Wildlife artist Charley Harper (1922—2007) masterfully portrayed a host of species using simple lines and shapes. This sketchbook gives you the opportunity to learn how Harper captured his subjects with the fewest possible visual elements.
An avid naturalist, Charley Harper particularly liked to paint birds. He masterfully portrayed a host of species using simple lines and shapes. From the smallest songbird to the largest seabird, Harper conveyed not only the form and coloration of his avian subjects but also their personalities. His minimalist approach did not reduce the impact of his art; instead, it offered a bold and unique interpretation of nature's winged beauties.
This step-by-step visual guide to drawing twenty-eight birds as portrayed by Harper progresses from simple to complex images, from cardinals through owls to a roadrunner.
Included for each of the 28 birds are three sequential line drawings that show how to draw each bird plus two blank, uncoated pages for you to draw Harper's original image in full color. The line drawings build on each other: the first one presents the most basic shapes, the second further develops the form of the bird, and the third completes the image with all the details. The sketchbook progresses from the simpler of Harper’s bird images to the more complex. In some cases, the line drawings present a slightly modified version of the original art.
At the end of this book, you will find 30 blank pages for your continued sketching, be it using Harper’s style or your own bold and unique approach. Also included is a brief essay about Charley Harper and his art plus a full-color insert showing all 28 birds in the book.
The sketchbook's high-quality paper is perfect for pencil and pen sketches while its Wire-O binding allows for lay-flat use.
Happy bird sketching!
Spiral-bound, 86 pages
Dimensions: 8.25" x 10.25" x 0.8"
