Customer Reviews

Capturing Soft Realism in Colored Pencil

5 star:		(12)
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2 star:		(1)
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As a relatively new "convert" to colored pencil from watercolor, I was amazed to see the realism Kullberg can attain while still maintaining a slightly loose, soft technique with her colored pencils. I would have thought that she spent countless hours on tiny details...but in this book, Kullberg literally shows you, how to see and paint only the ESSENTIAL details in order to create masterful realistic paintings without hours of painstaking detail work.

After buying her book, I visited her annkullberg.com website and found that she also has a Video Workshop CD to go along with the book. The CD includes 2 full hours of video instruction, plus line drawings, plus extra hints, plus palette lists. I ordered the CD and have to say that it is an absolute MUST HAVE for anyone who wants to "fast forward" into colored pencil technique!! The video lessons seem somehow to have been filmed right over Kullberg's shoulder, so you literally see her every stroke as she demos, from start to finish, 6 of the subjects featured in "Capturing Soft Realism in Colored Pencil". Actually seeing Kullberg work on colored pencil paintings was a huge eye-opener for me, and well worth the affordable price!!

One last thing....don't be fooled by the cover of this book. It is not just another "Kullberg Portrait" book...but instead, covers foreground and background elements often found in portraits, and is divided into "Interiors" and "Exteriors" sections. Although I rarely do portraits, Kullberg's book will not be leaving my drawing table's side, as she covers landscape and still life elements.....and most importantly, really shows how YOU can paint realistically in colored pencil.

This is an excellent companion to Ann Kullberg's other book, Colored Pencil Portraits Step by Step. This book, Capturing Soft Realism focuses textures, landscape, and other types of still ojects (non portrait). I give it a 5/5.

Not a good book for technique and selection of illustrations. Much must be considered in colored pencil and I learned nothing from this book. Thanks

Ann's Soft Realism book is fantastic but you can't just purchase the book, you MUST HAVE THE COMPANION CD! It's better than a vhs video tape. It's truly awesome and I don't say it if I don't mean it. Ann shows you step by step how to use the colored pencils and the techniques and guides you through so many demos, plus she supplies line drawings and palettes, hints, and other goodies to use and when used with the book, you can't beat it except to be in one of her workshops personally. It's so down to earth basic for the beginner and yet great for more advanced I am sure. I love that I can use the CD on the computer, it is so much faster and more fun than vhs. You can replay each segment without fussing with rewind too. Can't be beat. I think the CD companion and the book together is the best idea I have seen yet! I like that you chose different textures and materials to color. I feel that I got more than my money's worth.
. I hope you do more video workshops like this cd and hope you do it real soon Ann. Her newsletter is super too. Always a lesson to learn step by step using colored pencils. Great work Lady! I'll bet others copy this idea, but you are the first and the best!!
Hugs
Lucy H

Soft realism is the ability to create a realistic artwork without including all the fine details. Ann Kullberg is a master of the technique and in "Capturing Soft Realism in Colored Pencil" she teaches the reader how she does it.

In a step by step manner the reader learns how to capture the essence of a subject in sufficient detail to create a somewhat realistic work of art.

"Capturing Soft Realism in Colored Pencil" begins with the basics of the materials needed, stroke types, density, and building color. From there it moves to various projects dealing with interior subjects (wicker, windowsills, wood grain, etc.) and then to various projects dealing with exterior subjects (various flowers, hedges, grass, trees, water, stones, etc.). From developing the right hues and textures to resolving problems and providing shortcuts and solutions, it's all here in this book.

Well illustrated and sufficiently detailed to actually teach the techniques, it is highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn how to work with colored pencils.

It was because of Ann Kullberg's book "Colored Pencil Portraits STEP BY STEP" that I am using colored pencils as my medium today. Her new book "Capturing Soft Realism" is one of the best books and a must have. I highly recommend it for reading and/or studying the art of using colored pencils. If you're a student or a practicing, professional artist, you will find this book a valuable asset to your art career or hobby. As a fellow artist, I have found that creating colored pencil artworks is very time consuming. By applying Ann Kullberg's techniques, I have found time saving steps and key ideas that not only saved me time and money but made my artworks much more enjoyable and "FUN" to create. If you're like me and paint a number of different types of subjects and want to capture realism in your artworks, then this is the book for you!

It was because of Ann Kullberg's book "Colored Pencil Portraits STEP BY STEP" that I am using colored pencils as my medium today. Her new book "Capturing Soft Realism" is one of the best books and a must have. I highly recommend it for reading and/or studying the art of using colored pencils. If you're a student or a practicing, professional artist, you will find this book a valuable asset to your art career or hobby. As a fellow artist, I have found that creating colored pencil artworks is very time consuming. By applying Ann Kullberg's techniques, I have found time saving steps and key ideas that not only saved me time and money but made my artworks much more enjoyable and "FUN" to create. If you're like me and paint a number of different types of subjects and want to capture realism in your artworks, then this is the book for you!

Ann Kullberg has done it again...a great book for colored pencil artists, beginner or advanced. I had put off buying the book thinking I really didn't do that many "people" portraits, but instead pet portraits, which I didn't think this new book would relate. Boy, was I wrong! There is so much material on technique,colors to use, examples, demos that could help with any subject with colored pencil. She breaks it down to learnable steps and along with her online e-magazine "From My Perspective", a great resource for colored pencil (or any) artists! Thanks to you Ann for your sharing of your skills.

Soft Realism is a library in itself. Whether you are a beginner or have drawing with cp's for a long time. This book is a must. I have Anns' other book and feel as though I don't need any others. Anns' online magazine, "From My Perspective" will pull everything that you need to know about cp drawing together along with giving advice on problems you may encounter while painting with cp's and what to do about them. Soft Realism is a one of kind book. You can purchase a companion CD that makes you feel as if you are getting private lessons from the author. I would reccomend this book to everyone and anyone who feels that they need directions that are easy to follow or if you just need a little fine tuning of your skills. Thank you Ann for publishing your books, CD's and your online magazine. Achieving the colors you need has never been so easy. The joy of working with colored pencils has become so much more enjoyable. Carol Barbas

Ann's first book is the reason I fell in love with the colored pencil. Her second book validated that it was the right medium for me. This second book takes you through several different steps in creating a beautiful painting in Colored Pencil.
And the companion CD is so wonderful it takes you along like Ann is right there with you teaching. I love this book and the CD.