Customer Reviews

Exploring Colored Pencil

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I picked this up after going thru all of B. Borgenson's books and the 'Colored Pencil Solution Book'. For a beginner, it is perfect. There are many graduated actual exercises for different skill levels, instead of merely a picture and a section explaining how it was done (God, I hate when authors do that!). After a couple months of sketching, this book and then the 'Colored Pencil Solution Book' would give you enough to allow you to do just about anything. There wouldn't really be anything else to learn, only time taken to perfect the medium.

Angelo's newest book excels in every way possible: instructive, beautiful, and enjoyable to read. Angelo is an excellent teacher. Example: each section has 3 sets of exercises, one for each level of artist (beginner, intermediate, and advanced). All exercises are open-ended and offer as many opportunities for learning as you are willing to pursue. I also have two of her videos ("Realistic Colored Pencil Textures" and "Drawing Your Loved Ones: Pets") which are excellent as well. I'm ordering her older book (Colored Pencil Basics) today!

I received the book today and I love it. It covers all types of styles & techniques for the various colored pencils varieties. It is a wonderful reference book for both a professional and an amateur artist. This is a must for anyone interested in the colored pencil as an artistic tool.

If you want step-by-step instructions don't buy this book. While the blurb on the back touts "step-by-step demonstrations" they are a very small part of the book and have very few steps. If you are looking for something vague like "inspiration" then this book might interest you. It does have lots of pictures done both by students and professionals in a variety of styles. But if you want help with what kind of pencils to buy don't look here. There is a general discussion of pencil types (hard, soft, etc.) but no concrete examples of which is which. You are just told that price indicates quality. Paper/board selection is also vague.

If you already know a lot about colored pencil then you might enjoy this book, but don't expect a lot of help with the basics.

Hands down the best colored pencil book I've seen. I have over ten books on this topic including ones from Bet Borgeson and Janie Gildow and this is the best. In depth information is given on the history of this artform, practical considerations and technique. Throughout the book, inspiring works of art with colored pencil are displayed. This book is sure to enthuse the reader whether they are a beginner or advanced artist.

Exploring Colored Pencil is a unique and beautifully illustrated book. For those who have never been exposed to this medium, you will be amazed at the life-like drawings and incredible detail that can be achieved with colored pencils. Exploring Colored Pencil is truly a work of art and is jam-packed with history, techniques, illustrations and exercises for beginner(me), intermediate and advanced students. I learned how to blend colors and use different techniques and loved how the book was laid out in an easy to follow format.This book is a keeper.

Exploring Colored Pencil by Sandra McFall Angelo by Sandra McFall Angelo is a thoroughly "user-friendly" instructional guide to creating the most intricate, vivid and realistic visual art with colored pencils. Introducing the reader to experienced techniques with step-by-step demonstrations, methods for creating realistic textures, combining colored pencils with a range of media, exercises for beginner, intermediate, and advanced art students, colorful works illustrating diverse styles and applications, drawings by professionals and students of all ages, and many suggestions that will help the reader develop their own style, Exploring Colored Pencil is an excellent guide for all aspiring art students with a particular preference to colored pencils as their medium of expression.

I have a lot of books on drawing and colored pencil and this is my new fave. While I do agree with another reviewer that this book isn't for beginners, on the other hand, most colored pencil books assume you already have some drawing skills to begin with. This is an excellent book for inspiration and has great examples of what one can acomplish with colored pencils. What I also like is the little history of colored pencils, and the fact that there are examples from several students and fellow artists. It's not all drawings by the author. I think that really adds to the overall inspiration that I have gotten from this book. It may not be one to start to learn with but it is one you should eventually add to your library.

Yet another book in colored pencil technique for anyone interested in drawing but its chief attribute is the variety of art styles shown by all the different artists' work. There is still a tendency for only photo realists to work in colored pencil and it is increasingly important that those of us who use this medium see work which pushes the envelope against photo realism rendered in it. A nice companion volume for "Drawing On The Right Side Of the Brain" after you are finished with that book.

This is the most thorough color pencil drawing "how to" book I have seen and already had 2 that I thought were good....this one is great with detailed explanations of types of colored pencils, paper types to use, techniques for all sorts of effects...great buy!!