How to Draw Lifelike Portraits from Photographs

Rating:
Summary: This book is worth every penny!!!
Review: This book does exactly what it says! You don't need any prior art lessons to understand and learn how to realistically reproduce portraits from photographs. Lee Hammond meticulously explains each step in the process of drawing. She takes the reader from the materials to get, to each feature of the face, to hair, clothing, hands, composition, backgrounds, and special effects. Her book has a generous supply of her own outstanding portraits and her students' drawings, and they are absolutely beautiful. She also shows you some before and after drawings that are so professional looking that I was really challenged to see if it could really be done. I know that they are real because guess what?? I went through the book, and it really works! I believed I had no drawing ability until I went through this book. Lee Hammond is a master artist and teacher. The best thing is that these techniques can be transferred to drawing anything...not just portraits. If you ever wanted to produce lifelike, realistic portraits, get this book. It's worth every penny!!!

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: This book has not only shown me how to draw realistic portraits, it also built my self-confidence. It is very well written and every step of portrait drawing is thoroughly explained with many examples. Every feature of the face is handled separately and then as a whole and you also learn about drawing clothes, hands, composition and much more. I drew my first portrait within a few weeks of starting the technique. After showing my drawings around, I am now offered commissions. Simply amazing. I am also teaching the technique to children and teenagers who are doing great. If you want to achieve realism in your portrait drawing (or any other subject for that matter), get this book, it is worth every penny.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent! A Must have for you Art Library!
Review: This book is an excellent source for learning how to draw portraits. I have compared my old art work to the new ones I've done after I practiced the lessons in this book and the difference is amazing. Friend, family, & professors are shocked to see how lifelike the drawings looked. You can use her technique for every drawing subject not only portraits. Learning to draw everything else has become much easier and realistic since I read this book.

Rating:
Summary: teaches well
Review: This book is helping me and I am finally understanding the little secrets that improve my drawings and make them more realistic. Thank you Lee Hammond!

Rating:
Summary: Gr8 Book!
Review: this book is really good for any one who wants to learn how 2 draw- it will improve anybody and everybody's drawings. i'm a beginner and after i went through the book, i was alot better. my friend, an aazing artist, borrowed the book. amazingly enuff, she became even better!! i got 2 more of Lee Hammond's books, and this one is still my fave! applauds to u, lee!

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: This is one of the best books on drawing portraits I have seen. There are several other fine books that go into more detail about the basics of drawing faces, proportion, etc., but most don't go into detail about shading and technique to make the portrait truly come alive. There are tons of illustrations. Ms. Hammond's own artwork is awesome! They are an inspiration in and of themselves even without the instructional steps. (I was surprised that a couple of other reviewers didn't find her artwork to be very good. We must be talking about two different books!). The illustrations and examples are very clearly presented, and the photos are of excellent quality. She goes into detail about making eyes, lips, noses, hair, and even eyeglasses and clothing! Ms Hammond's instructional style is warm and encouraging. I have several other books by Lee Hammond, and I've found all of them enjoyable and informative. Whether you are looking for a book just to do family and friends portraits or to do professional portraits, I would recommend this book. The hardbound cover and glossy-like feel to the pages are pleasing as well.

Rating:
Summary: A great book with many examples!!
Review: When I first read the book, it immediately became clear that I finally found a book with enough examples. The technique that Lee Hammond is using, is quite different from the techniques that I have been using for about 3 years, and I was quite astonished about the quality of her drawings in consideration of the material she is using in her book: grafite. I think I keep on practizing with grafite for another several years!!! A great step-by-step book, with many examples; it took four weeks to get it here to Holland, but it was worth waiting for!!!

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic! A great guide for artists at any level!
Review: With the tips that I picked up from this book, I've been able to improve my sketches so much that I've sold 4 of them! I just recently ordered Mrs. Hammond's book on how to draw in color and I can't wait to read it. THANKS MRS. HAMMOND!!!!