BOOK REVIEW: Drawing: Horror Characters: Learn to Draw Step by Step (How to Draw and Paint)

Title: Drawing: Horror Characters: Learn to Draw Step by Step (How to Draw and Paint)


Author: Jacob Glaser

Publisher: Walter Foster

RRP: $12.99

ISBN: 9781600581731

Release Date: Dec 2011

Pages: 32



Description:



From a zombie straight out of a horror flick to a boogeyman who lurks in the deep corners of the imagination, readers can bring to life a frightening array of dark creatures with this in-depth guide. Talented fantasy artist Jacob Glaser instructs with clear, step-by-step demonstrations and engages the reader by providing the “history” of each character. Several projects also share the secrets to enhancing a final drawing with digital coloring.

About the Author

Jacob Glaser is a professional illustrator who lives in Long Beach, CA. After earning his BFA in illustration, he worked at several companies as a staff artist and art director before becoming a full-time freelance illustrator. Jacob believes in aliens, ghosts, and all sorts of magical nonsense—possibly because he played Dungeons and Dragons too often in high school.



Review:

Drawing Horror is a great little book in a series by well known artist and instructor, Jacob Glaser. I have collected four of these books and found the step by step instructions extremely helpful in gaining skills in drawing. There are around two hundred books in the Walter Foster series, so there are topics for just about every taste. The format of the books are such that you are given the finished picture to study, then images of how to create the picture through the different stages of drawing and painting.

Horror Characters is a great book for learning how to draw a range of monsters, evil characters, creatures and scenes. If you like horror movies and want to create your own images, and then this book will be a great tool for you to begin.

The lessons in this book are; Tools and Materials, The Elements of Drawing, Basic Pencil Techniques, Creating Textures, Perspective Basics, Frankenstein’s Monster, Vampire, Witch, Evil Scientist, Succubus, Hell Hound, Man-Eating Plant and Cthulhu. Steps include the first basic sketch of the basic character shapes, then followed by developing the rendering step by step, building up the form with colour and finally completing the painting.

I found the steps quite easy to follow and the basic skills in the first few chapters to be very helpful and would benefit beginner artists.