101 Textures in Graphite & Charcoal: Practical step-by-step drawing techniques for rendering a variety of surfaces & textures

by Steven Pearce

101 Textures in Graphite & Charcoal is a must-have resource for all graphite and charcoal artists. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on drawing key textures you'd find in any illustration. 

Accurately rendering surfaces and textures is one of the most challenging aspects of working with graphite pencil and charcoal. 101 Textures in Graphite & Charcoal provides artists with step-by-step instructions for learning how to draw a wide variety of the most common textures and surfaces, including sand, water, metals, foliage, wood, fabrics, stone, grass, hair, and many more.

Opening with a general introduction to basic drawing tools, materials, and drawing techniques, each page in this comprehensive resource features two to three easy-to-follow steps demonstrating how to create each specific texture.

You will will discover tips and techniques for working in both graphite and charcoal and how to manage their differences when hatching, stippling, scumbling, blending, and more. With its breadth of coverage, easy-to-follow instruction, and helpful tips, 101 Textures in Graphite & Charcoal is a must-have resource for artists of all skill levels.

Genres: Art, Reference, Nonfiction, Drawing, Visual Art

128 pages, Paperback

Published January 9, 2018

Reviews

[Kalani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic beginners book!

I love this book! The textures are beautiful. I love that the author tells you which pencils to use at each step in the drawing. This is a great book for beginners. It shows a lot of details in a step-by-step way that is very easy to follow and understand. I would recommend this book. Fantastic instructions.

[Sherry Harder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad

Some examples are awesome, but some are crummy. More good than bad luckily. It could’ve been a little better as some examples looked like they needed more steps to look complete. I would have given it 5 stars if those things had been remedied.

[Terry Lair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference for beginners

It's a great tool for beginners! However, it's repetitive - using the same subjects for both graphite and charcoal. If someone is not sure what pencil medium to use, it definitely show the differences between them. To be honest this is why the price (in my opinion) was a bit too high. Overall though, techniques are explained well in a step by step format and it's definitely worth referencing.

[john miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reference or project book to get better at drawing

The book is not made to read through or do traditional instruction. I have enjoyed using this book as both a reference and as a project book to improve my drawing.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Reference Book

Easy to follow with a step by step guide to help create a wide variety of textures. Plenty of tips and techniques for working in both charcoal and graphite.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and use it frequently. It's written in an easy-to-follow format, with the textures grouped in categories such as people, animals, fabrics & textiles, glass, stone, ceramics wood & metal, food & beverages, and nature. There is one texture exercise per page, taking you step by step through the process with photographs of what your texture should look like after each step.

I enjoy drawing the textures in a 6 x 8" sketchbook while I'm watching tv or have a few minutes to spare. It's taught me how to start a texture with general light lines and how to add details. I recommend it as a good reference book to anyone who enjoys drawing in graphite or charcoal.