Line and Shading in Drawing

Students are instructed in various line-drawing techniques, including cross-hatching to create shadow effects, and methods for suggesting a variety of textures and surfaces—stone, wood, glass, and fabrics with folds, to name just a few. Finally, art students are instructed in applying these techniques by drawing landscapes, cityscapes, human figures, and many other subjects. Titles in the new Drawing Academy series guide beginning students step-by-step through a highly detailed training course in the art of drawing. The books are profusely illustrated in color and black and white. They open with basic instruction, then proceed to analyze the details that make up a successfully executed drawing. Drawing Academy titles are fine self-instruction manuals and are also ideal as textbooks for use in formal art classes.

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Titles in Barron’s Drawing Academy series guide beginning students through a detailed training course in the art of drawing. The books open with basic instruction, then proceed to analyze the details that make up a successfully executed drawing. Drawing Academy titles make fine self-instruction manuals and can also serve as textbooks in formal art classes.

LEARNING BY DOING
Constant practice teaches you to analyze the characteristics and understand the difficulties you must overcome in developing linear techniques. Exercises will teach you mastery of strokes, contour and cross-contour drawing, how to outline through shading, and how to develop tonal ranges.

ANALYSIS
It is not enough to practice. You must also learn to see. The Analysis Section following each exercise shows how professional artists resolve difficulties and achieve desired graphic effects in their drawings. You’ll learn to profit from others’ achievements and incorporate some of their solutions and effects into your own work.

SKETCHBOOK
A section at the end of each chapter is the sketchbook section. It allows you to analyze the difficulties you encountered and isolate different parts of your overall composition to measure your success in attempting linear effects, tone-building processes, applying tonal scales, and fully developing your draftsman’s skills.