Sketching for the Absolute Beginner (ABSOLUTE BEGINNER ART)

For anyone who wants to improve their sketches for painting or preliminary studies, this is a great addition to your library. Cronin uses his S.E.T. (Shape/Edge/Tone) method to analyze every scene. I substitute Value for his Tone but that is just my preference—either way, the approach is a good habit. He also does a quick outline sketch of the top of the background and works to the midground and foreground from there. Many other books cover these methods as well, but Cronin’s examples and written explanations are clear and direct.

Love this book. Well written, easy to understand. Lots of step by step instructions and examples.

Peter Cronin's book is a straightforward, clear and informative guide to sketching. Becoming good at sketching is up to each individual, but this is an excellent book that will help you to get there. His book removes any mystery from learning to sketch.

For some time now I've been looking for a simple, straightforward, and above all effective book on learning to sketch. This is it! Thank you, Peter Cronin.

Although not a beginner myself to sketching, this book is excellent, both for a complete beginner and to give inspiration to other artists.My first books on sketching I purchased some years ago and they were by Adrian Hill, a professional artist who appeared on television and wrote some excellent books on painting and sketching. I absolutely love his pencil sketches and since they were published during the 1950s and 1960s I have been looking for similar books by a modern artist. This book I feel is the first one to be every bit as good as Adrian Hills. For the absolute beginner there is a section on materials and exercises with step by step instructions to help. The importance of shapes, edges and tones are explained, types of sketches and using other media such as pen and wash, charcoal, etc. Then there are chapters on composition, portraying different weather conditions, people, animals in the landscape, trees, boats, etc. The book has numerous excellent examples of Peter’s sketches superbly illustrated and interspersed with lighthearted and sometimes humorous text about his experiences sketching outdoors.All in all I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone, beginner or more experienced artist and it is the perfect accompanying book to his excellent first book, “Pure Watercolour Painting”.

I am a beginner and this book got me sketching very quickly and with confidence. A lifetime of skills tips and tricks are contained in this wonderful book. I cant praise it high enough. The only small downside is that the reference photographs used to sketch from are tiny and poor quality....very difficult to see any detail. It is not a show stopper though and the lesson/point/ideas still come across. I started as a complete and utter beginner...here I am three weeks later just given a small pencil sketch of their house to my next door neighbour as a present. I am really happy. Buy this mans book...it is really good.

I recently discovered Peter’s work on Watercolour Challenge.Though I’m not a beginner, I did find that the book has a structured way of improving my sketching.At the essence of the work is noticing Shape, Edge and Tone and emphasising these, rather than drawing what we think we see.I did the exercises that can be seen in my photo. I’m quite pleased with the results.I also bought the Watercolour book by the same author and found it useful, too.

I love this book and have recommended it to friends who want to start sketching or simply improve their skills. Easy instructions and clear illustrations guide you through improving your sketching.A worthwhile buy !

This is a fantastic book, putting sketching ideas into simple and clear language. I have many "how to" art books but this is by far and away the best. It should be in your backpack when outdoors and on your desk in your study. I have no doubt that this book become a must have classic for students and artists.