Practical Art Studies: Lessons & exercises to grow as a digital or traditional artist

Artists aren't born artists; they have to practise. This incredibly helpful book contains invaluable art-study projects, illustrated and explained by expert global artists, giving readers useful tools with which to practise, improve, and achieve a high level of artistic skill.

Art studies are not necessarily beautiful finished paintings, but are explorations with different textures, materials, and approaches. For example, a life-drawing class is an opportunity to study, as is painting from a photograph, but how should aspiring artists approach these chances to learn? This is what this book attempts to answer, with 18 step-by-step, fully illustrated, guided studies from world-renowned artists. The studies are divided into four essential artistic topics to aid with learning – Anatomy, Composition, Drawing & Perspective, and Value & Colour.

The talented contributors include Jake Taplin, an artist and instructor dedicated to making fine art and traditional painting fun and accessible for people of all skill levels, and Bryan Mark Taylor, a painter and lecturer who has taught courses at the Academy of Art University, Pixar Sentient Academy, and the Scottsdale Artists School. The high calibre of artistic contributors and production values of this title make it a must-own for learning artists.

Bryan Mark Taylor is a painter and lecturer who has taught courses at the Academy of Art University, Pixar Sentient Academy, and the Scottsdale Artists School. He has been a featured speaker at the Plein Air, CTNX, Fantastic Arts, Dragonsteel, and VisionX conferences. His work has been featured in art and design magazines, including Plein Air, American Art Collector, Fine Art Connoisseur, and Imagine FX. He has 200K Instagram followers and is from Utah, USA.

Jake Taplin, also known as @jakedontdraw, is an artist and instructor dedicated to making fine art and traditional painting fun and accessible for people of all skill levels. He teaches drawing in the way he wishes it had been taught to him: structured, approachable, and grounded in the timeless methods of the 19th-century masters. He has 342K followers on Instagram and is based in Maine, USA.

Edited by 3dtotal Publishing, who publish high-quality art books dedicated to bringing invaluable training to beginners, hobbyists, and professionals alike. Their books feature top industry professionals from around the globe who share their experience in skillfully written step-by-step tutorials and guides. Illustrated throughout with stunning artwork, these best-selling publications offer creative insight, expert advice, and essential motivation. They are based in Worcester, England, UK.