About the Author

An accomplished artist and teacher, Walter T. Foster began producing his classic art instruction books in the 1920s. He wrote, illustrated, printed, bound, packaged, shipped, and distributed his books from his own home for decades, before moving the business to a commercial facility to accommodate his international trade.

Book Overview

This comprehensive volume combines four of the artist's vintage instructional manuals to form an essential guide to illustrating the head and face.

Advice from Foster

"Let your drawing be simple," Foster advises, and suggests that art students begin with the profile. Leave out unnecessary details until the basic shapes are in place. Then add the expressions that make the face the most interesting of all subjects.

Contents and Techniques

Instructions include step-by-step diagrams using charcoal, crayon, pencil, and brush to create finished portraits, plus tips on materials. With an array of subjects that include men, women, and children of various ages and ethnic types, this guide captures the mid-twentieth-century style of illustration to inspire today’s artists.