Master painting lively figures and private portraits, with simple exercises and step-by-step demonstrations.

Bestselling artist and author Hazel Soan explains how to create beautiful and engaging paintings of strangers and loved ones, with handy hints and work-in-progress paintings throughout. Learn how to overcome shyness or anxiety about painting people in private and in public. Capture their energy and see beyond their likeness through angles, movement, tone and detail. Understand how to make them comfortable with poses, a timeframe and support. Learn about clothing, proportion, measuring and scene-setting.

This is the only book you need for painting people and portraits. This extensive guide is ideal for all painters, new or experienced.



Hazel Soan is a popular and successful artist who divides her time between London and Cape Town, exhibiting her work widely. She has her own gallery in Fulham, London. She is author of several bestselling books and a range of successful DVDs. She was one of the art experts in the popular Channel 4 TV series Watercolour Challenge. The very successfulLearn Watercolour Quickly, Essence of Watercolour and Watercolour Rainbow are also by Hazel Soan.



Hazel Soan is brilliant at putting just the right figures in just the right places … This is a treasure trove … For anyone who works with figures in any way'



'A thoroughly comprehensive guide to working with faces, figures, clothing and posture'