This is a very useful guide to the use of coloured pencils. The author covers all the basic equipment options before moving on to the theories of how to combine different colours , the colour wheel , and mark making techniques . She then moves on to how to blend, burnish and layer colours before moving onto step by step exercises to practice these techniques.- from a flower, through fruits, various animals and finally the human form. It is an extremely easy to follow guide and the step by step practice sessions really are broken down very well and described in such detail that you feel confident to give it a go. As someone who hasn’t picked up a coloured pencil for many years and am wanting to have a go at something arty this is a great starting point which builds up to more complex items to draw. My only criticism is that I would have liked a bit more detail on how to tackle the more complex tasks. Successfully drawing a dog or human face seems far more complex than an avocado for example and I feel these sections could have been added to. More examples of how to actually draw hair, eyes and lips would have been useful, but then maybe it is because I find these things particularly daunting to tackle. Nevertheless a great beginners book and one that my daughter will be finding under the Christmas tree this year!

nice techniques and advice given. Neat projects and items to have a look at to draw. Good for those really want to use coloured pencil more.

Want to use your color pencils?
Chelsea Ward's book "Modern Colored Pencil. A playful and contemporary exploration of colored pencil drawing - Includes 75+ Projects and Techniques" was published by Quarto Publishing Group - Walter. In the introduction Ward covers topics such as "Supplies", "Erasing Tools & Techniques", and everything what has to do with color. In the second chapter she challenges the readers to look for patterns whereas the following chapters are dedicated to the actual drawing (everyday life, architecture & landscapes, animals). The final chapter touches the topics of skin tones, hair color, figure proportions, and gestures.
Ward challenges the artist to be patient and to take the time, being convinced that the readers will be able to draw everything if they follow this advice, but she underlines also that one has to create in order to become comfortable with ones tools.
The book presents itself with a great design and marvelous illustrations. It also makes a great gift for artists. The skill level necessary for the projects will be a challenge for beginners, but otherwise I recommend this book for artists who are interested in creating with colored pencils. I am convinced that this book can be even used as an inspirational help for artist who prefer other media because it is very detailed, especially the information about the color wheel and because it show the techniques realistically.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#ModernColoredPencil #NetGalley

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This book is a great starting point in learning how to sketch and different techniques to do with different types of crayons. I especially like the part about adding texture and found this very interesting as a newby to drawing and painting.
I'm looking forward to having a go at some of the techniques and sketches shown in this book and have gotten myself some materials to do so.
A very informative and interesting book, ideal to new beginners like me.

This book provides excellent coursework for improving one’s technique in the use of colored pencils. The author starts from the beginning by introducing the supplies needed as well as proper techniques for working with colored pencils. Then, the reader/student is introduced to observing patterns and step-by-step instructions for drawing everyday objects, architecture, landscapes, animals, and people.

The well-written instructions provide the reader/student with the opportunity to learn at their own pace. So, this is an excellent instruction manual for personal use or as a gift.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book that was provided by the publisher through Net Galley. However, the thoughts and opinions presented here are my own.

I enjoyed the tips and techniques provided in this title. I will be purchasing it for an artist friend and I know she will love what she sees, as did I.

Modern Colored Pencil is a tutorial technique and project guide for colored pencil by Chelsea Ward. Due out 5th Nov 2019 from Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in ebook and paperback formats.

Walter Foster are familiar and loved by readers everywhere for their specialized technique tutorial books and this one follows the same format. The introductory chapter (~27% of the content) includes beginning to intermediate techniques and information about form, composition, making marks (layering, shading, blending, color theory, etc), as well as tools and supplies and how to use them.

The following chapters include training the eye to find patterns, drawing different still life subjects, architecture and landscapes, animals, and life drawing/figure studies. The text is accessible and the vibe is positive and encouraging. I intend to work my way through the studies and projects in the book, but I am pleased with the progress I've already made beginning with this book.

The tools are simple and easy to acquire and the author is a gifted teacher. Well done!
Five stars.

In addition to drawing techniques, Modern Colored Pencil is a guide to selecting supplies - pencils, erasers, sharpeners and paper.  The section on mark making includes many examples showing many of the various techniques.  I particularly like the suggested exercises on mark making and the color wheel.  These are followed by sections on blending and burnishing, layering to build dimension and seeing and using patterns - each with suggested exercises to practice with.  These techniques sections are followed by chapters on drawing objects, architecture, landscapes, animals and figures.  Each chapter includes many of examples of how the various techniques add life-like qualities to your work.  I found the section on drawing glass object in the everyday items section particularly interesting.  This is a book that would help a new artist get started in colored pencil work, as well as aid any artist is honing their skills.

(NetGalley ebook -  I received a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy of this book. I received this in exchange for my honest review. One thing that really stood out to me was the "how to care for your colored pencils". For some reason a lot of teaching books skip this step. With artist supplies I feel like this is very important. I mean you do spend a lot of money on artist supplies so it is really important to know how to care for them. So many different techniques are included and I really loved the suggestion of what colors to use for shadows. As a colored pencil artist, it took me far too long to figure this out. A lot of older books didn't include this. this was by far one of the best "how to" books I have ever read.

This is a nice, approachable guide to drawing with colored pencil. It doesn't skip any details, so it will be great for anyone looking to start learning from scratch. The exercises are practical and use everyday objects and situations that will be easy to replicate in order to focus on learning technique. It will be a valuable addition to any artist wanting to explore and learn more about how to use colored pencils in their art.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely book on using coloured pencils. I love the authors style and her illustrations. I've read the initial information that many times now in most art book introductions that I brush over it, but some of the projects are really interesting and quite easy to replicate. It is one of those books that makes you feel like pulling out your pencils and drawing. I just wish there were more drawings and projects to follow. Overall though a very good book.

Surely not a revolutionary book, it contains however the essential information a beginning coloured pencil artist should know. Basic tools, their use, colouring techniques, color theory and various subjects from plants, fruits, animals, people, interiors and landscapes. I found rather boring the section dedicated to doors and windows only a few types, only frontal view but they occupy more than twenty pages, while I liked very much the animal section. The book is entirely illustrated by the author.

This is a fantastic introduction to using colored pencils, a plethora of information to learn and hone your skills with this fun media. Use the techniques and your own personal style to draw and create your own works of art. Achievable at any age. The author reminds all to “Be patient and kind to yourself as you learn these new skills.”
Within, tools and techniques are covered, including types of colored pencils and what to expect from each, paper, sharpeners, erasers, blending tools, care of your pencils. Techniques and exercises to practice to obtain light and dark values by using pressure, dots, lines, crosshatching, and squiggles. Gesture drawing and figure proportions are also addressed.
Color theory is taught along with an exercise for creating your own color wheel. Understanding color is an asset for any artist.
Learn to draw everything including food, plants, glass, rooms, architecture, landscape, animals, and people. Color swatches are shown for each picture so you can match your pencil color and follow along with each layer of the picture.
This is a very comprehensive book and would be great for the budding artist in all of us.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Very interesting book, which shows how by layering colors, you can bring your drawings to life. The avocado, berries, strawberry, apple all well done. Animal drawings, gesture drawings, doorscapes which reminded me of The doorways of Paris book, which could be your next exercise.

Thank you Net Galley and Quarto Publishing for the opportunity to read and
And give an honest review of this book.

This handy little book gives a good overview of drawing with colored pencils. It also includes information on the use of watercolor pencils. The book gives details on layering colors, highlighting and shadowing objects. The short chapters cover drawing still life objects, landscapes, animals and the human figures.

Any artist interested in sketching in color could make use of this book in their library.

I absolutely loved this book! It's so useful and as an artist, it's really nice to see a book on a subject that I really can relate to. It's informative, fun, colorful. Everything that it needs to be and more. 5/5 stars

A great overview of colored pencils and how to use them including methods and the different type of pencils.

This is a great comprehensive book on better using colored pencil as a media for art. There are different activities to enhance these skills that are fun as well as informative.

I'm not sure who this book is aimed towards. It assumes you need almost 20 pages of basic art instruction like what the color wheel and complementary colors are, yet it expects you to be able to draw very well. There's some good basic information about colored pencils, but it's pretty basic and then it goes through how to draw things like a cat, a pear, a landscape, people and a window. The example illustrations are a little basic, but they're way better than I could do even with this book. There aren't new techniques, and the exercises are the basic "follow my lead, first draw the dog's outline, then color this in more, here's the colors to use" type. All of the "projects" are just draw this thing, then draw that thing. There are not projects in terms of creating things like note cards, gift tags, journal spreads or wall art. This is very much like what I did in high school art class for the colored pencil week. It's a fine basic book, nothing revolutionary.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

I love any books that show new techniques to make art. Drawing has always been a passion of mine. I'm no pro though so I find books like this very helpful and it keeps things new and fresh. This book was a great book to show you how to use colored pencils and create gorgeous drawings.