In 1988, a group of investors comprising Andrew McNally IV (former president of Rand McNally), Illinois businessman Rhett Butler, attorney Paul Hegness and California businessman and former Price Waterhouse CPA Ross Sarracino purchased the Walter Foster Publishing Company. With Sarracino at the helm, the company began developing instructional drawing and painting books for children.
Walter Foster How To Draw Art Books
The preeminent publisher of art instruction books, Walter Foster Publishing began like many California entrepreneurial success stories: In 1922, Walter Foster, a caricaturist, sign painter, and Vaudevillian performer, among other talents, started publishing instructional art books in his home in Laguna Beach. In the beginning, he did it all: writing, illustrating, printing, binding, packaging, shipping, and distribution. Walter was driven by his belief that anyone who wanted to draw or paint could do so with just a little help and encouragement.His approach resonated around the country and then internationally, and Walter Foster Publishing grew into one of the best-known, trusted publishers of art-instruction books. When Foster died in the 1980s, at age 90, his heirs sold the company to Newport Beach, California, entrepreneur Ross Sarracino and a group of investors. Under Sarracino's tenure, Walter Foster continued to grow, eventually adding a line of children's drawing books, including licensed titles with Disney, Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, Hasbro, and others. The Quarto Group, the London-based international publishing group founded in 1976, purchased Walter Foster Publishing in 1996.In the past decade, Walter Foster has "really hit its stride," says Rebecca Razo, publisher of Walter Foster and the forthcoming Laguna Press. "Anne Landa, group publisher of Quarto Southern California, took over running the business in January 2015, at which time we revamped our program." This includes adding a wider range of titles, not just for serious fine artists, but also for art hobbyists, crafters, and weekend art enthusiasts, as well as introducing more intuitive approaches to teaching art. "And we've modernized the aesthetic of our list across the board," Razo adds. (See examples of upcoming and bestselling titles below.)From early on, Walter Foster Publishing had a strong connection with the art and craft market. As it has diversified and expanded to include books for all levels of artist and a range of topics, the company has also expanded sales to the trade, online and specialty markets.
The imprint's list has quickly developed from traditional art and craft how-to titles to a more well-rounded active nonfiction list of some 20 to 40 books a season. Landa says these books are "unique, fun, and have a purpose--whether it's encouraging a young child to take an interest in learning about literary figures or great artists in a humorous way, learning about grammar and mathematics with a fun twist, or finding their creativity and learning how to draw or paint with their fingers or with step-by-step lessons from experts. We have the historical know-how based on 95 years of art instruction that has now passed down to the children's lists; we have something for everyone."
As a child in the 50s in Birmingham, England, I came across books by Walter T Foster at the local Newsagents. Since my name is Tony Foster the coincidence of the name plus my already growing interest in drawing led me to enthusiastically purchase and learn from Walters books. As a mature artist/designer I can look back and say that Walter did a damn good job. Were he alive, I am sure he would be pleased to learn that his work was so positively influential.
A perfect introduction to the exciting world of drawing, these books offer detailed, step-by-step instructions for drawing a variety of inspiring subjects. Artists will hone their drawing skills with in-depth information on tools, materials, basic art concepts and drawing techniques. Each 144-page paperback book measures 9" x 12".
The Drawing Made Easy series introduces budding artists to the fundamentals of pencil drawing. With in-depth information, including several approaches to the discipline, these books will help beginners become inspired and feel confident in their own talents. The series offers titles ranging from basic techniques to more advanced study of value, texture, design and composition, used to produce effective and engaging artwork. Each 64-page paperback book measures 6-1/2" x 9-1/2".
This series of activity books equips kids with all the instruction and accessories they need for hours of creative fun. Young artists can learn to draw their favorite breeds of animals, show off their knowledge of animals with trivia and games and demonstrate their animal pride with a variety of included items such as a door hanger, bookmarks and more than 100 stickers. With writing and drawing prompts, word searches, crafts and more, these activity books are sure to satisfy every young animal lover.
If you already practice a craft or want to get into something new, there are plenty of eBooks for you. This collection brings together introductions to and inspirations for stitching, knitting, crocheting, drawing, folding, and general crafting inside your home or out in nature. Additional books in the catalog include knitting patterns and stitch guides for many more types of handcrafting. 2ff7e9595c
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