Did you click "Buy it now?" Ok, welcome back!
I "met" Steven Reddy through two classes he teaches at Craftsy.com. Oh, you didn't know? Go there now and then come back again!!
Ok, you bought both? Great! You won't be disappointed.
Now, why do I love this book? Besides the instructional content, he inspires you to let go of the perfectionist in you. He teaches you (in all of his books and classes) that your sketches do not need to be perfect. (BTW, he has been an elementary school teacher for many years, so he knows how to teach!) He includes a list (and sketches (!)) of all of his favorite supplies. He teaches you how to lay down an underpainting, aka grisaille, before adding color to your sketch. He provides several steps to get you to a final sketch IN ONE SINGLE CHAPTER!
If that's not enough for you, this book also has MANY of his sketches. You will clearly see that he practice what he preaches. EVERY page has one or many of his illustrations. You will be inspired by his loose, yet very effective, style. Each image is accompanied by a short description of the when, where and how he drew that particular piece.
The content of the book is amazing, really. But I also love that there was no skimping on the quality of the actual book itself. The paper is a glossy, thick paper that shows off the drawings very well. Lately, I've received a ton of crappily printed books with no attention paid to the little qualities such as weight of the paper.
It took me nearly a year to write this review because I wasn't well for quite some time. Throughout those times when I only have enough physical strength to flip a page in a book and dream about the art I want to make, Steven's three books have been lovingly flipped through and pages bookmarked. I just ordered his fourth book to add to my collection.
Oh, you didn't know?? He has THREE other books. Those are memoirs, thicker than this book, stuffed with even MORE artwork, printed on the same quality paper, and even larger, too!!
He sells them on Etsy. Go get them!! I bought them as soon as I took his Craftsy classes.
If you are a lover of all things art, drawing, ink, urban sketching, watercolor or just beautiful images you need these books on your shelf. All four of them.
You can thank me later.
Draw your life in five easy-to-learn steps
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Lean about viewpoint, reference points, drawing on location, and planning your sketch. |
Learn how to add line work in ink and to distinguish foreground and background contours. |
Learn to introduce one, two, or three passes of ink wash to your sketch. |
Learn to bring your sketch to life by adding hatching in ink and color in watercolor paint. |
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63 reviews
Rosi Garmendia
BUY. IT. NOW. Then read my review.
3 December 2018 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
BUY. IT. NOW. Then read my review.
Reviewed in the United States on 3 December 2018
Did you click "Buy it now?" Ok, welcome back!Reviewed in the United States on 3 December 2018
I "met" Steven Reddy through two classes he teaches at Craftsy.com. Oh, you didn't know? Go there now and then come back again!!
Ok, you bought both? Great! You won't be disappointed.
Now, why do I love this book? Besides the instructional content, he inspires you to let go of the perfectionist in you. He teaches you (in all of his books and classes) that your sketches do not need to be perfect. (BTW, he has been an elementary school teacher for many years, so he knows how to teach!) He includes a list (and sketches (!)) of all of his favorite supplies. He teaches you how to lay down an underpainting, aka grisaille, before adding color to your sketch. He provides several steps to get you to a final sketch IN ONE SINGLE CHAPTER!
If that's not enough for you, this book also has MANY of his sketches. You will clearly see that he practice what he preaches. EVERY page has one or many of his illustrations. You will be inspired by his loose, yet very effective, style. Each image is accompanied by a short description of the when, where and how he drew that particular piece.
The content of the book is amazing, really. But I also love that there was no skimping on the quality of the actual book itself. The paper is a glossy, thick paper that shows off the drawings very well. Lately, I've received a ton of crappily printed books with no attention paid to the little qualities such as weight of the paper.
It took me nearly a year to write this review because I wasn't well for quite some time. Throughout those times when I only have enough physical strength to flip a page in a book and dream about the art I want to make, Steven's three books have been lovingly flipped through and pages bookmarked. I just ordered his fourth book to add to my collection.
Oh, you didn't know?? He has THREE other books. Those are memoirs, thicker than this book, stuffed with even MORE artwork, printed on the same quality paper, and even larger, too!!
He sells them on Etsy. Go get them!! I bought them as soon as I took his Craftsy classes.
If you are a lover of all things art, drawing, ink, urban sketching, watercolor or just beautiful images you need these books on your shelf. All four of them.
You can thank me later.
Images in this review
Susan
A teacher to inspire you to get out there and sketch every day !!
4 May 2018 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
K.L.
Life changing for someone who seriously wants to start a sketching habit!
22 July 2019 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
Life changing for someone who seriously wants to start a sketching habit!
Reviewed in the United States on 22 July 2019
I wish I knew this author/artist and could thank him personally for making such a helpful book. He simplifies sketching in a way that finally made me feel comfortable enough to challenge my first still life sketch. I have been drawing for the past 10 years but I draw exclusively imaginary monsters and creatures and stuff. I’ve been wanting to start a daily sketching habit but had no idea how to approach such an intimidating thing. My eventual goal is to go outside and do urban sketching. With the author’s simple steps I feel like I finally have a way to work toward this goal. I am going to keep doing still life drawings until I feel confident enough , then I will start with sketching inside my house, then gradually move outward. It is important to get yourself the proper tools. The Uni-ball pen the author recommended did not work for me, as the ball does not glide smoothly at all. I stick with my Micron pens, white jelly roll and Schmincke watercolors. Using cheap watercolors adds frustration. The best thing about this book is it lets you be expressive with your own drawing style. I don’t feel any pressure to make things appear realistic. But I feel like I can capture the atmosphere the way it feels to me, and that’s what’s important to me. The author encourages you to do just that! I love him! Seriously! What an awesome art teacher... I wish I would have found this a decade ago.
Reviewed in the United States on 22 July 2019
Images in this review
DST
A must-have for the beginner or the pro
20 July 2018 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase