Apr 14
There's an excellent variety of material here, including buildings, water, trees, flowers and even a few people. The structure of the book is to have main chapter headings that deal with various landscape elements such as skies, water or man-made structures and then to introduce examples and vignettes before moving on to a specific project that brings everything together. As a way of proceeding, this works very well and the sense of variety is encouraging, both creatively and as a way of drawing you into the book and getting you to explore further. I do have a reservation about some of the illustrations, though. These seem a little less than sharp and I can't decide whether it's the reproduction, the method of working or whether they've somehow been reduced to a different grayscale to that in which they were made. Other titles in this generally excellent series have crisp outlines, as, indeed, are the majority of those here, so I'm not sure what's going on. It's a worthwhile book, for all that, and should contain pretty well everything you want to know.
* Artbookreview.net *
October 2014
Beginning with an explanation of the history of landscape drawing, the book then progresses steadily through materials and methods to line and tone work and perspective, followed by subjects that include trees, hills, skies, flowers, buildings and figures. It is completed by a series of demonstrations, each building a work in slightly more detail. Throughout, instruction is kept to a minimum and you're shown rather than told, what's happening.
* Artist, The *
May 14
Part of the Drawing Masterclass, this black and white book takes you through exercises to build your drawing skills. Margaret is an expert, sharing her knowledge and years of experience. Elements of the landscape are included and there are six step by step projects. This book is aimed at all who want to improve their drawing skills. This book includes a short history of landscape drawing; different mediums to use, surfaces and other materials. There are suggestions for working from photographs and using sketchbooks. Filled with examples of sketches and finished work.
* Karen Platt Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk/crafts *
Summer Catalogue 2014
This is a book about drawing a wide variety of classic landscape subjects in both line and tone and using pens, pencils, pastels and charcoal.
Intended for those with some experience of drawing media, it bypasses the basic mark-making techniques and Margaret instead gets down to business with Working from Photographs and Using Sketchbooks.
You're into exercises and projects very quickly and will find yourself exploring line and tone and perspective in easy-to-follow demonstrations that work from real-life subjects.
All the way through, the emphasis is on the practical and Margaret works from actual scenes that allow yo to compare your work with a starting, rather than a finishing, point.
Subjects includes Tress & Foliage, Hills & Mountains, Skies, Flowers, Water and Buildings. The book works by example and every page is filled with sketches and drawings.
This is a thorough guide that promises and provides a great deal and should progress your skills a long way.
* SAA *
August 2014
As part of Search Press's Drawing Masterclass series, Margaret Eggleton will be concentrating on Landscapes for her latest publication. The art of landscape drawing has a long history, from early Chinese drawings and Greek and Roman architectural frescoes. Margaret explores the contemporary use of drawing media, including graphite pencils, acrylic ink and dip pen, artists' pens, Conte crayons, pastels and charcoal. She then shows how to gather reference material, using photographs and sketches, how to apply line and ton, and understand perspective. Chapters follow on trees ad foliage, hills and mountains, moors and meadows, skies, flowers in landscape, water, structures ad figures. The book includes six step-by-step projects and is packed with advice and helpful tips.
* Leisure Painter, The *
