How to Draw and Paint Fairies

by Linda Ravenscroft

From finding inspiration to capturing diaphanous detail, a step-by-step guide to fairy-painting techniques. Drawing and painting fairies is a delightful and eternally popular art form that poses its own unique how do you paint an imaginary subject? How can you capture the luminosity and tiny detail of a figure that might fit in the palm of your hand? This book explains the techniques to bring your fairy art to life. It supplies the know-how and the skills in the form of practical techniques, linework to trace, and constructional drawings that clearly demonstrate how to form heads, faces, and figures that are easy to copy. For the beginner artist there's linework to copy and trace, and then colour using whatever technique appeals. Easy-to-follow constructional drawings reveal how to simplify shapes and figures to create flower fairies, nymphs, and sprites; trace a basic form, then complete your fairy however you wish. Learn how to capture the grace and movement of fairy gestures; use stippling and impressing to add texture to fabric and wings; learn how to lay variegated washes and reserve highlights.

Genres: Art, Drawing, Nonfiction, Reference, Fairies, Crafts

Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

Reviews

[Toviel · Rating 3 out of 5]

ACTUAL RATING: 3.5

Linda Ravenscroft’s HOW TO DRAW AND PAINT FAIRIES looks more useful than it actually is. Beneath the beautiful illustrations and winged fluff lies a generic watercolor-based figure drawing 101 book.

Like many of its ilk, Ravenscroft’s take on teaching her readers consists of showcasing a pose or figure, then giving the reader step-by-step instructions on drawing that specific thing. As a result, the effectiveness of this method varies from section to section: the “Basic Shapes and Forms” chapter suffers the most, while the “Techniques” chapter greatly benefits from detailing the process. Ravenscroft seems to think all the figures readers need to learn to draw are androgynous children and slender adult female pixies, but she does provide excellent insight into drawing and texturing backgrounds, plants, wings, and the like. While the focus is on watercolor, it wouldn’t be difficult to adapt her advice to other media.

FAIRIES should be held onto for artistic inspiration, not artistic instruction. Ravenscroft’s artwork has a quaint illustrative quality reflective the style mainstream fairy artists had in 2005, such as Amy Brown. While the aesthetic may be a bit dated in that regard, it is fun to revisit from time to time.

[Cher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful instruction book for artists of all levels. You’ll love the playful look on her little creatures and how easy her instructions are to follow.

[Deena Wilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gives artists of all levels a chance to accomplish the artwork they want how they want. Love it!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a book for learning how to draw the fairies themselves (they give basic guides) but it's a really good reference guide for working out your own watercolour colour schemes as well as a great section of techniques for interesting watercolour finishes. Also great ideas for fairy clothing and wing designs as well as personality in facial features.
I don't paint fairies but I picked up this book for the good tips on watercolour finishes. Good reference book and the fairies are really cute.

[Nati Ferrino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro que no solo es muy didáctico, sino que muy inspirador. Cuando lo compré, fue para una amiga. Total, yo ya sabía dibujar hadas... Sin embargo ir por sus páginas me daba muchísimas ganas de ponerme a pintar. De probar hacerloa su modo... Una ilustradora que tiene mucho encanto en las criaturas mágicas que pinta, y una alegría inocente que pone de buen humor.
Si no sos dibujante, pero igualmente amás las hadas, este libro es una belleza para tenerlo en tu biblioteca, y releerlo de vez en cuando.
De más está decir que al final me quedé con el libro...

[Meighan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The drawings are beautiful and the artistic advice in many places is sound, but I feel that this book specifically teaches you to draw fairies like Linda Ravenscroft. I wish that art from different artists had been used more often, and that the art peices shown were in more different media and styles.

[Raha]

This is a fairly good book on techniques and instructions. It's surely fun to draw and paint imaginative creatures, especially since fairies can be composed of human body, butterfly or bird wings, and floral costume. Creating fairy land requires paying close attention to nature and building confidence in drawing and painting skills.

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book. I spent a great deal of time working out of it a couple of years ago. I drew lots of fairies, but eventually moved on to something else. I like the way it explains proportion and the illustrations are excellent.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several Start to finish examples, considers feel and settings well.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book- use it all the time when I am stuck for inspiration. It always has a way to get the creative juices flowing again.

[Geralyn Guardacasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will surely be love by all art-enthusiasts. The book gives a lot of techniques in painting fantasy creatures most specially fairies. I love to read this book all over again.