Alain Picard earned a BA in illustration from Western CT State University and went on to study at the Art Students League in New York City. Picard sites Sargent, Degas, and Sorolla among his artistic influences. A love of light and beauty are immediately apparent in his pastel and oil paintings. Alain's award-winning work has been featured in The Artist's Magazine and The Pastel Journal. He is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and the Connecticut Pastel Society, where he previously served as President. He frequently conducts workshops for art associations, schools, galleries, and museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. www.picardstudio.com

With Beginning Drawing, discover and master the fundamentals of drawing with professional tips and expert instruction.

Designed especially for aspiring artists, Beginning Drawing offers a well-rounded introduction to the art of basic drawing. In this concept-and technique-driven approach, beginning artists will discover the fundamentals of the craft and how to put those skills into practice for creating realistic works of art. From showing how to select and work with the tools of the trade to demonstrating a range of basic techniques, Beginning Drawing provides a thorough, easily digestible overview of key drawing concepts, including lighting, shading, shadows, perspective, texture, and composition, and then demonstrates how these techniques intersect, both functionally and creatively, in a wider context within a complete piece of art. Step-by-step lessons encourage practice, focusing readers on the methods and techniques designed to enhance their overall skill level, before graduating on to more subject-specific works. Packed with professional tips and expert instruction, Beginning Drawing is the perfect book for anyone desiring to learn, and ultimately master, the art of drawing.
The Portfolio series covers essential art techniques, core concepts, and media with an approach and format that's perfect for aspiring, beginning, and intermediate artists.
Also available from the series:Beginning Acrylic, Beginning Watercolor, Beginning Pastel, Beginning Colored Pencil, Beginning Color Mixing, Expressive Painting, Beginning Color Mixing, Beginning Pen & Ink, and Beginning Composition.