Cover Image: Drawing: Colored Pencil Basics

Drawing: Colored Pencil Basics

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Member Reviews

Being brand new to illustrating at the ripe, old age of fifty-four, I was looking for some basic information about how to better utilize my precious Crayola pencil crayons. So when I came across this book I jumped at the chance to have a look at it. Especially when it also came to me as a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. (Which is of course what you will always get from me).

What can I say about a non-fiction reference book? Either it delivers or it doesn't. This one does. But I think they use the word "Basics" in the title so as not to scare us newbie illustrators away by the amount of content it contains, because it holds not only the basics but so much more. But you won't be overwhelmed, just given a good foundation of knowledge arranged and communicated well. It is definitely a reference book that you will be gleaning more from as time goes by and you advance in your knowledge and hone your abilities. Definitely a keeper.

For me though, I'm thinking I would like it in the paperback format since it deals with the physical use of coloring pencils. Then I could also be doodling in the margins as I go along. The publishers might want to consider adding to the paperback version places for my own trial and error test spots as I try out what I'm learning on the various pages. It also makes me want to check out more titles in the "Drawing" series.

I was grateful for the chance to see an advanced copy and I will certainly be mindful of this opportunity when I'm a rich and famous "artiste" someday. Now go and color your world.

Thank you for reading another one of my reviews.

Sincerely, Laura-Lee

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I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and Quatro Publishing Group – Walter Foster in exchange for an honest review.

Although my drawing skills are crap, I was able to practice my colored pencil basics by using the snipping tool and printing off the black and white image located on each new technique page. By no means am I a master at using colored pencils but I found this book very helpful. The explanations were easy to understand, and the instructions were easy to follow. This book would help other beginners like me improve their coloring skills.

#DrawingColoredPencilBasics #NetGalley

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I love this guide to drawing with colored pencils. As an absolute beginner with colored pencils, I appreciated the instructions given, although I think it will be a while before I can draw as well with colored pencils as I can with graphite!

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Basic, but very useful. Although colored pencils are my least go to media, this book offered a lot of tips and tricks - even though sometimes I couldn't understand how they got from one step to another, but I am sure another artist could.

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Drawing: Colored Pencil Basics by Cynthia Knox

Drawing is something everyone can do. Practice enhances the skill whether doodling or recreating exact replicas of what one sees. Each art book I read provides new ideas for contemplation and application.

What I liked:
* Simplicity with detail
* Illustration of each step
* The idea of having a brush handy – had not thought of that before
* New color combinations and how to use them when using colored pencils (My medium is watercolor most of the time)
* The information on the three types of colored pencils: wax-based, oil-based and water-soluble
* How “tooth” of paper impacts the outcome of a drawing
* Information on a variety of papers
* Specifics shared in each example making it more likely there will be success for the reader working to recreate it.
* Short book with information that can be used in any colored pencil work the reader might choose to tackle.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Walter Foster for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

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Drawing: Colored Pencil Basics is a tutorial and style guide by Cynthia Knox. Due out 3rd March 2020 from Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 40 pages and will be available in paperback format.
The layout follows the familiar Walter Foster tutorial format. An introduction covers tools and supplies and is followed by a short and easily accessible general drawing tutorial and an introduction to color theory. There's a good subchapter on blending, burnishing, and pencil techniques as well as a short intro on how to choose the right pencils.There's a good bit on grid drawing as well as drawing from reference photos. The book ends (quite abruptly) with a short tutorial on drawing animal fur.

Each of the chapters includes a start to finish project illustrating the concepts and techniques from the chapter.

This is a very basic book but full of intermediate techniques and will provide some useful takeaways for the majority of readers/artists. This entire series is worthwhile and will be a valuable addition to the artist's home library.

Four stars.

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Super useful! So far the only project I’ve tried is the cupcake. Were my results amazing? Nope. We’re they better than before I picked up the book? Yes. For a first time trying to seriously color with colored pencils? I’ll take it.

The book starts off with the usual tips, tricks, materials needed, etc.

It moves on to projects and includes step by step instructions right down to the specific colors used (I’m using Blick Studio’s Pencils 72 count and needed to improvise a couple of colors.

The book takes you through a few main aspects of coloring with colored pencils including using complementary colors, selecting pencils, coloring fur, and more.

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Learn to draw with colored pencils
"Drawing: Colored Pencil Basics: Learn to Draw step by step" by Cynthia Know is one of the 40-page books from the "Drawing ... step by step" series, published by Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster. The book is divided into eight chapters: 1) Tools & Materials, 2) Colored Pencil Techniques, 3) Using Complementary Colors, 4) Blending & Burnishing, 5) Selecting Pencils, 6) The Grid Method, 7) Enhancing a Photo Reference, and 8) Drawing Fur. Knox basis her drawing on photos and provides a sample dot list of colors that are needed for a specific project. This is very helpful, especially for beginners.
The book presents itself with great graphics and design. Tips and information which Know calls "Technique Primer" are included and are a great help for the budding artist. It is helpful and inspirational for beginning (and advanced) artists who are wanting to draw with colored pencils. For them it would make a nice gift and I would recommend it for them. Readers need to be aware that it is a basic book, index and information were the needed materials are missing. Furthermore, it would have been helpful if the reference photos could be downloaded since the are of small size in the book.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#DrawingColoredPencilBasics #NetGalley

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This is a great introduction to using coloured pencils. Cynthia Knox shows readers the basic materials and techniques and she includes beautiful exercises to attempt. It is a very short book but useful and the pictures are inspirational.



I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.



EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781633228443
PRICE $10.95 (USD)

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I have now read several of the books in this Drawing series and find them to be really handy guides for both new artists as well as those with some experience wanting to brush up on techniques or tackle new subjects..
This one is ideal for getting started with coloured pencils and if you're trying to stop reaching for grey graphite pencil to make your first marks on a new piece of paper, this might give you the little nudge you need to go straight for the colour and not be scared!!
You can follow the drawings using the clear step by step instructions, or take inspiration from the techniques and tips and choose your own subjects.

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This book is a handy guide for the people who want to learn how to sketch. I've usually not been drawn to books about sketching but rather watching videos as ro really see the technique but this book is really nice to flip through and read about how the work is done.

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The title is somewhat misleading, suggesting this book is meant for beginners, but it is not as detailed as you might expect for step by step instruction. There is quite a bit of a gap between each step. Nonetheless, awesome tips for color choice and blending techniques. Still a beautiful art book.

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Cynthia Knox knocks this one out of the park! Drawing: Colored Pencil Basics may be short, but it is packed full of information for anyone looking to begin drawing, or improve their techniques in drawing, with colored pencils.

I love Knox's clear and detailed, yet easy to follow, step-by-step instructions and watching the drawings come alive. The book itself is very visually appealing and covers virtually everything you need to know about using colored pencils.

A five-star review from me!!

My thanks to NetGalley and Walter Foster Publications for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

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Good guide to drawing with colored pencils. Surprising how interesting it is to learn a new craft. Great instructions and details on everything from the basic supplies and techniques to great illustrations. I would recommend this book to all ages with the younger ones being supervised of course. Great resource for learning and improving your colored pencils crafts.


I was given this book as an ARC from the publisher and netgalley.
The opinions are my own and given freely.

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An excellent book that covers all aspects of drawing with coloured pencils. The projects are amazing, so real, and there is such a variety. The cupcake is an excellent one to have a go with. The illustrations are very inspiring and the author really breaks it down and makes is so accessible. Even a beginner could have a try. Despite it being a very short book it is worth investing in and is definitely one I want to keep on my art book shelf.

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This book is absolutely fantastic. The tips and techniques are excellent and the steps are very well organized and detailed. It only has a few tutorials as the book is very short. But the skills covered are invaluable to those wishing to up their skill level in pencil drawings and I loved it. I definitely recommend it and plan to buy several copies. I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

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I grateful to the author, the publishers and Netgalley for a free ARC copy of this ebook. I had a little trouble downloading this ebook initially but had I read the instructions properly in the first place, I would have known to download the Pocketbook or similar app first. Having done so it downloaded easily. I really like this book and found it well illustrated, the descriptions clear and easy to follow. I'm really impressed with it and will be lookong out for more books by this author and in this series.

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A very basic but useful and enjoyable book, that in only 40 pages introduces to the essential kow-how of coloured pencil drawing. Simple, clean layout, beautiful artwork, very inviting to move the first steps into this technique.

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Very good in-depth look at using colored pencils as your medium in recreating nature. Really good for intermediate level of expertise.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

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