Henry Yan's Figure Drawing (Techniques and Tips) [Paperback]

Henry Yan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2006

This book is focused on various techniques and styles in drawing human figures and portraits. The book has 192 pages, each page includes one or more figure/head drawings done from live models. There are about 20 step-by-step demonstrations from detailed and traditional approaches to fast and painterly styles. Along with the step-by-step demonstrations and examples, the book is filled with detailed description of methods of using charcoal pencil, vine charcoal and compressed charcoal. The text also includes opinions, tips, ways of thinking and observing. It's a book that will benefit both beginners and advanced learners.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Aardvark Global Publition (2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1427610231
• ISBN-13: 978-1427610232
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #480,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a Tips and Techniques, but not a How to Book, October 31, 2007

By 

S. Jenkins "Arshes Nei" (Torrance CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Henry Yan's Figure Drawing (Techniques and Tips) (Paperback)

I recently purchased this book and was surprised to find that the author had the book published himself. Henry Yan is an instructor at Academy of Art University in San Fransisco. I'd love to have him as an instructor when I was a student, but alas, was in another state and another school. This would be the next best thing.

What this book is not: "How to draw Anatomy" if you're looking for a book that talks about proportion, and details of each part of anatomy, I'd suggest finding another book. However, I wouldn't dismiss this book.

Henry Yan gives you basic tips and examples as well as a time frame to when he did each piece. I find that very valuable to give people an idea how long they should record information, and what are the most important aspects in covering the figure in a short or long time frame.

Yan gives a nice little primer on shadows, and various types of figure study exercises. I have to say how he's able to capture the figure so beautifully in charcoal demonstrates how much he is a master of his craft.

There are a few drawbacks to the book. One of which is that while the book is very well produced, the binding and such, the cover is very prone to getting dirty. If you're using charcoal and looking at his book, I'd recommend gloves because I had a few prints within seconds. Perhaps make an edition with a less white cover will make it less of a problem or different paper type like gloss.

The only other problem is that I wish Yan had given a bit of time to discuss the tools he was using. While he demonstrated some beautiful strokes, a person who is new to the charcoal medium wouldn't know how to sharpen charcoal and how to keep it preserved, you'll have to find another book or look up the information as I did.

I would say overall this book is definitely a keeper, the illustrations have such personality to them, and I REALLY love the fact Henry Yan included so many different models for study. From the old, to the obese, male and female. It's nice to see such an array of models presented in the book, as each figure has their own personality.

I'd definitely purchase this book again as a gift to a friend or any other person highly interested in drawing the figure. It also helps that Yan is a very pleasant person to deal with and you can feel his optimistic personality in his book.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The difference between art and replica, June 9, 2007

By 

W. Char - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Henry Yan's Figure Drawing (Techniques and Tips) (Paperback)

I have been studying figurative art for several years and own most of the figurative books on the market. The difference between other books and Mr. Yan's book is that other books teach you how to copy the figure where as Mr. Yan's book show you how to create figurative art. The powerful drawings in this book make me think about values in a new way. If you are into figurative drawings, this book is a must have.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspringly Beautiful, May 19, 2007

By 

A. A. C. Kiefer "visual designer" (Netherlands) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Henry Yan's Figure Drawing (Techniques and Tips) (Paperback)

Henry Yan's drawings have a sense of dynamics and power that set his artwork apart. When I first saw that he had a training book on his technique for drawing I immediately went ahead and ordered a copy. It was to my surprise that Mr. Yan sends these out himself and it took barely three days to reach the Netherlands (Europe) where Amazon usually needs more than ten days.

The artwork in the book itself makes you reach out and grab your charcoal, pencil and paper and start off. His clear illustrations on various techniques will guide you to the essential techniques that he himself uses: the variations of broad andcontrasty area's with fine linework instill a magnificent power in his work.

A beautiful book, very well laid out with high quality printed examples of his drawings. Hopefully Henry Yan will repeat this great text for his painting techniques and provide us with a companion book in luscious full color paintings.

Thanks Henry for a fast service and a great inspirational resource.

Albert Kiefer