Look Closer, Draw Better

Look Closer, Draw Better is a technique and exercise book for visual artists and learners by Kateri Ewing.  Released 5th March 2019 by Quarto on their Rockport imprint, it's 128 pages and available in paperback format.  I love drawing and calligraphy. I am at what I refer to as the 'keen amateur' level. This book has inspired me to try to be more diligent in my practice and journaling.

This is a well written book. The author has a concise and encouraging voice in her writing. The book is laid out logically and progresses from graphite and pencils, through charcoal, pen and ink, and watercolor. There are exercises scattered throughout along with highlighted sidebar tips. There's a tutorial project chapter with the same still life subject in two different media treatments (graphite and pen & ink), a showcase gallery, and a short resource list.

The really valuable takeaway for me was the author's guidance for training our ability to see what we are representing and separating it from what our brain is interpreting and presenting to us as reality.

This is a worthy addition to the artist's library and both beginners and more advanced students will find useful material here.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.