Sketching people An urban sketcher's manual to drawing figures and faces

Its subtitle is key, as this guide is all about drawing people in urban environments. Chapman is a member of Urban Sketchers, an online support group for artists who sketch in cities around the world. She shares sage advice here about sketching mostly strangers, providing clues about the best public places to find subjects. She discusses both blending into the background and interacting with those people whom one is drawing, even offering ways to deal with being "caught" in the act. Step-by-step exercises are included, but there is more emphasis on presenting successful sketches, drawn by various artists, as examples with detailed descriptions of what is working in each drawing. An introductory chapter discusses materials, basic techniques, and capturing details such as faces and hands. Subsequent sections address urban sketching tactics, styles, and portraying movement. VERDICT This guide will be invaluable to anyone who wants to draw the people and scenes around them, especially city dwellers. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.