Drawing Realistic Textures in Pencil

Rating:
Summary: Do you want to get to the top ?
Review: 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 !

Rating:
Summary: Concise, well-explained, content-rich technique book
Review: This book was an incredible find. I've poured over the pages 4 or 5 times in just a month. It is filled with step-by-step techniques and- unlike many books of this type- offers REAL content to the reader. The book explains JD Hillberry's amazing realism techniques. It explains his use of graphite and charcoal to render values and depth in his drawings. Included are suggeste dlists of materials, a TON of photographs and lots of instruction for the beginner or pro alike. An EXCELLENT resource. Worth every penny.

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive and helpful
Review: This is a very well done book. Despite its slimness and the brevity of its texts, the author wasn't stingy on instructive pictures and they helped a lot. For an example of how helpful this book is, it is so far the only reference I have found teaching how to draw cracked glass.
The author does Trompe L'oeil (French for "Fool the eye") drawings which basically are 2-D images made to look VERY 3-D. So you know that his technique is well polished and honed. For people interested in taking their pencil drawings to the next level, this book is essential reading. Brilliant stuff

Rating:
Summary: Realism at last!
Review: This man is an artist genius, it is reassuring to know that realism is still alive. This book will teach you everything about drawing that your art teacher failed to tell you. It is lively, comprehensive and very easy to understand. What about producing a follow up Mr Hillberry?