Product Description

In a series of step-by-step demonstrations and illustrations, the author shows how to create the look of metal, wood, hair and other remarkably realistic textures. The book will appeal to both doodlers and more advanced pencil artists.'

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26326 in Books
• Published on: 1999-03-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780891348689
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Library Journal
Contrary to the publicity on this book, it doesn't contain techniques "so easy that anyoneAfrom doodler to advanced artistAcan master in minutes." This is instead a highly challenging manual on achieving effects close to photographic with little more than a sharp pencil. Hillberry, an artist and teacher, offers splendid demonstrations on creating the look of metal, wood, hair, and even cracked glass. To his credit, Hillberry admits one needs to have already grasped shape, proportion, and perspective before approaching this level of realism. Highly recommended for collections that need more than the basics.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

This is a rare find
Refining your pencil work starts here. Hillberry pushes his medium and he pushes it hard. If you love the subtle, moody, sensitive qualities of pencil drawings and are working to take yours from the realm of rough diamonds to stand alone works of art, you are going to love this book.

Very well photographed, Hillberry gives detailed, progressive steps of many of his drawings and is very forthcoming about the techniques he uses to get his results. Hillberry's work is photo-realistic, but even if that is not your goal he spends the first third of the book discussing how to develop the skill necessary to create the even, shifting tones of graphite vital to effective pencil work. The photorealistic sessions are important for everyone as they hone your awareness of what you are seeing and your ability to relay it. His finished examples are beautiful and inspiring.

I love pencil, and there isn't a better book on the topic out there (after 15 years of collecting, I may just have them all). If you feel the same way, get this book. Then quit shopping and get back to your studio and work.

PS--Another interesting book is Robert Zappalorti's "Drawing Sharp Focus Still Lifes" (Watson-Guptill) but it is out of print and you will have to search hard to find it. I feel Hillberry's book is superior, but it's always instructive to see how different artists approach their work.

Good luck, draw hard.

A complete success...
I rarely read how-to books and think most of them are pretty lame, but this one is a clear exception. I hadn't read a how-to book on the pencil for decades (and I vaguely remember getting the basics from a couple of good books by Ted Kautzky and Paul Calle) and found this book by accident while looking for something else. I was instantly drawn to it (sorry...).

Seriously, though, this is one of the best how-to books I've ever read. Hillberry sets out to do, and does, exactly what his title says it's going do. I can't imagine someone working with this book and not getting something valuable from it. The author's prose style is like his drawing style, very clear and straight ahead. It's not verbose or vague and it's not too terse either. In chapters 1 and 2 he describes the basic tools and general methods of using abrasive media (not ust pencils but powdered graphite, charcoal, graphic blocks etc.). Then he moves on to some tutorials, well chosen to explain the problems of rendering general types of things - metal, wood, he human eye... There are many little gems within the tutorial that will reinforce the general technical points in chapter 2. Like all how-to books there is kind of a jump involved, a certain point where to the naive (most of the market for how-to books, probably) it seems like the author goes from point a, b, c... to point r. That's inevitable. How could it not be? If this stuff was easy, then everybody could do it. Drawing is not easy, but it's the most direct means of creating art, an irreplaceable core skill, useful to painters and sculptors as much as anyone else, and potentially a wonderful end in itself (think about it... think what Raphael and Michaelangelo did with a pencil; look at Henry Moore's drawings, look at... no, there's too many great works of art that are drawings to even consider listing them).

This book can help you with your drawing even if you're not a realist. Highly recommended.

Do you want to get to the top ?
This book is all about unknown possibilities. What I mean by that is, this book shows you that it is possible by using techniques and the right equipment to produce VERY realistic textures and drawings. What I like about Hillberry is how he encourages one to go the extra mile and explore new techniques by using different materials. However, this is not the 'Learn how to draw in five minutes' type of book. Someone buying this book must have some average or above average knowledge about drawing. Hillberry does not give lecture on issues like shapes, dimensions, proportions and the neccecary wisdom for those who want to start drawing. I am a portrait artist. This book works 100 % if you combine it with the following two books. "How to draw lifelike portraits from photo's" - by Lee Hammond and "Drawing on the right side of the brain" - by Betty Edwards. All three books compliment each other, containing different styles and approaches to drawing. Put the three together and you'll get dynimite, petroleum and a match. Overall the book is a winner and realy will give you that extra push to get to the top of the mountain !