Tao of Sketching by Qu Lei Lei

Award-winning artist Qu Lei Lei offers an instructive and inspirational view of art from the Chinese perspective in Tao of Sketching. Instead of looking at the sketch as an end in itself, he focuses on the work as personal fulfillment for the artist and as a valued meditation.

All the essential techniques are here—from choosing and using materials to mixing the right shade of ink to mastering brush strokes. With the natural world as his subject, Lei Lei pulls out key features—water, trees, the profiles of a landscape—and focuses on practical ways of depicting their different varieties. A master class covers techniques for capturing pets at play, and for conveying the spirit of all living creatures.