Learn to Paint Portraits Quickly

Hazel Soan

The premise of this really rather excellent series is that it proceeds by example rather than instruction. Its small, but intelligently packed pages are lled with examples and demonstrations. The words are concise and only there to explain context and background.

The idea that you can learn to paint portraits quickly is, of course, a false premise, but the editors and the always excellent Hazel Soan know that. The point is to provide the newcomer with as much information and technical knowledge as possible without overwhelming them. In this particular eld that is a major challenge, but Hazel meets it head-on with quick guides to working with your sitter, basic shapes, features, expressions and progressing to hair types and skin tones. Every section will require a lot more work than it takes to read the 112 pages here, but the foundations are solid and you should progress with alacrity.

Batsford £9.99, 112 pages (H/B) ISBN 9781849946698

Turn to page 20 to read an abridged extract from Hazel’s new book