Not sure from the first look how helpful it will be for a beginner
I'm not sure from the first look how helpful this book will be for a beginner. From the table of contents there appears to be quite a long section on different types of art materials to use as well as three basic drawing techniques, but the first look only includes the page on transferring a sketch from cheaper sketch paper to heavier drawing paper using transfer paper, and then a page on sketching using basic shapes as a starting point, with some contextual clues that another method is based on making a grid.
The remainder of the book focuses on different animals (bunnies, cats, dogs) or types of animals (forest animals, birds, sea creatures) or elements of nature (nature, flowers), with a final chapter on putting it all together in a scene. The pages included in the first look have great tips on the animal studies that are shown, especially for difficult things like how to color/shade a white cat (pro tip: you leave the cat paper-white and shade in the background and the shadowing on the cat). Specific detail is given to layering and what colors to use in which mediums and blending, with many reminders that art is a skill that requires a great deal of practice, and that every piece is a learning experience. Is buying this book going to take you from drawing stick figures and cartoon cat faces to the gorgeous, highly detailed and realistic looking cats shown on the cover? No; but it's going to help you get there with a lot of practice on your part.
The remainder of the book focuses on different animals (bunnies, cats, dogs) or types of animals (forest animals, birds, sea creatures) or elements of nature (nature, flowers), with a final chapter on putting it all together in a scene. The pages included in the first look have great tips on the animal studies that are shown, especially for difficult things like how to color/shade a white cat (pro tip: you leave the cat paper-white and shade in the background and the shadowing on the cat). Specific detail is given to layering and what colors to use in which mediums and blending, with many reminders that art is a skill that requires a great deal of practice, and that every piece is a learning experience. Is buying this book going to take you from drawing stick figures and cartoon cat faces to the gorgeous, highly detailed and realistic looking cats shown on the cover? No; but it's going to help you get there with a lot of practice on your part.