--- product_id: 13645532 title: "How to Draw Cool Stuff: Shading, Textures and Optical Illusions" price: "AED 98" currency: AED in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.ae/products/13645532-how-to-draw-cool-stuff-shading-textures-and-optical-illusions store_origin: AE region: United Arab Emirates --- # How to Draw Cool Stuff: Shading, Textures and Optical Illusions **Price:** AED 98 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** How to Draw Cool Stuff: Shading, Textures and Optical Illusions - **How much does it cost?** AED 98 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ae](https://www.desertcart.ae/products/13645532-how-to-draw-cool-stuff-shading-textures-and-optical-illusions) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description “How to Draw Cool Stuff: Basics, Shading, Texture, Pattern and Optical Illusions” is the second book in the How to Draw Cool Stuff series. Inside you will find simple illustrations that cover the necessities of drawing cool stuff. Specific exercises are provided that offer step-by-step guidelines for drawing a variety of subjects. Each lesson starts with an easy-to-draw shape that will become the basic structure of the drawing. From there, each step adds elements to that structure, allowing the artist to build on their creation and make a more detailed image. Starting with the basic forms, the artist is provided a guide to help see objects in terms of simplified shapes. Instructions for shading to add depth, contrast, character and movement to a drawing are then covered. The varieties of texture and pattern that can be included in an artwork offer another layer of interest and depth to a design. These elements are necessary to indicate the way something looks like it feels in a work (texture) or creating the repetition of shapes, lines or colors (patterns). Illustrated optical illusions involve images that are sensed and perceived to be different from what they really are, showing examples of how the mind and the eyes can play tricks on each other. All you need is a piece of paper, a pencil and an eraser and you are ready to draw cool stuff. Once the drawing is complete, it can be colored, shaded or designed in any way you like to make it original. Following these exercises is a great way to practice your craft and begin seeing things in terms of simple shapes within a complex object. Review: An enjoyable and "cool" sequel to the first How to Draw Cool Stuff book by Holmes - If you liked Catherine Holmes' first book, How to Draw Cool Stuff: A Drawing Guide for Teachers and Students, then you'll like this sequel as much. Once again, Holmes opens with similar encouragement and general tips for students, slightly reworded (and some saved/elaborated upon for an ending in this book rather than ending abruptly with a lesson). The teacher specific instructions aren't as extensive; personally I think inserting the same instructions verbatim from the first book would be fine for continuity and a refresher. This book includes a table of contents (hooray!) whereas the first didn't. This book is structured like the first with each lesson containing the know, understand, do and vocabulary prior to actually drawing. I think this works great for teachers and students alike. If students understand the principles behind the lesson, they are more prepared for the actual mechanics of drawing. Many will probably produce better, more skilled artwork with this background knowledge. This book, as the title suggests, covers shading, textures and optical illusions. Lessons are new and not repetitive from the first book. Shading lessons include flowers, ribbon, a pear, and a portrait. Then some lessons are broken down into a line art drawing (studies simple shapes, curves, etc.) and their counterpart shaded version. Other lessons include the skeleton, mandalas (I especially like the personalized mandala), a dreamcatcher, Zen Doodles, optical illusions, and "impossible objects" ( MC Escher-esque geometrics). Zen Doodles are basically zentangles, but covered briefly from a beginner standpoint. The "cool stuff" section includes a chain link heart lock, hourglass, baseball cap, koi fish, t-Rex dino, self portrait with text, Rube Goldberg machine, sugar skulls and a human heart. Some students might not find some of these to be "cool," but most should enjoy at least some of them. The basics of the human head portrait are repeated, but not the detailed features like eyes and lips as in book one. One thing I would've like to seen: -- an illustration showing how the placement of shading changes with the position of the light source The book wraps up with encouraging tips such as the uniqueness of your own art and the rewards of creativity. How to Draw Cool Stuff: Shading, Texture, Pattern and Optical Illusions is a worthy sequel and Holmes fans will enjoy it. Review: Great book, clear instructions without a bunch of fluff! - I opted for a used in good condition book. The book arrived quickly and appears to be in a like new condition. I'm just getting back into art and was looking for something easy and with enough detail to help me accomplish what it is I'm drawing. This book accomplished that, it provides enough details without weighing me down with a bunch of extra nonsense. I'm very happy with my purchase and will be buying other editions of this book. It's 238 pages long, 1/2 inch thick and well with the price! ## Features - How to Draw Cool Stuff Basic Shading Textures and Optical Illusions ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #70,580 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #22 in Illustration and Graphic Design #81 in Pencil Drawing | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 4,177 Reviews | ## Images ![How to Draw Cool Stuff: Shading, Textures and Optical Illusions - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81QRyGM+qPL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An enjoyable and "cool" sequel to the first How to Draw Cool Stuff book by Holmes *by B***H on March 16, 2015* If you liked Catherine Holmes' first book, How to Draw Cool Stuff: A Drawing Guide for Teachers and Students, then you'll like this sequel as much. Once again, Holmes opens with similar encouragement and general tips for students, slightly reworded (and some saved/elaborated upon for an ending in this book rather than ending abruptly with a lesson). The teacher specific instructions aren't as extensive; personally I think inserting the same instructions verbatim from the first book would be fine for continuity and a refresher. This book includes a table of contents (hooray!) whereas the first didn't. This book is structured like the first with each lesson containing the know, understand, do and vocabulary prior to actually drawing. I think this works great for teachers and students alike. If students understand the principles behind the lesson, they are more prepared for the actual mechanics of drawing. Many will probably produce better, more skilled artwork with this background knowledge. This book, as the title suggests, covers shading, textures and optical illusions. Lessons are new and not repetitive from the first book. Shading lessons include flowers, ribbon, a pear, and a portrait. Then some lessons are broken down into a line art drawing (studies simple shapes, curves, etc.) and their counterpart shaded version. Other lessons include the skeleton, mandalas (I especially like the personalized mandala), a dreamcatcher, Zen Doodles, optical illusions, and "impossible objects" ( MC Escher-esque geometrics). Zen Doodles are basically zentangles, but covered briefly from a beginner standpoint. The "cool stuff" section includes a chain link heart lock, hourglass, baseball cap, koi fish, t-Rex dino, self portrait with text, Rube Goldberg machine, sugar skulls and a human heart. Some students might not find some of these to be "cool," but most should enjoy at least some of them. The basics of the human head portrait are repeated, but not the detailed features like eyes and lips as in book one. One thing I would've like to seen: -- an illustration showing how the placement of shading changes with the position of the light source The book wraps up with encouraging tips such as the uniqueness of your own art and the rewards of creativity. How to Draw Cool Stuff: Shading, Texture, Pattern and Optical Illusions is a worthy sequel and Holmes fans will enjoy it. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great book, clear instructions without a bunch of fluff! *by L***E on March 23, 2025* I opted for a used in good condition book. The book arrived quickly and appears to be in a like new condition. I'm just getting back into art and was looking for something easy and with enough detail to help me accomplish what it is I'm drawing. This book accomplished that, it provides enough details without weighing me down with a bunch of extra nonsense. I'm very happy with my purchase and will be buying other editions of this book. It's 238 pages long, 1/2 inch thick and well with the price! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nice layout and details for drawing, understandable for middle schoolers *by R***S on November 10, 2025* Looks like a great gift for our granddaughter! thanks! ## Frequently Bought Together - How to Draw Cool Stuff: Shading, Textures and Optical Illusions - How to Draw Cool Stuff: A Drawing Guide for Teachers and Students - How to Draw Awesome Stuff: Chilling Creations: A Drawing Guide for Artists, Teachers and Students (How to Draw Cool Stuff) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ae/products/13645532-how-to-draw-cool-stuff-shading-textures-and-optical-illusions](https://www.desertcart.ae/products/13645532-how-to-draw-cool-stuff-shading-textures-and-optical-illusions) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Arab Emirates* *Store origin: AE* *Last updated: 2026-06-05*