine Barbie as a nightclub singer, race-car driver, or presidential candidate. Picture her as a graceful ballet dancer on pointe, as a leather-clad biker babe on the back of a Harley, or as the great film icons-Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle, Judy Garland as Dorothy, Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra. In Barbie Live she is all of this and more.

Stepping into these delicious roles, Barbie acts out her fabulous dreams and aspirations, adopting a new persona on every page and having the time of her life. In spectacular designer clothing-by Bob Mackie, Vera Wang, Christian Dior, and others-she attends exciting Hollywood events and New York photo shoots. Around the world at such hot spots as St. Bart's, Paris, Malibu, and Martha's Vineyard, Barbie takes us on her quest for fame-as a rock star, as an artist, and ultimately as a movie star. But is fame and fortune all that Barbie dreamed it would be?

Nancy Ellison's gorgeous full-color photography taken expressly for this book is filled with vitality and emotion. Lisa Birnbach provides the voice of Barbie in her fun, playful text. Barbie Live is the ultimate Barbie collector's item for children and adults alike.

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A complete Avoyelles Index.......1999-05-01

This was a very good guide for anyone wanting to research Avoyelles Parish Louisiana! It is trully great! It contains a history of each of the towns and the people in them. The pictures are a testiment to the rich history and culture of our parish. A Must own book for anyone who has roots in Avoyelles or resides there now.

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