Summer 2017
In this latest book by Giovanni Civardi the detail of sensitive pencil work adds immesurably to its usefulness. Books on portraiture are not particularly thick on the ground, and those on children even less so, maybe because children are a difficult subject, hard to persuade to keep still; a photograph is often an essential point of reference. This is a shame, as a good portrait can capture enduring character rather than a momentary look and is worth the effort required. Giovanni is as thorough, though concise, as ever and is a sure footed teacher.
* The Artist *
The sheer variety of this ongoing series is breathtaking, as is the quality that actually seems to improve with time.
Children are difficult subjects, not least because they're hardly ever still and Giovanni acknowledges this with a short section on the use of photography. As ever, the main part of the book is a series of worked examples that demonstrate techniques with children of all ages - as the title implies.
What is particularly impressive is the depth of character that Giovanni manages to get into his work. Children are very much a work in progress and features, expressions and poses are constantly fluid. Picking the right moment is very much an exercise in observation and Giovanni is also sound on this - it's getting to know your subject, as you should, but in particular detail.
Although this is not an in-depth study of a what is certainly a complex subject, it is nevertheless an excellent primer that includes much more than its 64 pages implies.
* Artbookreview.net *
March 17
Not only is Civardi an experienced portrait artist and illustrator, he also studied medicine and surgery so is very well placed to teach beginners and more experienced artists the art of anatomy and proportion. Using his wealth of knowledge and a wealth of tips and techniques Civardi shows us -with maximum illustration and minimum text - how to observe, evaluate and recreate children's portraits, from babies up to six or seven years old.
* The Leisure Painter *
