Cover Image: The Complete Book of Textures for Artists

The Complete Book of Textures for Artists

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

If your an artist you will love this book. I'm always playing around with different textures in my contemporary pieces so this book was right up my alley. Easy to understand and simple directions for everything. The perfect book for beginners or intermediate.

Was this review helpful?

This book is a great reference tool for any artist! I also own the book that’s for colored pencils, but this one is more useful as it covers other mediums including acrylic paints. The book has 275 textures with easy to follow instructions. It includes many textures that I thought I could never achieve. I highly recommend this book for any artist’s library..

I received a digital copy from Net Galley. I have since purchased a physical copy of this wonderful book.

Was this review helpful?

I really love this book. It's a great reference guide to have on hand, in the classroom or studio and can help you build confidence when you're not sure about the best techniques or media for recreating textures. This book gives you guidelines on how to recreate animal textures like fur, skin, feathers.... and more, fabric textures like silk, wool, knits, lace... and more, glass, stone, water, fruit, vegetables, plants, and much much more - in all sorts of media like pencil, paint, watercolour, coloured pencil, charcoals and pastels.. and more!!
Can you tell this book is a lifeline for artists?

Beautiful colour photographs to demonstrate examples. This will help you bring another layer of realism to your artwork.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview this book for a review.

Was this review helpful?

You can get inspired by textures
Artists Denise J. Howard, Steven Pearce, and Mia Tavonatti present "The Complete Book of Textures for Artists. Step-by-step instructions for mastering more than 275 textures in graphite, charcoal, colored pencil, acrylic, and oil" which was published by Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster. The book is divided into three sections: 1) Graphite & Charcoals (by Steven Pearce), 2) Colored Pencil (by Denise J. Howard), and 3) Oil & Acrylic (by Mia Tavonatti. Every section contains specific information about tools & materials and techniques. Furthermore, Steven Pearce has also included information about value and shading when using graphite and charcoals. The main topics in each section are 1) people, 2) animals, 3) fabrics & textiles, 4) hard surfaces, 5) nature, and 6) food & beverages. Five patterns are developed in three steps, all the other patters are developed in four steps.
I am totally impressed by this book that is a great tool for artist who work with the mediums mentioned above or who want to extend their knowledge in other areas. The book can be also inspirational and helpful for mixed-media artists. The book presents itself with a wide range of examples, great photos, drawings, and design. The included tips can also be a help to beginning and advanced artists for whom it makes also a great present. There is no index at the end of the book, but this is not a problem because of the very detailed list of content. I highly recomme3nd the book because it is inspirational and gives new ideas.
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.
#TheCompleteBookOfTexturesForArtists #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

I have discovered Quarto Publishing Group to be a thoughtful publishing house as they release art titles, and The Complete Book of Textures for Artists is no exception.

Within these pages, there are detailed instructions to guide artists in the use of colored pencils, charcoal, and paints to add depth by including texture.

I often would gasp at the transformation; perhaps they're conveying how to use charcoal to draw wavy hair, or colored pencils to mimic a rolling stream. There would be a series of four images with accompanying language to point out what should be done at each stage. The first two or three panels, you can tell it is a created image. Often, though, the last image would appear so lifelike that I would be stunned at the skill.

The book shows textures through each of these mediums. It would be a suitable reference book for any artist or aspiring artist. Whatever their medium, they could open to the appropriate page for guidance and inspiration if they are stymied at how to translate a lifelike image to the page or canvas. And for individuals like me, who appreciate art but find our skills in other outlets, it's still a treat to take in the pages, continually being delighted by the transformations. I found my fingers twitching to try my own hand at these recommendations.

(I received a digital ARC from Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.)

Was this review helpful?

What a wonderful resource for artists! I loved all the visual inspiration and this book is a great addition to any artist’s creative library!

Was this review helpful?

This was a comprehensive guide for artists of all abilities. The book started with a break down of different materials and techniques for graphite and charcoal which would help to get the beginner started.

The book is then broken down in people, animals, food, and different surface type which is to be worked in graphite or charcoal, coloured pencils and oils and acrylic.

Each texture has a four point process which is explained and illustrated.. I found some of the explanations to be easier than others and there is a certain amount of drawing talent required in order to succeed.

With more than 270 textures to try out, presented by three artists, there is enough in this book to help the artist to grow and develop.

I think this would be a valuable addition to any artists book shelf as they can keep dipping in and out as and when they needed to explore a new texture.

Was this review helpful?

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is a great resource for artists and the thing I loved best about it was it showed pictures alongside the step by step instructions.
There are alot of tips within this book which I also found really helpful and useful.
Overall, a great resource for any newbie artists like myself.

Was this review helpful?

While this book has a lot of textures, done in different techniques and materials, it's definitely not a step-by-step how-to book, nor is it very useful for complete beginners.

It can serve as a good book for textures, but with the internet out there, I am not really sure anyone needs it in the form that it is now. It would be a better book if it presented some of the textures in a bigger picture too - for artists to see what different the textures make in a full composition.

Was this review helpful?

Almost complete Step-by-step instructions to texture drawing with different techniques.

A must have book for artists!

Was this review helpful?

The book is broken down by medium, but there are a lot of overlapping textures so you’re not just finding how to do things like “smooth skin” in graphite, but also how to do it in oil and acrylic.

Definitely a great reference book for graphite, colored pencils and oil & acrylic.

Was this review helpful?

I have personally done quite a bit of drawing and painting with various mediums, and even some formal classes, so that is the perspective I'm reviewing from. Those with more talent or experience may feel differently about the utility of the book.

Though the publisher description says this book is for those who have experience AND those just starting out, this is definitely only appropriate for people with advanced skills, or at the very least on the very high end of moderate. If you are a beginner/amateur, or just not very good yet, it may be a good book to flip through but will be way too advanced with instructions that are way too brief. It reminded me of the joke of how to draw an owl "step 1: circle for the head, step 2: oval for the body, step 3: draw the rest of the owl".

The book is broken down into three sections, based on material: graphite/charcoal, colored pencil, and oil/acrylic. The sections start with detailed instructions on selecting tools and materials, and also images and VERY basic (short pargraph, one or two photos) of some techniques for that medium. Each page shows instructions for three different textures, and there are four photos/steps per texture.

Thank you #NetGalley for the review copy of #TheCompleteBookofTexturesforArtists

Was this review helpful?

A comprehensive guide to creating photo-realistic pictures of a variety of textures with different media. Broken into sections by material (acrylic, colored pencil, etc.) and category--animals, skin, eyes, knitted fabric, and many more. Each chapter includes an overview of techniques with that medium. Probably not suitable for a complete beginner, but intermediate and advanced artists will find inspiration on every page.

Was this review helpful?

The complete book of textures for artists is a great book that takes you through many different textures. As an amateur artist I have learned so much. My art skills have broadened very much due to this book. I think this would be a great book for any artist.

Was this review helpful?

A very comprehensive guide, but not for beginners. This would be much too difficult for the average teen in my Library. The multiple mediums in one volume is nifty, but if you are an artist are you looking for all these mediums? Or just the medium in which you usually work?

Was this review helpful?

There are quite a few different textures taught in a step-by step manner, with lots of illustrations. I like that there are instructions for some of the same textures in various mediums. That shows the difference in the techniques needed for each medium.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you, NetGalley, for a complimentary copy of this book! The following review reflects my personal opinion!

First off, I have to include a disclaimer: When I requested this ARC, I totally misinterpreted the title. When I think of texture, I think of mixed media. This book is strictly a one-media-at-a-time instruction book!

With that being said, I was both disappointed and surprised--disappointed that I didn't get step-by-step instructions for mastering more mixed media textures, but absolutely surprised how good this book turned out!

(1) I like how this book starts out with a "How to use this book" section! That was indeed a very helpful page in this book!

<img src="<img src="https://www.goodreads.com/image..."/>

(2) My favorite section--even though my go-to medium is (mostly) acrylic--my favorite section of the book was the section about colored pencil textures.

(3) I love that the book includes not only step-by-step instructions, but also the step-by-step images to go with those instructions. As a primarily visual learner, I totally appreciate that!

(4) The book also includes a lot of helpful tips, e.g., in the colored pencil section, the authors recommend a swatch chart of all the colored pencils the artist has. THAT blew my mind, even though it should be kind of a common-sense thing. It wasn't common sense for me and so I appreciate that this advice was included in the book.

(5) This book shows step-by-step instructions for a very wide range of items, from glass and porcelain to fabrics such as silk and leather, to animal hair and human skin textures, to items such as rocks, sand, tree leaves, etc. Wonderful!!!!

(6) The instructions are short, but easy to understand and follow. I can't wait to try more of these techniques and practice!!

Was this review helpful?

This book contains really a very large amount of textures, I was disappointed though for the brevity of the explanations. There are 3 different textures on one page, each of them illustrated with 3-4 pictures accompanied by undertitles, too short and superficial in my opinion. It can be used more as a reference, while for learning the techniques for the various textures I'd rather recommend other titles published by Walter Foster. The introducing part with the techniques and materials is useful though.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve recently been learning about how to draw and this seems the next step to me. Loads of amazing techniques and idea’s for drawing textures from fur on animals to aging skin on humans. There are 3 sections to the book, with sub sections, this makes searching for want you require really easy. I would definitely recommend this book, if for no other reason to have this beautiful book on your shelf or coffee table!

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A good book in the area of defining texture in three different mediums. Those being pencil and charcoal, colour pencils and lastly oil and acrylic. Having decided which medium one wants to work with the book is further separated into section dealing with people, animals, fabric/textile, hard surfaces, nature and lastly food and beverage.
The exercises are plentiful and fun to do. great for anyone who wants to grow their skills

Was this review helpful?