
Member Reviews

Success in Art: Drawing Hands and Feet is a complete tomb to take your art to the next level. I appreciated the tool and material recommendations. The step by step directions was easy to follow, but I still felt I was missing some piece (got to work on that shading). Nonetheless, an enjoyable read.

Help With The Challenge Of Drawing Hands And Feet
Internationally known artist and teacher Ken Goldman's book "Success in Art: Drawing Hands & Feet. Techniques for mastering realistic hands and feet in graphite, charcoal, and Conte - 50+ Professional Artist Tips and Techniques" is part of the "Success in Art" series published by Quarto Publishing Group – Walter Foster that has the goal to offer more than basic step-by-step guides for subject matters that are challenging for artists. The book is divided into four main sections: 1) Tools & Materials, 2) Anatomy of Hands & Feet, 3) Drawing Techniques, and 4) Step-by-Step Drawings. In basing the book on the anatomy of bones, muscles and tendons of hands and feet Goldman helps artists to learn the needed details for their drawings. The book includes more than fifty professional artist tips and techniques, e.g. "Things to Remember When Drawing", a segment about Perspective which is very important, and one segment about "Working from Photographs" with various approaches. This can help artists to find the method that is best for them. The book contains very detailed pictures, drawings, and photographs. It is a help for beginning and advanced artists and makes also a great present for them. Although the book is aimed at artists who use pencils, charcoal, and chalk as medium, and I highly recommend it for them, it can be used also by artists who use other mediums such as watercolor, acrylic, or mix-media. They also can profit from this book.
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.
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As a beginner to drawing the human figure and as someone not yet familiar with all the different drawing tools and techniques (not only for hands and feet but drawing in general), I like it. However, as someone who wants to get better at drawing hands and feet, I got a bit disappointment. I feel like there was too much theory, specially bone structure. Which makes me think this book is not meant for beginners. But why then, spend most of it explaining tools and techniques which, if I’m familiar with drawing, would I most probably already know?.
It would be better suited for those who have at least some experience and want to deepen their understanding of drawing hands and feet. I believe this book would work really nice as a companion for art students or those attending life figure drawing sessions. Even if I feel the second section can be a bit too much for a beginner, I really like how Goldman explains some more basic subjects. It would be a pity not to take advantage of it, so if you think you are committed to drawing, you can take advantage of the basic knowledge first and then move on to the more advanced explanations when you are ready for it.

I found this book really interesting and really easy to follow i'm impressed with the skills i have learn't through this book.

I really learned a lot from this book. I love trying my hand at drawing and this was excellent. It covers value, shading, perspective (which I have a very difficult time with), and all with realistic techniques. This book has a lot of information crammed into it.

Unfortunately, this book is not worth the money.
While it is apparent that the author is an excellent artist, especially when it comes to anatomy. However, I do not believe this talent extends to instruction. Only a small portion of the book examines how to draw hands and feet. Too much of it is delegated to anatomy itself. I wanted to learn to draw the skin, muscles and joints. I was very disappointed.
I received an ARC from Quatro Publishing through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

This is a great reference book when teaching how to draw hands and feet. I am terrible at drawing feet and hands. This book is perfect for people who are looking for something to help them. I am self-taught, and I found this book to be precious. I recommend this for anyone interested in drawing.

This is a book for advance drawing of hands & feet. It provides lots of information on the bones and muscles that make up these parts of the body too. Whilst there are steps to follow, I think you need to have a basic understanding of drawing these parts of the body to begin with.
The book shows different techniques using mainly charcoal to sketch the hands and feet, alongside other ideas such as using a light box to trace photographs before filling in the details and how to create a viewfinder
I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
This is a short book but crammed with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. The book covers different techniques using mainly charcoal to sketch and draw hands and feet.
The instructions are easy to follow and understandable and the book gives some great information throughout.
If your looking to experiment with charcoal this is definitely a book to have a try with.

Many of us have problems drawing hand and feet, the the extent that some of us try to leave them out all together or only partially draw them in. This book is very helpful in helping to understand both the hands and feet, starting with a skeleton view to muscular actions, whilst also covers perspective. There are a series of exercises to do to get some practice in various poses to draw. A really informative book

Success in Art: Drawing Hands and Feet
By Ken Goldman
This book is one I would recommend to artists wishing to focus on anatomy and more accurate drawing of hands and feet. The book presents information on tools and materials, anatomy of hands and feet, drawing techniques and includes step-by-step drawings to follow as a variety of subjects have been created.
Comments I jotted down while reading:
* Similar materials and tools as in other books
* direct vs structural approach
* concise information
* explicit descriptions
* informative
* educational
* perspective (good idea to include)
* more advanced (than some books
* some new ideas and terms
This book made me wonder how I would do in a life drawing class and might have intimidated me in trying my hand at timed sketches. That said, the author mentioned three stages of drawing 1) absorbing optical sensations, 2) analyzing those sensations and 3) getting to work. I believe that third phase means we should not allow ourselves to be intimidated but instead to pick up pencil and begin drawing.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Walter Foster for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars

Outstanding. Just that. This book is outstanding. I’m a professional artist and I still stumble over the drawing of hands and feet. At last the master has produced a very detailed in depth book.

One of the hardest aspects of realistic art is portraying hands and feet. I can say from personal experience I nearly failed drawing two because I struggled so much with them. The fact I even got a good grade was I am sure my teacher took pity on the endless hours I labored over this task. Some of my worst and yet proudest drawings where the grades I eked out of those efforts despite how awful I am positive they are...
This book is a wonderful treasure for artists it covers anatomy, shading, positions, structure and also delves into tools perspective and so much more. Everything is incredibly well explained with fantastic pictures of truly well done drawings and illustrations. I highly recommend this book.
I received this book from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing - Walter Foster for an honest review.
#SuccessinArtDrawingHandsFeet
#NetGalley

Oddly enough I think this one would be better as a general drawing book than as a hands and feet specific one. The pages and tips that I found most useful were the general art tip ones. It definitely gives you tips on hands and feet specifically. I am just not sure it offered anything new or amazing when it comes to having success in drawings hands and feet.

This book came at a perfect time for me. I am a painter and I am trying to learn a new painting style, gestural figures. Improving my drawing skills is a huge help in painting. This book helped me understand the muscles and bone structure in the hand and feet.
The exercises in this book were very helpful. Hand and feet are illustrated in multiple positions and angles. Great step by step instruction. Other topics covered are perspective and foreshortening.
I highly recommend this book to any artist interested in figurative and portrait drawing and painting.
I received this galley from NetGalley.

Success in Art: Drawing Hands & Feet: Techniques for mastering realistic hands and feet in graphite, charcoal, and Conte
by Walter Foster Creative Team is a book I and from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. I really learned a lot from this book! I love trying my hand at graphite and charcoal and this was excellent! It covers light/dark, shading, perspective (which I have a very difficult time with), and all with realistic techniques. This has a lot of information crammed into a small book! This is one I am going to buy for sure! I need to quit reviewing to save myself money! 😊

Every experienced realist artist knows that the human figure is probably the most difficult subject, hands and foots are yet more so. While many times we do not paint or draw bare foots, it should be a pity not do so with the hands, as they are making so many activities and they are so expressive. This book is a wonderful treasure, as you find in it not only anatomy as needed, without being boring, but other useful sections too, like tools, strokes with graphite, contè, charcoal, structural and contour drawing, transfer techniques, perspective, step-by-step demonstrations. All very well explained and illustrated. Obviously you have to do your own homework and practice a lot, this book will be useful for reference in the near future.

AUTHOR
Ken Goldman is the author of Drawing Hands and Feet you can find out more about him and his work here.
WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE
Drawing Hands & Feet has a broad appeal encompassing all those who aspire to improving their knowledge, skills and abilities in the creation of their own artwork. It is ideal for those who prefer the self-directed learning route, and would aid those students who wish to expand their knowledge and appreciation of alternative and traditional methods of drawing.
SYNOPSIS
The format of Drawing Hands and Feet is like many of its kind. The sections are laid out in a common sense manner as follows:
Introduction
Section 1: Tools & Materials
Section 2: Anatomy of Hands & Feet
Section 3 Drawing: Techniques
Section 4: Step-by-step Drawings
Conclusion and about the author
At first sight you may be forgiven for thinking that there is nothing remarkable or unique about this manual, but you would be mistaken. Drawing Hands & Feet is exceptional in every single way. It is true it has a similar page format to other publications of its kind but what elevates this particular guide is the quality of the illustrations and the invaluable information and advice from a contemporary, professional working artist of considerable talents.
In the pages of this manuscript, I found an abundance of essential, practical advice enhanced by high quality photographs, monochrome and color sketches, and full color anatomical illustrations. The sheer quality of the anatomical illustrations alone justifies the price of this work. The years of experience from the author and the practical methods described to enhance your drawing is second to none.
Artists quickly become aware that drawing or painting hands and feet poses a herculean problem early on in their art journey. They are the most complicated parts of the body to reproduce in a realistic manner and therefore it is helpful to have a step-by-step approach during the learning faze in order to control the multitudinal task posed by the complexity.
It is easy for me to sit here and try to convince you about the book, but to show you is another matter all together. Therefore, I thought I would put pencil to paper and see if I would benefit from the manual. Below you can witness the results. I am confident having tried the methods described in the book that you could benefit from its sage advice to.
CONCLUSION
Drawing Hands & Feet by Ken Goldman is an exceptional guide to the most difficult parts of the human anatomy to draw. Goldman took on the challenge of making the complex simple. He excelled beyond all expectation. I fully anticipate that this will sell out quickly when it becomes available in early June, 2020. I can’t wait to procure myself a copy. I give it my first 5 star rating of 2020 for an art book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Walter Foster Publishing , NetGalley, and Ken Goldman for affording me the opportunity to review Drawing Hands & Feet.