Creating Textures in Colored Pencil [Hardcover]

Gary Greene (Author), Pamela Seyring (Editor), Angela Lennert (Designer)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996

Illustrated demos for more than 55 lifelike textures add new dimension to colored pencil work.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gary Greene is a teacher and author of four colored pencil books and several Artist's Photo Reference books. His work has appeared in many books and magazines, and his paintings have won national and international awards. He has conducted workshops, demonstrations and lectures all over the world since 1985. He is a ten-year signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and has served on its founding Board of Directors for six years. Visit his website at www.ggart.biz. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books; 1st edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891346538
• ISBN-13: 978-0891346531
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #832,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #59 in Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing > Colored Pencil

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is why Gary Greene's the master, November 29, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (WV USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating Textures in Colored Pencil (Hardcover)

"Creating Textures in Colored Pencil" is a wonderful resource for anyone who wants to know how to create rough brickwork, soft, shiny ribbon, or any texture in between. Gary also gives the color pallets for each demonstration (including skin tones) and explains the different types of supplies. I've had this book for 5 years and still find myself referring back to it.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful drawings, September 19, 2003

By 

Molly - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating Textures in Colored Pencil (Hardcover)

The real merit of this book is the absolutely gorgeous drawings which, if not for the title, I wouldn't have beleived were colored pencil. It is wonderful to see colored pencil treated with the same legitamacy as acrylic or oils, and I now look forward to "painting" with my pencils.
The most useful aspect of the book is the rev iew of materials, where the author breaks down how to use rubber cement thinner, odorless turpentine, and colored markers to enhance your colored pencils, as well as various artistic tools.
Before I used this book, my colored pencils always were grainy, and I didn't even really realize it. There were too many "flecks", too much white showing through the paper. This book taught me a technique called burnishing, which has dramatically and instantly improved my drawings, I'm sure it can do the same for you. I also am experimenting more with layers, after looking at the phenominal results that can be achieved.
My only complaint is the lack of detailed how-to's. The individual colors used are explained, and there is some break down of the process, but not enough to produce satisfactory results. However, I think it is definatley worth the modest price, and would recommend it to anyone interested in this medium.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gives good basic techniques for drawing in coloured pencil, June 5, 2006

By 

Sun'n'Fun (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating Textures in Colored Pencil (Hardcover)

I have a Bachelor degree in drawing and had no problem getting the hang of any drawing tool except for coloured pencils. Several years ago I took a class specifically on drawing with colour pencil and was disappointed when the teacher told me that I'd have to settle for a light layered application of the pencil on paper so as not to develop wax bloom--what I wanted out of the pencil was rich, vibrant colours, not something washed out. I put down my Prismacolours and resigned having to use them to colour in my anatomy colouring book, not for actual drawing.

That's why I was encouraged when I found and read my way through "Creating Textures in Colored Pencil". The author mentions the use of burnishing to build layered colour so it is rich and vibrant, as well as the use of solvents. He also mentions different coloured pencils, like water-soluable pencils, which I normally would use not for drawing but for fine touches on my watercolours, and oil-based coloured pencils. After reading this book it feels like a whole new world of drawing has opened up to me, in addition to my use of graphite, conte crayon, pastels, and of course what I already do in paint.

Incidentally, the author addresses dealing with wax bloom by spraying the drawing with several layers of workable fixative--I've also heard that wiping the bloom with a paper towel will remove the cloudiness.

Mr. Greene includes several examples of items to draw, including step-by-step instructions with colours mentioned. I'm sure those would be great for the beginning/intermediate student to build up skills and confidence; that sort of thing doesn't appeal to me as I'm used to grabbing tools and drawing from life.

I think this is a great basic book on how to handle the medium. As for handling textures, I thought some were very well done while others were not as realistic as I would like. It has very nice full colour reproduction and is very easy to read.