Drawing the Head for Artists: Techniques for Mastering Expressive Portraiture (Volume 2) (For Artists, 2) Paperback – Illustrated, August 6, 2019

This is a really good portrait book and worth the money.The only issue is there is nothing in this book that is very original , most of the insights and techniques have been around and documented for a long time.The author is truly a great portrait artist , no doubt you will learn something, but having purchased over 7 portrait books on Amazon dealing with charcoal portraits and after awhile you could cut out the images, mix them up and put them back in books at random and you would not know the difference on technique discussions.There is a greatness to all these artists , but there is also a striking sameness.I do not mean to be critical, again this artist is really terrific and the book is worthwhile, just expect a rehash of the usual examples of light , shadow, and tools, applied in pretty much the same manner and look.There are limitations that everyone tries to get correct when drawing the human face and there are limitations in viewpoints and how the face can be lit, so since that part of the book is redundant with every other book like this what will amaze you is how this artist transcends those techniques and transcends the realism aspects to capture the exact persona of the subject.This artist has a book that goes well beyond drawing and he captures the inner person and that is what comes through, this is a great artist at going beyond the medium and going beyond technique and art, his work borders on a spiritual moment, not in a religious way, but almost like a meditative image of the persons soul.The actual technique sections and text may be redundant with others , it is the results that are fantasticThis is an excellent book you wont regret the purchase.The most interesting aspect of most art instruction books authored by Asians, is most of them always include very loving and respectful in depth portraits of the artists parents, they always nail those to perfection.

I highly recommend this book because it not only has Oliver's best charcoal portraits as examples, it teaches step by step methods on how to approach charcoal portrait in clear, concise manner. I particularly love the analysis on the plane changes and on facial features. It helps me a lot in grasping the form in proper manner so as to be more 3 dimensional. One can tell the artist is not only highly accomplished in portraiture, knows how to capture the essence, where to focus, and where to eliminate so as not to be too stiffly photorealistic nor too loose to lose powerful, strong understanding of forms. He also knows how to teach and explain well so it is easy to follow. There are great down-to-earth advices one can tell based on decades of experiences rather than flashy gimmicks. Although embarking on portraiture is a lifetime journey, I've learned a lot from what he teaches. I've had a collections of books on portraiture, somehow his teachings clicks on those points that have been confusing for long for me. It is simply wonderful to learn that doing portraiture is not really that forbidding, can be improved, and enjoyed.

I am a 4 year art student in training and ordered the book because I was getting ready for Oliver’s workshop. It was very helpful for preparing and understanding the planes of the head, using his style, his technique and his materials. Reading over some of the lessons ahead of time definitely prepared me for the workshop. He is very detailed and is an expert at breaking down all the planes of the face before beginning to lay in values. He stresses “draw shape” over and over! In his book he also describes the differences between drawing males, females and children. So many examples of his work that he freely shares in the book. It has become my main reference for portrait drawings in charcoal and oils. I refer to it often now for review and practice. Oliver is such an incredible teacher whether in a book or live. If your struggling to understand and simplify your portraits no matter the medium, I highly suggest investing in this valuable tool! It’s a keeper!Barbara K. FT Worth. Tx.

Good reference book

I have been wanting since I saw it in a Barnes and Noble one day. I also teach portrait art so it was a great source for looking and learning different ways to draw portraits (with this Author) wit out having to go online all the time.

This is an outstanding book. Many of the other reviewers commented on aspects of the book I would have otherwise. For someone like myself who is a self-taught artist, I can never get enough of these instructional books. I continue to learn and refine my drawing skills.I love the diverse types of people the author Oliver Sin used--young, older, different races of people, different hair textures and skin types and shapes---all the details that make each of us different and how to approach drawing them.His explanations are clear and very easy to understand with practical approaches for each step as an artist works towards completion. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to further refine their skills.

This is an exceptional Head Drawing Techniques book that will satisfy readers in multiple levels.The steps are clear, precise and easy to follow. Whether as a beginner, an artist with some basic drawing skills, or a veteran artist trying to push one’s limits, as long as you are intrigued by portrait drawing, you will find inspirations in this book.The wide range in nationalities is a visual feast for a modern world of global recognition. This also serves as a portfolio collection of an amazing contemporary portraiture artist. Even just browsing thru the pages, mostly full page artworks, is satisfying. There are quite a few portraits, which jump out to me as timeless. I would have easily mistaken it as a page from the Impressionist, Realist, Victorian, Edwardian or Renaissance era. And this is a quality which I find truly intriguing.