If you have ever wanted a complete course in how to sketch effectively, but lacked the confidence to start, then Sketching for the Absolute Beginner is the book for you.
Sketching is more than just drawing quickly. It is training your eye and hand to work together, to respond immediately and naturally to the scene before you.
Starting from a clear, simple method to bring all the senses into play, successful author and acclaimed artist Peter Cronin shows the reader how to bring artistry and economy to their sketching; making for swift and impressive results. Whether sketching as the basis for painting, or simply for pleasure, this book teaches the reader all they need to know.
Numerous simple step-by-step exercises as well as larger projects lead the complete beginner through the book, building towards more complex and rewarding artworks. The book teaches how to sketch with a range of media, starting from graphite pencil and including information and exercises on charcoal, pen and ink and others.
In the best-selling Absolute Beginner series, this book is suitable for absolutely everybody who wants to take their sketching skills further and become an accomplished artist.
Table of Contents
Introduction 6
Materials 8
The eye, the hand and the heart 18
Making a start 22
Farm in Sunlight step-by-step 28
Seeing the world 30
Harbour Scene step-by-step 46
S.E.T. in action 48
Churchyard Scene step-by-step 56
Types of sketch 60
Beyond the pencil 64
Composition 84
Fixing the Farm step-by-step 92
Handling complex subject matter 98
Boat Sheds step-by-step 138
Afterword 142
Index 144
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About Peter Cronin
Peter Cronin loves the natural world. The pull of the outdoors and the fall of sunlight across the landscape inspire his work, and he can be found exploring the world around him in all seasons and weathers. Through his teaching, workshops and demonstrations he seeks to encourage, equip and help all who love art.
A Member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA), the Royal Watercolour Society of Wales and the Pure Watercolour Society, Peter has been a professional artist for over 30 years. Completely self-taught, he has gained an enviable reputation for his watercolour and oils; both of which rely on Peter's clarity of sight and the economy of line in his underlying drawings.
Peter lives in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, UK. To learn more about Peter and his work visit his website www.petercronin.org.
