Archives: Walter Foster Books
Designed for artists of all skill levels, The Complete Book of Drawing Optical Illusions, 3D Illustrations, and Spiral Art will help you create mind-bending art with simple step-by-step instructions.
Optical illusions, 3D trick illustrations, and spiral art may look difficult to create, but with just a little bit of guidance, they can be easily achieved. Artists Jonathan Stephen Harris and Stefan Pabst guide you step by step in creating mind-blowing pencil drawings, starting with basic illustrations and progressing to more challenging ones. From impossible shapes to three-dimensional sketches and trick art, you won’t believe your eyes as you learn to draw these impressive graphite and colored pencil illustrations.
Learn to draw more than 50 stunning items, including:
- Floating Shapes & Impossible Shapes
- 5-Legged Elephant
- Transparent Cube
- Water Droplet
- 3D Hole
- 3D Chichen Itza pyramids
- 3D Tyrannosaurus rex
- 3D Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Spiral Rose
- Spiral Panda
- Spiral Diamond Ring
- Spiral Butterfly
- And much more!
Certain techniques can be used to create these types of illustrations, and this comprehensive guide gives clear instructions for everything you need to know. The Complete Book of Drawing Optical Illusions, 3D Illustrations, and Spiral Art begins with information on tools and materials, perspective, and shading, and then jumps into the first simple step-by-step project. At the end of the book is an inspirational idea gallery for more mind-bending art you can create.
As you work through the art projects in this book, you will hone your drawing skills in the most intriguing way possible, while also exercising your mind with these brain-boosting, unbelievable illustrations! Just like a magician, you’ll be able to wow your family and friends with your own stunning trick art!
In Let’s Sew aLittle Farm, learn how to hand sew more than 20 small farm-themed projects, including a cute sheep, a cow, a pig, ducks, and horses, as well as a barn, tractor, and tools.
With the books in the Let's Sew series, you can learn to create easy sewing projects without a sewing machine. Each book focuses on a specific theme and demonstrates how to create cute, usable projects, starting with Let’s Sew a Little Farm, which celebrates life on the farm, from animals to tools.
In addition to the sweet projects, Let’s Sew a Little Farm features an introduction to the featured fiber mediums, as well as chapters on tools and materials, sewing techniques, and image-making, such as batik, dye, and block print.
Author Kristen Balouch—an experienced illustrator, fabric designer, and children’s book author—believes in taking a mindful, soulful approach to sewing so that you enjoy the process while making beautiful art. Her whimsical art style is shown through gorgeous imagery and adorable projects for sewers of all ages and skill levels to try. This book includes a plethora of helpful tips and techniques for those with little to no experience in working with fiber arts.
Turn off the screens and unwind as you sew a variety of adorable, giftable projects—without the use of a sewing machine!
Successfully drawing the human face is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, artistic experiences. With a wealth of detailed step-by-step projects to both re-create and admire, this 10.25 × 13.75–inch book teaches the basics of drawing human facial features with graphite pencil. In addition to the step-by-step drawing projects, Faces includes information on choosing art materials, building with basic shapes, placing proportionate features, defining facial expression, and shading to develop form and realism. Discover how to render a variety of faces with simple instructions and tips on how to adapt your drawings for varied angles and emotions.
Acclaimed artist Walter T. Foster shares his personal methods for rendering the human face in all its expressiveness as he introduces tips and techniques for approaching babies, children, teenagers, and adults of all ages. Easy-to-follow demonstrations and helpful techniques for drawing correct head and facial proportions, eyes, noses, lips, and ears make this book a necessary addition to every artist’s library of drawing references.
Designed for beginners, the How to Draw & Paint series offers easy-to-follow guides that introduce artists to basic tools and materials and include simple step-by-step lessons for a variety of projects suitable for the aspiring artist. Drawing: Faces allows artists to develop drawing skills by demonstrating how to start with basic shapes and use pencil and shading techniques to create varied textures, values, and details for a realistic, completed portrait drawing.
Drawing faces can be a challenge, but with this step-by-step guide, you’ll be rendering realistic portraits in no time.
Nature provides an endless variety of appealing subjects to inspire the artist. And with the versatile mediums of oil and acrylic, you can both layer transparent glazes and apply thick, luscious strokes of color for a wide range of interesting effects. In Painting: Land & Sea, artist Vernon Kerr shows you his step-by-step process for painting seascapes and landscapes in oil and acrylic, from simple sketches to the most elaborate renderings. In addition, he demonstrates how to capture the beauty of nature in all its seasons and at different times of the day, as well as the importance of making small color studies and learning the various cloud formations. You’ll also discover tips for using color effectively, with additional helpful information on composition, perspective, texture, and contrast. And along the way, you’ll learn special techniques for creating dramatic skies, luminous waves, and lush landscapes.
From rendering light and shadow to creating realism through depth and texture, aspiring artists will discover the basics of oil and acrylic painting through engaging, inspirational lessons and useful artist tips. Artists will find helpful information about selecting the right paintbrushes, supports, and paints to get started in acrylic painting. Additionally, artists will discover useful tips for using basic and special acrylic painting techniques to render textures, suggest dimension, and create effects.
The How to Draw & Paint series offers an easy-to-follow guide that introduces artists to basic tools and materials and includes simple step-by-step lessons for a variety of projects suitable for the aspiring artist. With comprehensive instruction, plenty of artist tips and tricks, and beautiful artwork to inspire, Painting: Land & Sea is the perfect resource for any aspiring acrylic painter.
Leave your artistic anxiety behind with 52 weeks of hearty inspiration. Your Year in Art is a must-have guide to rouse your creative side. Designed for aspiring, beginning, and practicing artists looking to hone their skills, Your Year in Art is packed with unique projects and encouraging instruction.
The mission of Your Year in Art is to sharpen your art skills and quiet your inner critic by showing you how to draw habitually and spontaneously. As you build your craft, techniques, and confidence, this guide encourages you to create in a way that celebrates your individuality.
Fifty-two clever drawing prompts, along with tips and tricks, from expert illustrator Chelsea Ward will get your creative juices flowing. Weekly challenges include making a “self-portrait” by sketching things that describe you; practicing mark-making techniques like cross-hatching and stippling; filling a sketchbook page with drawings on a theme, like potted plants or fire hydrants; and adding water to ink drawings to practice wash techniques.
Join fellow artists in an exciting yearlong journey of developing creative habits and discovering new ways to express yourself.
Learn how to transform washi tape and paper into beautiful stationery, giftwrap, home decor, gifts, and more–all with just a few simple tools!
Paper & Tape: Craft & Create is full of unique and inspirational ideas and step-by-step projects that are perfect for washi tape crafters of any skill level. From birthday cards and DIY coasters to paper puppets and wall art, this engaging book is packed with helpful tips and beautiful photographs of finished work. Inside you’ll discover how to “draw” and “write” with washi tape, make your own cards and envelopes, build pretty washi tape collages, and more. This book also features “Mini Make” projects that show you how to turn five common craft materials into innovative projects using washi tape. Full of inspirational instruction, sophisticated artwork, and myriad ideas to explore and build on, Paper & Tape: Craft & Create is sure to spur endless DIY and craft projects and spark hours of washi tape fun!
Cartooning: 100 Faces & Expressions covers the fundamentals of creating cartoon heads and faces. This 32-page book includes instruction on selecting face shape, rendering features, exaggerating, and modifying features to suggest mood and personality. The title also features a wide range of step-by-step cartoon heads so beginners can practice a variety of expressions before applying them to their own characters. Additionally, readers will benefit from inspiring tips on the animation process and information on using computer programs to enhance or color the characters.
Capture breathtaking oceanic scenes in oil and acrylic with Oceans & Seascapes. After being introduced to the basic tools and materials needed to begin painting, artists will learn specific techniques for painting realistic waves, rocky shores, and other seaside elements. Filled with step-by-step projects, this book is essential for any beginning artist who wants to paint beautiful oceans and seascapes.
*Named One of the 54 Best Colored Pencil Drawing Books of All Time by BookAuthority*
Artist Toolbox: Drawing Tools & Materials first discusses how to create a drawing workspace—in particular, ensuring proper lighting and storage. This guide then details all of the most popular drawing media: the differences between and advantages of each, their purposes, and the effects that each tool can create.
The book covers every drawing tool, including all pencil grades, flat sketching pencils, charcoal and vine charcoal, white charcoal, conte crayons, conte pencils, colored pencils, and pastel. Surfaces and supports are discussed as well to provide a thorough introduction to everything you need to learn to draw. Step-by-step drawing projects round out the book.
Artist Toolbox: Drawing Tools & Materials provides tips, techniques, clear instructions, beautiful artwork, and detailed demonstrations for a comprehensive look at drawing. This book will make an expert out of anyone who wants to learn this classic technique.
The Artist Toolbox series includes useful, practical reference guides designed for beginning artists and art hobbyists interested in fully understanding the focus and function of essential art tools of the trade.
*Named One of the 54 Best Colored Pencil Drawing Books of All Time by BookAuthority*
Whether you’re a novice or an accomplished artist just getting started with colored pencil, Drawing: Colored Pencil Basics provides you with the instruction and inspiration you need to master this versatile medium. By starting with the necessary supplies and basic techniques, this colorful, comprehensive guidebook gives you a solid foundation so you can work through each stunning project with ease and joy. Award-winning artist Cynthia Knox first teaches the fundamentals: tools and materials, colored pencil techniques, color basics, the basic shapes drawing method, the grid method, using photo references, and more. She explores blending, burnishing, and layering colors, plus a range of styles and techniques for creating your own works of art in colored pencil.
After learning the basics of drawing in colored pencil, move on to the step-by-step lessons, which demonstrate how to draw strikingly realistic still life and animals. Each drawing project in this 10.25 × 13.75–inch book focuses on a specific technique. Included drawing projects are a fall leaf, a colorful cupcake, a butterfly on a flower, a pony, a bowl of cherries, and a puppy—all in gorgeous, realistic detail. A reference photograph is used for each project, so you can learn how to transform your everyday photographs into beautiful pieces of art with only paper and colored pencil.
Designed for beginners, the How to Draw & Paint series offers easy-to-follow guides that introduce artists to basic tools and materials and include simple step-by-step lessons for a variety of projects suitable for the aspiring artist. Drawing: Colored Pencil Basics allows artists to develop drawing skills by demonstrating how to start with basic shapes and use pencil and coloring techniques to create varied textures, values, and details for realistic colored pencil drawings.