Draw Portraits

Portraying the face is one of the most interesting yet probably most difficult tasks for an artist. Numerous factors have to be taken into consideration, as the facial features vary from individual to individual and need to reflect their mood and personality. The book begins with an exploration of what makes a good portrait, including picture construction, composition and light and shade. It then goes on to teach the anatomy of the head, from an artist's point of view, with clear explanations and step-by-step exercises for drawing the mouth, eyes, nose, ears and hair. The final sections of the book cover the use of different drawing materials, including pencil, graphite, charcoal, chalk, pastels, coloured pencils and watercolour pencils. This book is an ideal introduction to drawing portraits for artists of all abilities. Covers a broad range of drawing materials, including pencil, graphite, charcoal, chalk, pastels, coloured pencils and watercolour pencils.

Renate Klein initially trained as a nursery school teacher. She showed a particular interest in painting and drawing from a young age, and she took part in painting and drawing groups from the age of ten. Her favourite subjects included people and faces. Later in life, she received her artistic training in Gotha, Germany under Margarethe Metze, Siegfried Bruckner and Manfred Mitscherling. From 1986 to 1987, she attended the Spezialschule fur Leiter des kunstlerischen Volksschaffens, speicalising in Painting/Graphics, at the Kulturakademie Rudolstadt. Since 1994/95, she has been a tutor in portrait drawing at the Gotha Adult Education Centre.