Complete Book of Drawing: Essential Skills for Every Artist

by Barrington Barber

What does an artist need to know about drawing? And what has to be mastered in order to achieve the drawings you want? In this book Barrington Barber shows you, offering advice and tips as he takes you through the various stages. From object drawing and still-life composition, the natural world and portraiture, to looking at form and shape, and assessing styles and techniques, The Complete Book of Drawing is a distillation of the many skills that the aspiring artist needs to develop. After training as a graphic designer, Barrington Barber went into advertising, working for top agencies such as Ogilvy & Mather, before progressing to freelance design and producing illustrations for a range of books and magazines. He taught art for many years, and now enjoys a successful career as a fine artist. He has written and illustrated a wide range of best-selling instructive art books, which to date have sold 4 million copies around the world. As Barrington Barber knows from his many years of both teaching and practising art, it is crucial for you as an individual to find your own style and way of doing things. And, uniquely among practical art books, this is what The Complete Book of Drawing provides, by revealing new possibilities and enabling you to look at the world around you with fresh eyes.

Genres: Art, Drawing, Nonfiction, Reference, Crafts

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2004

About the author

Barrington Barber originally worked in advertising and television as designer and art director. Then taught at Ealing Art School. Then practiced as a freelance designer, illustrator, painter at Augustine Studios. He was Head of Art at St James’s Independent Schools. Author and illustrator of Fundamentals of Drawing and about 20 other books for Arcturus Publishing. Now paints, draws and writes about art.

Reviews

[Alan Stubbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very strong tutorial, let down by some of the facial drawings, which look very hurried - but gives me hope!

Drawings of old master paintings are amazing.

The book is excellent at giving ideas for drawing projects.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book for the Artist who never finished or the beginner. Any other kind and different degrees of Artistic skill will love and appreciate the detail given to the how and why some art is made into masterpieces. It can give you inspiration on making you into a Friday evening Micheal Angelo. Its full of valuable information about shading and perspectives. If you been out of your drawing pad and refreshes some of the skill you may or know you posses. Its a good addition also to your art collection keeping with the lessons you might have learned in high school or college. Get this book and let the creativity begin.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Skyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kniha vhodná pro začátečníky jako všeobecný návod ke kresbě, který mohu doporučit.
Jediné, co to kazí, je občas krkolomný překlad a to, že zde chybí návod, jak pracovat s barvami.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good refresher but might be difficult for beginners to follow

[Jesus Cerda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad

It was mostly seeing other artists work than seeing how to do. It was good but if you want to learn how to draw I won't recommend it.

[Lola · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda sucks and it's honking massive but I drew a cool owl from here once so

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always wanted to learn to draw and a friend gave this to me 10 years ago! I have finally made it a nightly routine to unwind, after getting my daily reading in (beats mind-numbly watching tv!). So, sometimes I am really tired, but do the work anyway.

This is a great book to learn to draw - never drawn before... I'm about 1/7 (14.5%) through it and really enjoying drawing everything (even if it is just an illustrated sketch of the concept and not an exercise!). It has enough depth and scope to at least get a foundation in drawing.

My only criticism (so maybe 4-4.5 stars?) at this point would be on perspective pieces with layers. It doesn't always or fully suggest where to start (foreground!) or how to approach more complex things or which pencil or even how sharp. But in the end you just figure it out and play with it. (I've just been using the same H pencil the entire time, and mostly until it is really dull - even though I have others and a sharpener....)

Like any creative process/endeavor, you just have to show up and do the work. Who cares. Be fearless. Make the "mistakes" (no such thing, just lessons). Learning to draw has been such a pleasure and a joy. My spirit really thanks me.... Have fun and enjoy!

[Mr Stephen Rider · Rating 4 out of 5]

A realistic approach to understanding the fundamentals of drawing

This book is a good guide to any budding artist, or anyone wishing to improve their own drawing skills. A good range of techniques and related exercises are suggested. It is hard to see how anyone with an interest in drawing would not benefit from the practice of these. One of the features is the authors ability to relate to known artists and how they used certain techniques and methods to great effect. As a result not only does the reader have the opportunity to improve their drawing skills, but they will also gain a deeper appreciation of the use of these skills by great artists throughout history.

[Poul Sørensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like his drawings especially his landscape drawings.

[Khurram Abbas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gud one