Portfolio: Beginning Pen & Ink

Desarae Lee's Portfolio: Beginning Pen & Ink: Tips and Techniques for Learning to Draw in Pen and Ink is an excellent introduction to Pen & Ink drawing. The book is very thorough in the topics covered including tools, terminology, techniques and exercises. The author is very easy to understand and offers step by step instructions for the exercises. The book also includes several beautiful pen and ink drawings which emphasize the topic being discussed.

This book is not only a good introduction and instruction book, it would also serve well as a reference book. Ms. Lee offers all the information needed for a beginner to get started, and what's more, makes it seem possible to succeed (with practice)!

My thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Portfolio: Beginning Pen & Ink is an excellent introductory text. It covers all the basics, including choice of pen and paper, and techniques, before moving on to offer several step-by-step projects to get you started. I think this is a book that would benefit any would-be artist. I certainly found it informative and useful.

Portfolio: Beginning Pen & Ink is a technique and tutorial guide on building up familiarity with pen and ink. Released 5th March 2019 by Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 128 pages and available in paperback format.

Whenever I read art/tutorial books, I try to read them with an eye toward what they offer me that is new to me. I liked that the Ms. Lee has a very informal, supportive, and upbeat writing style with concrete suggestions for figuring out what you need to improve as an artist to proceed and steps to do so. Her personal style is appealing and very meticulous with just a touch of whimsy. There's enough realism included in the lessons that it would have relevance to people leaning toward illustration (anatomy/biology/natural sciences, like me) and also purely emotional/whimsical fancy (also me, in my 'off-work' time).

This is a beginner's manual. The tutorials start without assuming any previous experience. She includes an introduction to tools and supplies as well as a good and logical progression through the lessons from making marks on support surfaces (paper) through applying the practice lessons in complete projects.

I especially liked the tutorial on texture and shading. Very well done. Not unique, by any means, but a well done chapter with lots of tutorial exercises.

She also doesn't sugarcoat the process (which leads beginners to believe they just aren't artistically talented) - it's a skill and it takes practice over time to acquire). The book contains the word "practice" over 20 times.

Well done instruction with engaging and appealing pictures.

Four stars.

'Portfolio: Beginning Pen & Ink: Tips and techniques for learning to draw in pen and ink' by Desarae Lee is a drawing instruction book with some pretty interesting illustrations by the author.

The book begins with a discussion of different types of pens and materials and drawing surfaces.  Then basic techniques are run through pretty quickly.  From line work to shaiding and perspective.  The book ends with a series of projects to apply lessons learned.

It's a pretty brief book and a quick read.  I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, but if you are looking for more in-depth instruction, you might want to look elsewhere.  The illustrations are all by the author and feature large animals and Victorian type designs.  I liked them, but they seem pretty intricate to try to draw as a beginner.  

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Portfolio: Beginning Pen and Ink is an excellent introduction to the topic.  The author, Desarae Lee, is an extremely talented as well as knowledgeable lartist.  Some of her magnificent pen and ink work is sprinkled throughout the book and it is pure eye candy! Seeing Lee’s work drives home the possibilities of pen and ink. The mermaids and the octopus with balloons are two of my favorites.

While Portfolio: Beginning Pen and Ink is a relatively short book, it is a very comprehensive treatment of the topic. Lee begins by introducing different kinds of pens that can be used.  She then discusses different techniques, such as line work in all its variations. There are exercises throughout the book, such as gesture drawing and linear perspective.  You will also learn about texture, value and shadows.  There are a few unusual techniques that I had not heard of before, such as atmospheric perspective and low-key/high-key. Other topics covered include composition, source material and adding color to pen/ink. At the end, Lee takes you step-by-step through a drawing, showing you the progression, which I found very valuable.

Portfolio: Beginning Pen and Ink will teach you all the techniques and terminology and then some. I tried a few of the exercises and found it very challenging using pen. I am so accustomed to using an eraser so it was a whole new experience. Throughout the book, Lee is especially encouraging and reminds the reader that the key to being successful at using pen and ink is practice. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning how to make a  pen and ink drawing.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Portfolio: Beginning Pen & Ink surprised me with a few treats that many beginner books do not include. I was greatly pleased to find a section on using linear perspective and another on atmospheric perspective. As an art instructor with 20 years of experience I rarely see these topics covered in a beginner book. Author, Desarae Lee, also discusses the importance of negative space with the reader, an often overlooked necessity when learning about design and composition. While this guide is simple and effective, I found the illustrations within it to be unique and exquisite, a much higher standard than many beginner books, and proof that the author knows her medium.

Part of the Portfolio art series from Walter Foster Publishing, this book takes the reader from beginning level to competency status with advice on tools of the trade, techniques, step-by-step examples, and ideas for projects. It covers drawing techniques for achieving ink effects such as softly graduated shading, each aimed at improving your drawing technique and making it look ever more advanced and professional.

The book instructs on terminology with examples, explaining light, mood, shadow, texture, tone and value in terms of drawing effects, and while most of the book is black ink on white paper, it also introduces the idea of using color. This book was designed as a print book and there were issues with the page numbering such that, even on a full-screen iPad, I had to swipe by four screens before the page number went up by one. I'm not sure what was up with that. It looked to me like this was yet another book designed with little thought given to the electronic version. Aside from making it difficult to go to a specific page to reference something I'd read earlier, this was a minor issue, and overall I consider this a worthy read and a useful asset to anyone who is interested in pursuing this as a hobby or a career.

I feel like this would be a great book for a beginners class, where an instructor could stop and expand on the areas that a beginner struggled with.  It's got a lot of great information, but it just feels like it's lacking some of the detail that would help make it a great beginner book without some extra guidance.

This introductory book about pen & ink drawing describes the tools, materials and techniques by an easy to follow step by step process and a lot of drawings. These pictures are also very useful as reference for further improvements.

I received a free copy of the book as Netgalley reviewer.

This is an extensive book even though it is aimed at beginners.  The illustrations are beautiful, and really entice you to have a go.  The authors writing style is very clear and step by step instructions are given.  It is detailed enough to be used by artists with a bit more experience, and would make a great book to keep in your library and refer back to time after time.  Thank you

If you’re looking for a little push to get started with drawing with pens, Portfolio: Beginning Pen & Ink (digital galley, Quarto Publishing Group) is a good place to start. The book does not get bogged down in descriptions of equipment, as some art books do. It covers those basics quickly and moves on to instruction.

Make no mistake, this is a book geared to beginners. It moves at a pace suitable for those getting started, as I am. Author and artist Desarae Lee gives specific and achievable instructions that clearly explain the concepts. And the exercises that accompany each chapter helped improve my understanding of the drawing techniques.

At 128 pages, the book is short and quick to get through. Anything longer might overwhelm anyone just getting started. I felt like Portfolio: Beginning Pen & Ink gave me a good starting point from which to practice before moving on to more advanced instruction.

Words may not be able to express how much I liked this book!! I have never imagined that you could draw so many beautiful things using PEN! Seriously? !! I am in love! My favorite drawings were Alice in wonderland and the Polar bear. Must try this out and practice as soon as I have time in my hands! Off to buy some new pens now! I am inspired!
Thank you Netgalley for a free copy in Exchange for an honest review.

I liked the approach used to introduce the Pen and Ink techniques such as the light,  shadow, and texture for contour drawing. This book contains mixed art techniques well illustrated and easy to recreate. at home.

 #PortfolioBeginningPenInk #NetGalley

This book has a lot of basic instruction that pertains to drawing in addition to its instruction for pen and ink. I found that parts of the book were difficult to read due to the font style. The artwork in the book is beautiful, however, and I enjoyed looking at the various pen and ink drawings. Overall, this book didn't provide me with anything new and I personally wouldn't purchase it.

Wonderful pen and ink tutorial for artist of all levels. Simple and detailed enough for complete beginners, yet with some more advanced techniques to make it worthwhile for the more skilled/practiced artist. Illustrations were wonderful, and equipment lists were complete. Well done.

This is an exercise arts book, so there's not that much to tell about pr evaluate it. I really like the exercises throughout the book.