Author offers artists tips to create charcoal portraits

Talbot Cox releases 'Charcoal Portraits from Photographs'

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa – Author Talbot Cox presents an easy-to-read, step-by-step guide for novice portrait artists in his new book, "Charcoal Portraits from Photographs" (published by Partridge Africa). With its instruction, anecdotes and homilies, the book strives to help beginning artists achieve results beyond their wildest dreams.

"Every one of us has an inherent artistic desire... some more pronounced than others," Cox says. "The urge to do a portrait is often blunted by dismal, initial attempts... often this is where the dream is shattered and ended! Anyone with a little application and practice, and using the easy-to-read guidelines in this book can do a portrait from a photograph."

Cox says he has simplified the complex subject matter of basic facial features so anyone can create a charcoal drawing. "By using a photocopy combined with a fundamental knowledge of the human face, the 'golden rules' as it were and set out in the book, anyone can avoid much of the stress of placing the facial features correctly," he adds.

This is Cox's second book. His first, "Senior Moments," is the definitive book on senior golf in South Africa, from its origins to its unique characters, complete with photographs.

"Charcoal Portraits from Photographs"
By Talbot Cox
Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 108 pages | ISBN 9781482825336
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 108 pages | ISBN 9781482825312
E-Book | 108 pages | ISBN 9781482825329

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Soft cover available at Fogartys in Walmer, Port Elizabeth.

For more information about Talbot Cox and other publications please visit the official page Talbot Cox.

Talbot Cox CAIB, FIB, AEP (Unisa) was a successful banker before embracing art as a profession. He is an established artist having had many exhibitions, live demonstrations and workshops. While self taught, he has painted with celebrated artists locally and abroad returning recently from a sabbatical in America where he painted with renowned USA portrait artists. His formal art training includes the Unisa certificated courses in drawing and two dimensional form. He is a past president of the Eastern Cape Watercolour Society.

Talbot is essentially a portrait artist but he also enjoys doing fine art in a variety of mediums. He is multi-talented: a classically trained musician having performed in philharmonic orchestras and an author.

Talbot and his wife, Elyse, renovated two historical cottages adjacent to each other on the magical cliffs of Schoenmakerskop overlooking the sea. They share Seashell Cottage with three dogs, a cat and a multitude of birds and Periwinkle Cottage is where Talbot has his studio and gallery.