Sketching Your Favorite Subjects in Pen & Ink

by Claudia Nice

In Sketching Your Favorite Subjects in Pen & Ink, Claudia Nice covers all aspects of pen and ink drawing. You'll find complete instruction for and demonstration of techniques such as crosshatching, stippling, texture and value contrasts, as well as the use of contour, parallel and scribble lines. All of theses techniques are illustrated throughout by the author's striking works. You'll find chapters detailing:



Houses and Buildings using freehand and architectural styles, learn to detail barns, houses and cityscapes.

Animals draw realistic animals by focusing on anatomy, facial features and hair texture.

The Plant Kingdom learn to sketch plants, flowers, leaves and trees - from an individual flower to an entire forest.

Faces and Figures sketch realistic, dynamic figures and capture varying moods.

Birds learn to draw lifelike feathers, eyes, bills and feet.

Waterscapes capture the reflections of a quiet brook and the spray of crashing surf.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Reference, Drawing

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Claudia Nice, a native of the Pacific Northwest, attended the University of Kansas, but gained her realistic pen, ink, and watercolor techniques from sketching nature.

She spent over 15 years traveling across North America for Koh-I-Noor/Rapidograph and more recently Grumbacher as an art consultant, conducting seminars, work shops, and demonstrations at various schools, clubs, shops, and trade shows. Her relaxed, informative method of instruction is geared to put the beginner at ease, and encourage the seasoned artist to new heights.

Claudia has authored over a dozen successful books, including "Creating Textures in Pen & Ink With Watercolor." This fully illustrated text book was not only a Northlight "Book of the Month," but a best seller for F & W Publications. Her art work has won numerous awards and is often found in leading art instruction magazines.

Reviews

[Lloyd Downey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book whilst on a visit to Japan, thinking that it would be of interest to my 14 year old son who was showing some interest in drawing. Of course it's in Japanese and I didn't realise it until some time later that it was actually written by Claudia Nice in English (I have some of her other books). Because it is about sketching and is lavishly illustrated throughout by her pen and ink drawings one can get the gist of things, merely by looking at the pictures. But, clearly, one is also missing a great deal by not being able to access the text. Claudia is certainly very very good with pen and ink and I generally like her style and work. (It's more or less a realist style though she does give some hints about composition and emphasis). She illustrates a variety of techniques from stippling to cross hatching and the subject matter covered in this small book is really astounding. She manages to cover; landscape, animals, buildings, cityscapes, people, trees, water and waves, the seashore, still life, birds, flowers and plants. I do like one of her other books which combines the pen drawing with watercolour washes. But the drawing is clearly the foundation.
If I was buying this anew, I would be buying the English version (because I don't read Japanese). But there are some lovely drawings and some great hints about shading and tone...all done with just a pen. (I don't know if she really did all the stippling of the horses on pp 114-115 but if so it must have taken a long while....Maybe this is where I missed out because of not being able to read the text!.

[Lisa Ulibarri · Rating 5 out of 5]

thanks for the great book love it

[G.C. Neff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book in 2003, after losing my father, an uncle, and two aunts in the preceding three years. I thought that throwing myself into learning something new about art was what would pull me out of the slump I was in.

And Sketching Your Favorite Subjects in Pen & Ink was a delightful distraction for me. My mother, as well, was into some drawing then, to help her with her own grieving, and she loved looking through this book and trying some of the exercises. However, she and I both preferred to use either graphite or colored pencils, since these were easier to handle -- and a lot less messy. Otherwise, I would recommend this book to any artist who was anxious to try drawing with pen and ink.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite art books for inspiration. Not exciting at first, but it contains a wonderful selection of amazing artists. I come back to this regularly.

[Nur Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

really desperate that book

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started drawing as a hobby recently. I thought this book was helpful in giving me tips for drawing and the drawings look so real!