Drawing Portraits: A Complete Guide

Create characterful, eye-catching portraits using this inspiring, in-depth guide from world-renowned master artist Giovanni Civardi.

Explore the anatomy that underpins human morphology, discover practical techniques for capturing form, movement, light and character, and study drawings from Civardi's own inspiring sketchbooks.

This book is essential for anyone wishing to learn or improve on their drawing skills. Starting with the necessary tools and materials, move on to a fundamental exploration of human anatomy and delve into practical considerations such as the technical intricacies of light and shade. With skills and knowledge built up over a career of medical study and artistic exploration, Civardi gives expert guidance on drawing stunning, characterful portraits, from newborns and infants to the elderly, focusing on the facial features individually, as well as the body as a whole.

In this comprehensive guide you will learn how to:

• draw facial features for a range of ages and genders
• compose a successful portrait
• work with light and shade
• work in different mediums
• understand the anatomy and morphology of both adults and children; 
• draw portraits using grids
• capture character and expression

Civardi’s technical advice and tips, alongside his own stunning drawings, accrued throughout an illustrious career, make this a crucial resource for any artist. This comprehensive guide brings together 6 books from Search Press’s successful series:

The Art of Drawing: Drawing Portraits (2002), The Art of Drawing: Sketching People (2011), The Art of Drawing: Heads and Faces (2012), The Art of Drawing: Portraits of Babies and Children (2017) Drawing Using Grids: Portraits with Character (2018), Drawing Using Grids: Portraits of Babies and Children (2018), The constituent books have been translated from Italian.

• Publication date: 15 September 2026
• Page count: 400
• Dimensions: Height 153 mm; Width 220 mm; Thickness 23 mm
• Publisher: Search Press Ltd
• Format: Paperback
• ISBN-13: 9781800924192