Colored pencil painter Alyona Nickelsen reveals how to use the medium to push the limits of realistic portraiture.
Colored Pencil Painting Portraits provides straightforward solutions to the problems that artists face in creating lifelike images, and will prime readers on the intricacies of color, texture, shadow, and light as they interplay with the human form. In this truly comprehensive guide packed with step-by-step demonstrations, Nickelsen considers working from photo references versus live models; provides guidance on posing and lighting, as well as planning and composing a work; discusses tools, materials, and revolutionary layering techniques; and offers lessons on capturing gesture and expression and on rendering facial and body features of people of all age groups and skin tones.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
ALYONA NICKELSEN is a contributing writer for Colored Pencil magazine and the author of Colored Pencil Painting Bible. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including American Artist, The Artist's Magazine, and American Art Collector. Nickelsen's paintings have been exhibited and won awards in prestigious national and international juried shows, such as Salmagundi Club, the American Artist Professional League, Audubon Artists, and the Colored Pencil Society of America. She is the creator and instructor of the Colored Pencil Painting Learning Center hosted on her website, www.brushandpencil.com.
MY REVIEW:
5 stars. This book is clearly written by a master. Ms. Nickelsen knows her stuff! It's not for beginners, and is way over my head. Or at least beyond my skill level. If you are looking for a beginner "how to draw" book, then you will need to look for something else. But if you already have that part down and want help advancing your skills, this is what you need! She provides detailed information on what type of paper or canvas to use, what types of primers, bases, and the different brands of pencils. She discusses how to capture the perfect portrait, first from getting the right pose with a photograph. Even though this is an advanced book, it is easy to follow and all the instructions are clear. There are plenty of photos provided as well.
DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, just an honest one.