Drawing Expressive Portraits [Paperback]

Paul Leveille (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2001

This guide encourages students to "forget about creating a likeness." and instead, to concentrate on seeing and drawing the big shapes of dark and light. The likenesses will follow. In a clear, step-by-step format, with the help of 9 start-to-finish portrait demonstrations, readers will learn: Easy, basic pencil and charcoal techniques; How to draw each feature of the face; How to communicate various facial expressions; Techniques for working from live models; How to draw a variety of people, different poses and lighting conditions

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul Leveille has been pursuing his love of portraiture for over 20 years. In addition to painting portraits of nationally and internationally distinguished clients, Leveille conducts workshops around the country. He is the author of two other books, Painting Expressive Pastel Portraits and Painting Expressive Portraits in Oil. He lives in West Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (August 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581802455
• ISBN-13: 978-1581802450
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #332,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for building skills in portraiture, August 1, 2000

By 

vbbon "vbbon" (Boerne, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drawing Expressive Portraits (Hardcover)

My preteen daughter loves to draw but most of her work was cartoonish. I wanted something to help her learn the skills of realistic drawing, especially portaits. This book was exactly what I was looking for. It includes faces from babies to elderly people and discusses technique and perspective. We enjoyed the studies of faces expressing various emotions. The narrative helps a developing artist learn how to look at spacing and shading and discusses supplies. There are sections on mouths, ears, noses as well as complete studies. There is a lot of content for the money.

4.0 out of 5 stars Unfortunate title - Good solid instruction, June 15, 2009

By 

AJ (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drawing Expressive Portraits (Paperback)

I'm not sure the person who gave this two stars actually even read the book. I own this book, and also the companion about painting in oils and while there is not a lot of groundbreaking material, both books contain good solid instruction.

The beauty of Paul's work is that he brings focus from the larger shapes into the smaller details. The end results are portraits that have life and expression. Lots of books try to refine portraits to the point of photography, which makes them stiff and lifeless, and really...at that point why not just take a picture of the person?

The artist's job is to interpret what is before them and translate that onto the page. This book gives the artist the tools to do that - starting with material options and choices, bringing the artist through various features of the face, and finally into a half dozen or so detailed case studies.

Overall a good book for a beginning portraitist, and a handy reference guide for an experienced draughtsman.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drawing expressive portraits, July 31, 2009

By 

Wil Tate - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Drawing Expressive Portraits (Paperback)

The book was in new shape just as stated. Shipment was received earlier than expected. I would do business with them again.