Capturing Soft Realism in Colored Pencil

Perfect step by step directions. Ann uses Prismacolor and that’s what I already have, so very happy about that.

As a relatively new "convert" to colored pencil from watercolor, I was amazed to see the realism Kullberg can attain while still maintaining a slightly loose, soft technique with her colored pencils. I would have thought that she spent countless hours on tiny details...but in this book, Kullberg literally shows you, how to see and paint only the ESSENTIAL details in order to create masterful realistic paintings without hours of painstaking detail work. After buying her book, I visited her annkullberg.com website and found that she also has a Video Workshop CD to go along with the book. The CD includes 2 full hours of video instruction, plus line drawings, plus extra hints, plus palette lists. I ordered the CD and have to say that it is an absolute MUST HAVE for anyone who wants to "fast forward" into colored pencil technique!! The video lessons seem somehow to have been filmed right over Kullberg's shoulder, so you literally see her every stroke as she demos, from start to finish, 6 of the subjects featured in "Capturing Soft Realism in Colored Pencil". Actually seeing Kullberg work on colored pencil paintings was a huge eye-opener for me, and well worth the affordable price!! One last thing....don't be fooled by the cover of this book. It is not just another "Kullberg Portrait" book...but instead, covers foreground and background elements often found in portraits, and is divided into "Interiors" and "Exteriors" sections. Although I rarely do portraits, Kullberg's book will not be leaving my drawing table's side, as she covers landscape and still life elements.....and most importantly, really shows how YOU can paint realistically in colored pencil.

Ann's Soft Realism book is fantastic but you can't just purchase the book, you MUST HAVE THE COMPANION CD! It's better than a vhs video tape. It's truly awesome and I don't say it if I don't mean it. Ann shows you step by step how to use the colored pencils and the techniques and guides you through so many demos, plus she supplies line drawings and palettes, hints, and other goodies to use and when used with the book, you can't beat it except to be in one of her workshops personally. It's so down to earth basic for the beginner and yet great for more advanced I am sure. I love that I can use the CD on the computer, it is so much faster and more fun than vhs. You can replay each segment without fussing with rewind too. Can't be beat. I think the CD companion and the book together is the best idea I have seen yet! I like that you chose different textures and materials to color. I feel that I got more than my money's worth. . I hope you do more video workshops like this cd and hope you do it real soon Ann. Her newsletter is super too. Always a lesson to learn step by step using colored pencils. Great work Lady! I'll bet others copy this idea, but you are the first and the best!!HugsLucy H

Soft realism is the ability to create a realistic artwork without including all the fine details. Ann Kullberg is a master of the technique and in "Capturing Soft Realism in Colored Pencil" she teaches the reader how she does it. In a step by step manner the reader learns how to capture the essence of a subject in sufficient detail to create a somewhat realistic work of art. "Capturing Soft Realism in Colored Pencil" begins with the basics of the materials needed, stroke types, density, and building color. From there it moves to various projects dealing with interior subjects (wicker, windowsills, wood grain, etc.) and then to various projects dealing with exterior subjects (various flowers, hedges, grass, trees, water, stones, etc.). From developing the right hues and textures to resolving problems and providing shortcuts and solutions, it's all here in this book. Well illustrated and sufficiently detailed to actually teach the techniques, it is highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn how to work with colored pencils.

It was because of Ann Kullberg's book "Colored Pencil Portraits STEP BY STEP" that I am using colored pencils as my medium today. Her new book "Capturing Soft Realism" is one of the best books and a must have. I highly recommend it for reading and/or studying the art of using colored pencils. If you're a student or a practicing, professional artist, you will find this book a valuable asset to your art career or hobby. As a fellow artist, I have found that creating colored pencil artworks is very time consuming. By applying Ann Kullberg's techniques, I have found time saving steps and key ideas that not only saved me time and money but made my artworks much more enjoyable and "FUN" to create. If you're like me and paint a number of different types of subjects and want to capture realism in your artworks, then this is the book for you!