Member Reviews

Informative, without all the jargon that can big down art books. I love his style and sketching houses is my favorite, so I was very happy with this book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

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In Housesketching, artist Albert Kiefer takes us through his process of how he creates his whimsical, dynamic artworks.

The opening sections of the book cover tools (the preferred ones used by the artist, and why), reference images, perspective, colour and shading, exaggeration of proportions, and how to keep the lines loose. I particularly liked the use of silhouettes and blocking, and the mention of the horizon lines from differing perspectives - they aren't often mentioned in other art books, and they're quite useful inclusions for architecture. The QR code links to tutorials is a nice touch - adding additional detail without cluttering the book.

The second part of the book is all about doing. We are given a reference image to make our own, and a list of the recommended markers (Copic and W&N) to get the desired effects, and then the process is broken down step-by-step, with images, to guide the reader in this way of sketching and colouring.

Finally, we end with sharing one's work - whether on social media, or monetising it, and the recommendations by the author, followed by the all important archiving.

I'm a watercolourist who works mainly with landscapes, so I'm really excited to try the techniques and methods outlined in this book to expand my own artworks.

~ Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~

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Thanks a lot to the Author, NetGalley, and the Publisher for the ARC. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this Book honestly.

I thought it was time for some art books again, so I downloaded this little gem.

'Light' sketching? ✔️
Architecture? ✔️

The Author (AND Artist) uses a clear, unpretentious language and gives the reader a clear and concise guide through his working process. Stage by Stage he shows and tells what he does and what we, the readers, should look for in case we want to try our hands at sketching houses, too.

While I can’t really sketch (OR draw for that matter), even if my life depended on it, this book had my fingers itching for my pens and papers.

My favourite Process piece of his in this Book, was the one called “Façade with Foliage // Venlo, Netherlands” …I have been to Venlo often and might have even seen this house in RL, though I am not 100% sure.

This gets a loving 9.4/10 Rating!
Rounded up to a full 5 Stars here on GR!

Publishing Date will be the 13'th of August 2024!

I recommend this to those who would like to get inspired or even try to start sketching Façades themselves.

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I studied art in high school, but since then I have done no drawing at all (over 10 years) I keep convincing myself that I will be no good at drawing, since it’s been such a long time. This book has taught me to be less of a perfectionist and to enjoy the process of drawing houses. I have been looking at interesting houses on my journey to work, giving me lots of inspiration.

The sketches and illustrations are beautiful and are full of personality. The author clearly shows his passion of this art form, and the wording really does invites you to try it out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for granting access to a digital ARC in response to my request.

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This is such an interesting book on how to draw houses. I found this helpful as I am going into architecture so learning the basics of composition and perspective I found most useful. I would recommend this to beginners

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I love Albert’s sketches and this look is a detailed account of his working methods and the equipment he uses. It had some projects to follow and is a good introduction to style of sketching. There are also QR ‘s to scan that will take you to short video’s of the concept he is explaining.
I would definitely buy a hard copy of this excellent book.

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Housesketching is a wonderful book that shows you how to sketch and color architecture. I really loved the style of the artwork in Housesketching, it was purposefully messy and chaotic. The buildings looked warmer and more welcoming in this style.

I think the author did a great job explaining what you need to start sketching, taking you through some step-by-step sketches, and even showing you how to digitalize and market your artwork when you have a portfolio.

Thanks to NetGalley, Albert Kiefer, and Quarto Publishing for the chance to read and review!

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I love the tips at the start like creating a colour chart and that you don't need straight lines.
The artwork throughout the book is fantastic! So beautiful.
I like the step by step layout and how each of those is broken into steps. Can't wait to give this a try!

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I've recently started documenting my days with sketches in my journal and despite my best efforts, any buildings that I attempt look the same and bore little resemblance to the actual structure. This book is full of great tips that I think will really help improve my skills and help me capture a more realistic portrayal of what I'm actually trying to draw. This book has also inspired me to keep an eye out for unique buildings in the "real world"- love the added reminder to look for beauty or whimsy in my life!

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As somebody getting into houses and structures , This book is for you! Very descriptive, and very detailed. Albert dives into the how tos of puttinn together the best house on paper!

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After decades of telling myself that I’m no good at drawing, I’m discovering that when I let go of perfection, there’s very little I enjoy more than drawing.
Housesketching will pull you in even if you have no interest in learning more about this skill. The sketches themselves are full of personality and color. The author clearly delights in this art form, and his phrasing invites you into that joy. Art is fun, not fussy, throughout the book. It’s the equivalent of receiving a warm invitation to give housesketching a try.
I can’t say my outcomes compare, but I gave a few examples a shot. I had a great time, and I plan to start taking more pictures of buildings during my explorations to try some of my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for granting access to a digital ARC in response to my request.

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This is a beautiful guide to illustrating. It is very comprehensive covering everything from materials to building your own style. I liked the style of this author/illustrator and I would love to follow the steps to create my own.

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I have always been fascinated with architecture, although I don't have the artistic talent to sketch any of it. This book piqued my interest, and I quickly flew through it. I love how the author gives detailed thoughts and advice on how to draw such beautiful sketches.
I might even give it a try!
Thank you for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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As someone with 'art fear', I definitely am not the audience but I would love to learn how to draw. I love that the author not only gives step-by-step instructions on each house drawing, but also gives a detailed guide to what tools to get in order to be successful in sketching houses. I love the sketches and they have a very unique way about them. I also love how involved the author feels within the pages. It feel personal and I think that is important to note. I would totally give as a gift to someone wanting to get deeper into their sketching abilities but not necessarily a book for beginners.

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A lovely book which gives detailed instruction together with lots of inspiration.
Tools and materials are covered along with numerous tips on making a sketch your own. Ways of bending the rules to make a quirky and charming drawing are given and numerous examples show how changes of colour can transform the outcome of a sketch.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. I will definitely be buying my own copy.

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I learned so much from this! The sketches and finished drawings/paintings are phenomenal, and Kiefer breaks down each step for you. He mentions art supplies throughout the book, but if you miss something, all of his recommendations are listed at the end of the book. I love Kiefer’s, and I also think my oldest would be interested in learning how to house sketch. Additionally, the author has added tutorials that you can access by scanning certain pages.

Pick this up in August!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group-Quarry for an advance copy! I am writing this review voluntarily.

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This was my first house-sketching book, from what I remember, and I have long wanted to sketch buildings.
The book has everything you need to learn house-sketching, step-by-step guides, tips, insights, pictures etc.

To be perfectly honest, the styles of the sketches were not perfectly to my personal taste, but I am mentioning it because despite that, I found this book to be absolutely well-written, insightful and informative.

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