Pocket Art: Figure Drawing by Joanna Henly – Book Review

Pocket Art: Figure Drawing – The quick guide to mastering technique and style by Joanna Henly (professional name Miss Led) is an easy-to-follow manual which teaches you how to create some impressive looking characters, with a focus on figure drawing.

I was provided a free copy of Pocket Art: Figure Drawing for review. The opinions are my own.

If you are someone who is into fan art or you know someone who is, Pocket Art: Figure Drawing by Joanna Henly (from Quarto) is a book you should consider picking up. I like creating artwork. So, I’m always on the lookout for ways to polish my skills and make them better.

Understanding how to create proportionate character figures is important in fan art (depending on the style you have), and Joanna Henly offers a lot of content for doing so.

Here’s the official description:

In Pocket Art: Figure Drawing, the second book in the new Pocket Art series (be sure to check out the first book on portraits!), learn to draw figures on the go with the quick visual exercises in this compact book.

The lively, graphic approach of this guide will have you drawing figures right away. Look and learn with step-by-step illustrations and expert tips provided by London-based fashion and portrait artist Miss Led, a.k.a. Joanna Henly. This compact 112-page book is just the right size for carrying in a backpack or pocket, and comes with a sturdy flexi binding for added portability.

Following an introduction including a look at career directions for figure artists and an overview of tools, materials, and techniques, your lessons begin with the basics of accurately rendering body proportions, body types, and body parts. After you gain some experience drawing basic figures, you’ll move on to adding expression—a person’s style and personality, proclamation and identity—to your work. Then you’ll finish up by heading out and about, practicing street sketching and movement. A gallery of drawings in the back provides a quick reference for inspiration and to reinforce what you’ve learned.

This quick, visual guide is a must-have for figure drawing artists of all levels.

The book opens with an Introduction that covers directions, tools and materials, and pencil techniques. You then move on to Part 1 of the book, titled ‘The Body’, and learn about proportions, body types, and parts.

Once you get the hang of drawing different bodies, Part 2 focuses on adding expression and body language.

The third part includes Street Sketching and Moving People. Not only are the instructions easy to follow, the fourth part of this book includes a Media Gallery. You don’t necessarily have to copy Joanna Henly’s style, but her incredible drawings can serve as templates for what you want to create.

Pocket Art: Figure Drawing is currently available for purchase.

Feel free to share your thoughts about Pocket Art: Figure Drawing with us.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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