The Fundamentals of Drawing in Color

The book The Fundamentals of Drawing in Colour is a practical, step by step guide for artists, written by Barrington Barber, a prolific and well known author of art instructional books. Its aim is to bridge the gap between drawing and painting by teaching how to use colour effectively alongside line and form. With an encouraging approach and numerous examples and exercises, Barber guides the student from the theoretical basics of colour to the creation of more complex works.
The book focuses specifically on four main media: coloured pencils, pastels (both soft and oil), coloured inks, and watercolour. The chapters begin with an introduction to tools and materials, and then move on to simple exercises that familiarise the student with the techniques of each medium. Barber believes that repetition of simple exercises lays the foundation for skill and mastery.
The structure of the book is designed to take the student from simple subjects to more challenging ones. After an introduction to colour theory, still life is introduced as the primary subject for practice. The book then sequentially covers techniques for drawing landscapes, animals, and finally the human figure and portraiture. It also includes sections on drapery, composition, and key colours that contribute to a deeper understanding of colour drawing.
The first edition of this book was published in 2006 by Arcturus Publishing, and a newer edition was reprinted in 2020 in both digital and print formats. In this book, Barber emphasises that today´s fast paced world distracts us from seeing carefully, and through this work, he encourages the student to see and creatively record the world around them.