Drawing What You See

Pick up a pencil and discover how to draw the world you see with this new guide from expert tutor Jake Spicer Join expert drawing tutor Jake Spicer and become an accomplished artist. With his guidance, you'll break long-held habits and explore new ways of seeing the world, and find yourself rapidly growing in confidence and skill. The first in a new series of pocket guides to the fundamental principles of drawing, Drawing What You See is accessible for the complete beginner, yet also addresses the core ideas that underpin observational drawing at every level. The first part, Shape, suggests "orders of looking" that you can use to discern line and shape and present them on the page. You'll learn to look for positive and negative shapes; tone and color; hard, soft, and lost edges--then make considered decisions about how to depict what you see. The second part, Tone, introduces mark-making and value. You'll learn about tonal grouping, tonal scale, and gradients. You'll be able to depict form and planes, and will study the fall of light and shadow. Finally, you'll learn how to design using tone, exploring high-key and low-key options. With hundreds of Jake's own drawings, this book shares his knowledge with focus, clarity, and a generosity of spirit.

Jake Spicer loves to draw, and to help others draw more confidently and competently: he has been teaching in person, online, and in print for about 15 years. He runs life classes, artists' residencies, and the online program for Draw Brighton, has written bestselling how-to books, and regularly contributes to Artists & Illustrators magazine. Partnerships include London's V&A Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the BBC, and Falmouth University. He lives in North Wales.