The Artist's Complete Guide to Drawing the Head | 
 enlarge | Author: William Maughan
Publisher: Watson-Guptill
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $13.96
You Save: $10.99 (44%)
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Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 30856
Media: Paperback
Pages: 160
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.7
ISBN: 0823003590
Dewey Decimal Number: 743.42
EAN: 9780823003594
ASIN: 0823003590
Publication Date: January 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Book Description
In this innovative guide, master art instructor William Maughan demonstrates how to create a realistic human likeness by using the classic and highly accurate modeling technique of chiaroscuro (Italian for "light and dark") developed by Leonardo da Vinci during the High Renaissance. Maughan first introduces readers to the basics of this centuries-old technique, showing how to analyze form, light, and shadow; use dark pencil, white pencil, and toned paper to create a full range of values; use the elements of design to enhance a likeness; and capture a sitter's gestures and proportions. He then demonstrates, step by step, how to draw each facial feature, develop visual awareness, and render the head in color with soft pastels.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
A wonderful book for hard workers April 15, 2008
Dixon A. keith (Neunegg, Switzerland)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
William Maughan's book "Drawing the Head" is worth buying just for the illustrations alone. But, it is also a fundamentally sound guide as to how to achieve likeness in a realistic albeit artistic fashion. It looks so easy but, that is, often the case with art instruction books. In fact, the steps that Maughan clearly sets out i.e. gesture, proportions,shadow shapes,edge control and detail, are each mountains that have to climbed until, that glorious day when we hope everything comes together. And even then we will still be starting out. This book is a truly informative guide as to what mountains have to be climbed. The student will, however, have to provide the effort and do the climbing. The didactic way in which the examples are coupled to the text is commendable and a joy to follow, the drawings inspiring. The student is educated on materials and how to use them. An unexpected but thrilling chapter on creating aliens out of yourself or friends is wonderful. If only the last chapter on colour could have been extended to show more clearly how some of those effects were rendered. But, I think, thats just me being greedy for more from this gifted and distinguished artist. Buy the book and if you can tear yourself away from wondering at the illustrations, get on and use it. That's what its for.Your bound to become better.
 Beautiful book, but deceptive April 7, 2008
43rivers (Athens, GA USA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a beautiful book to look at but I found the title deceptive. No where in the book have I found drawing instruction for the head. The author/artist basically just does his own thing, but doesn't offer any direction for someone wanting instruction on the drawing of the head! I will keep it and possibly scan it again when I am more advanced.
 Thoroughly Helpful February 10, 2008
K. E. Farmer (Tucumcari, NM USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was so inspired by the particular technique in this drawing book that I purchased the materials specified and got to work doing a very successful portrait following the step by step directions. It was the easiest portrait drawing and my most sucessful ever.KF
How to draw realistic face November 30, 2007
M. M. Jagadam
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book taught me how to use light and shadow to make realistic portrait. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to draw as a hobbyist. Since I am not a professional painter, please take my advice with a grain of salt.
The keys to the castle, all you need to know.... November 24, 2007
E. Johnson (Boston, MA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I took classes with William Maughan, several of them in fact and I need to set the record straight. This is the best drawing instruction book I have ever read. It will give you fundamental and instinctive understanding of techniques that can carry over to any medium (that includes oil and pastel and graphite). Your people will never look like aliens again, they will be shockingly realistic (if you want that) or effectively abstracted (if you want that). It's just a shame that Bills humor and approachability doesn't come through in the text, but all the info is there.
In this book you will learn:
An extraordinarily simple and instinctive understanding of how shadows really work. Chiurascuro is a fancy word for how shadow forms are shaped and he'll teach you how to see it and render it. This is the secret to realistic drawing.
How value works. Value is really just how dark or light something is, but there is a logic to it that ties into painting and drawing. You will also draw MUCH faster with more convincing results. The curious color of paper and charcoal Bill uses in this book simplifies values to become easier to render, instead of ten shades of darkness he compresses it to five, thus making it easier for you to understand. From there you can apply it to white paper or canvas and any color medium you want. All tools he teaches you to use here are instinctive and excellent.
The proper proportions for the head and face no matter the sex, age, or ethnicity of the subject.
An incredibly fast, effective, and instinctive drawing technique that WILL translate into other media and other subjects.
Sincerely, these are the core fundamentals. These are techniques rarely taught in school or presented in books. There is no perfect, all encompasing art book, but this one teaches fundamentals the self taught rarely understand. Bills techniques changed my life, the book has those techniques and teaches them in an extremely streamlined manner. I wish I had this book fifteen years ago....
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