Secrets to Drawing Heads

I just literally bought this book yesterday, and I am already seeing improvements in how the principles outlined in this book can be applied to my own drawing. I'm completely self-taught, and always looking for the next great 'How-To' book to impart insight and wisdom, and "Secrets to Drawing Heads" is a worthy addition to anyone artist's bookshelf. In this book, the author unveils a very simplified method of placing the features on a facial template - it looks very simple, but once you start you will find that your conception and method of drawing faces will change for the better. I'm actually astounded - and I usually don't expect much out of the usual how-to book. This book also offers some helpful insights into how to add values to your drawings (although it's not as comprehensive as I'd like). While it focuses on thos ehwo use conte crayon, those of us who exclusively use pencil will find a lot here that is useful. But it is the facial template that the author employs that is the biggest draw. Highly recommended!

Capturing the quintessence of the human head and face, as well as character of the individual, is the "holy grail" of all techniques, to most artists; also the most complicated and challenging to achieve. This is mainly due to the fact that most struggle with the tendency towards drawing things symbolically, rather than what is actually seen. Allan Kraayvanger's Secrets to Drawing Heads is a classic of simplicity, yet exceptionally focused, when it comes to helpful direction in this exceptional art, especially for the absolute novice attempting to develop their skills in portrait drawing. An easy-to-read condensed art tutorial, Secrets to Drawing Head's 112 pages are copiously illustrated with over 230 drawings, including step-by-step instructions and text outlining the core techniques that will help the budding artist reason on why such methods are taken. The reader is shown the building block of an accurate portrait and mastering the techniques in applying the study of basic components such as skin values, geometric shapes, shadows and lighting, perspective, and planes, to develop visual awareness. Advice offered on "individualizing" a face is also exceedingly helpful in capturing the subjects `character' and personal aura in a portrait. Extremely helpful in guiding and nudging the burgeoning artist beyond the lifeless one-dimensional line drawing, the complexities of the human face and head are abridged to their simplest structures to accommodate easy comprehension. It should be said that, while accurate and recognizable, the final result is akin to a loose sketch, rather than a detailed and refined portrait. Therefore, its richly visual instruction and references are geared more towards the beginner or intermediate, as opposed to the seasoned artist who is looking for a greater echelon of detail in a finished drawing. Also included are discussions capturing realistic anatomy by understanding bone and muscle structure, advice on capturing tipped profiles and angled views accurately, as well as the use of symbolism. A comprehensive index in the back of the book also aids in rapid look-up of particular topics of interest. Kraayvanger's own drawing illustrations, coupled with his pointed text and guidance in Secrets to Drawing Heads, strike a perfect equilibrium, as he demonstrates the quick, rewarding way to master the fundamentals of a favorite genre of expression. The beginner artist will appreciate how the author reduces complexities with fun and easy-to-follow instructions. This book is highly recommended to the artist endeavoring to gain confidence in drawing an accurate likeness.

I cannot say enough about the value of this book for anyone who draws the human head and figure. This author seems to have found the perfect balance between too much and too little in both the text and the drawings. He takes you by the hand and leads you through the complexities of this most difficult subject without one second of boredom. His drawings speak for themselves.I only wish this book was available thirty years ago, it would have saved me a great deal of hard study. [............] Vincent Coniglario, Chicago, Il