Pencil drawing is fundamental to the visual arts and pencil can be a wonderfully expressive medium. In this inspiring book, Gene Franks shares his knowledge and shows by example how to bring out the beauty in ordinary things. Each of the projects is broken down into manageable steps that will...  more

Pencil drawing is fundamental to the visual arts and pencil can be a wonderfully expressive medium. In this inspiring book, Gene Franks shares his knowledge and shows by example how to bring out the beauty in ordinary things. Each of the projects is broken down into manageable steps that will lead you through the process of drawing and expand your own artistic expression. o Find out about the materials you'll need, the basic hand positions, and how to set up a work area o Practice the different pencil strokes for shading and showing texture o Learn how to make and use a grid for establishing correct proportions o Discover the basics of perspective and value drawing o Follow 13 step-by-step drawings to create still lifes, animals, landscape, people, and more

Making art, according to Cathy Malchiodi, may be as important to your physical and spiritual health as balanced nutrition, regular exercise, or meditation. Expressing yourself creatively -- through drawing, painting, sculpture, photography -- allows you to tap into a source of inner wisdom that...  more

Making art, according to Cathy Malchiodi, may be as important to your physical and spiritual health as balanced nutrition, regular exercise, or meditation. Expressing yourself creatively -- through drawing, painting, sculpture, photography -- allows you to tap into a source of inner wisdom that provides guidance, soothes emotional pain, and revitalizes your being.  The Soul's Palette reveals art's transformative powers. Exercises include working with materials for drawing, painting, sculpting, and collage; simple drawing and journal projects; self-guided meditations and affirmations; ideas for cultivating intuition, inspiration, and spontaneity; exploring personal symbols; and making art a spiritual practice.

Colored pencil is a wonderfully usable medium--perfect for sketching or rendering, and it mixes easily with other art mediums. Here the author shares some of the techniques he has learned throughout his career, guiding the reader step by step through the entire process, from selecting the...  more

Colored pencil is a wonderfully usable medium--perfect for sketching or rendering, and it mixes easily with other art mediums. Here the author shares some of the techniques he has learned throughout his career, guiding the reader step by step through the entire process, from selecting the materials, sketching, refining, and blocking in the undercolors to the final application of color and details. o Find out about the materials you'll need to get started o Master the basic layering techniques for rich color o Learn to depict perspective, values, details, and atmosphere o Create glazed and textured effects with white and other opaque colors o Mix media using colored pencils along with art stix, felt-tip pens, watercolor, and tinted papers