Book review: J.D. Hillberry - Drawing realistic textures in pencil

Title: Drawing realistic textures in pencil"
Author: J.D. Hillberry
Publisher: Northlight
Pages: 128

Stars: *****
Level: Mediate to advanced

(please read this to see how I rate the books)

Drawing in graphite.
J.D. Hillberry is very talented and draws the subjects in the book extremely good. Together with graphite the author uses a variaty of tools; different pencils, charcoal and blendingtools. The book is based on combining these tools with ordinary graphite pencil. Splendid chapters on light, values and light effects on textures. Different stroke and blending techniques are covered. The lessons are in many steps and with good instruction. The majority of objects drawn are man-made objects, but there are also a portrait of a baby and a dog and cat. I find the authors greatest abilities are on the man-made objects. The book is very helpful on learning to draw those and will appeal mostly to people interested in drawing such things. Yet the chapters on light and values and how to combine the different tools will be usefull for all subjects.

Book review: Draw real animals - Lee Hammond

Title: "Draw real animals"

Author: Lee Hammond
Publisher: North Light
Pages: 80

Stars: ****
Level: Beginner to mediate

(please read this to see how I rate the books)

Drawing in graphite.Lee Hammond is a good teacher, she explains things in a sympatic and easy to understand way. This book is great when starting to learn about shapes, values and shading. Drawing from photos the shapes are drawn via a grid-method onto paper. Shading and values are very well explained for beginners. Emphasis is on blending values first and later apply fur/textures with pencil or eraser. Chapters on facial features, hair and fur, textures and patterns, composition. 3 to 4 step lessons on the subjects. Animals include; cats, dogs, birds and wildlife from reptiles to mammals. Also a book for teachable children from age 10. I find the author uses too much blending in some of her drawings and the quality of her drawings are a bit varying. A fine book for beginners and mediate in need of understanding values.

Book reviews

I've decided to start blogging book reviews. I am a book-a-holic and I find it helpful myself, when other artists give their reviews on books. The reviews are on drawing and painting books, there are older and newer titles and in no particular order.
To simplify things, I made a 5 star rating:

1 star: Disapointing *

2 star: Not very good **

3 star: Good ***

4 star: Very good ****

5 star: Excellent *****

and this is accompanied by a written review. The stars given are measured with the level I also consider:

a. Beginner

b. Mediate

c. Advanced

So a beginners book can get 5 stars as well as an advanced book.
Please remember this is my subjective view of the books. I hope you will find it helpful when searching for books.

Do you collect artwork - with Poll

I've added a poll with the question : Do you collect artwork?

The poll runs for a year, you can choose several answers. Please take a minut to answer the poll, thanks. It's just below the "About me" information
You are welcome to tell more as a comment here

...working ....

Just to let you know that I am working indeed.

I started a cp drawing, as an experiment I only wanted to draw with a black cp. Thought it might be a bit like grapite drawing. But not so at all. I did spend hours on it, but it just didn't develop as I wanted. I might return at another time, to see if I could do something else with it, but for now it is on hold. The picture is of this drawing. Very often I have a title from start, and this is no exception. "Waiting for you" - and waite it must:)

I have then started a new graphite drawing. I went on a photo-shoot for a white horse, I saw in the field. He was a little far away even for my zoom (aka 300 mm). Did get some shots though. On my bike home, I saw some other horses too. I took a few photos. But when I saw the photos on the PC, one photo from the second horse-shoot, grabed me immeadiatly, so that was my first reference to draw. With a little compositional change I started and is working on it now. I intend to send this to a competition if it turns out good and I'll post it when finished.

UKCPS exhibition

I have recieved a mail that my colored pencil painting "Colorful pattern I - Zebra" is accepted into UKCP's8th Annual International Open Exhibition.

This is my first entry send to this competition, and I am very proud to have been accepted.

The Exhibition 2009 is being held at the home of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists

License work

For companies interested in license work, I have drawings for easily direct downloading and payment at Image2Use. If you would like to license other pieces or new pieces you are welcome to mail me. Galleries

Blue ribbon

A very close-up view of a chestnut horse. I intend to show a relaxed, calm mood. The blue ribbon giving a contrast to the all over reddish color of the horse.

The painting is mixed of ink, watercolors, colored pencils and acrylic paint. I used watercolors as the underpainting + ink in darkest spots and then applied mostly cp's and a bit of acrylic. Fabriano 5 wc-paper. The size is approx. 16,7 x 20 centimeters.

Painted - western style. Finished

I finished my Painted - western style. I hope you like it.

Beside the nice colors I also wanted you to get the pleasant feeling of the relaxed walking-pose of the couple

Painted - western style wip

Here is an update after hours of work.

Painted - western style wip

this is how far I got today - still working all areas though.

The title Painted relates to the horsebreed; a Paint, but also to the very colorful suit the westernriding lady wears.

Painted - western style - wip

I really enjoy this, but also realize it is very different to handle than other media I've tried. Details are not that easy to get - even I have some oilpencils. Looking at the scan the work seems a bit more hard-edged to me than the original piece - but even so I probably will go over these areas again in the process.

Painted - western style wip

Due to vacation I have not been drawing or painting for a couple of weeks, but before leaving I started this new painting titled: Painted. This is a whole new media to me; oil pastels. I've had them for years (!) and finally got around to try them out for more than the simple doodles I did so far. They are not like other media I know off - but resamples mostly dry pastels if any - and yet - very different.

Support: dark grey Fabriano Tiziano. I took the ref photo at a western horsebackriding show. This particular lady looked awesome in her very pink suit, and I found this closeup cut - focusing on the pink suit and the painted horse colors, was nice. The background will be left as the grey paper