Interested in learning more about the world of drawing? Whether you’re brand new to art or a seasoned pro, there are drawing books for every interest and skill level. Keep reading to learn more about some of the best drawing books for artists and where to purchase them.
Are you new to the world of drawing and seeking instructional books to help sharpen your skills? Perhaps you’re a seasoned artist looking to brush up on advanced techniques. Whatever your skill level, there are countless drawing books to take your abilities up a notch. In this guide, NetInfluencer covers some of the best drawing books to have on your shelves.
Author and illustrator Bert Dodson’s best selling book Keys to Drawing is one of the most popular books for beginning artists. Bert’s unique system contains 55 “keys” that artists of all skill levels can use to sketch out anything. The book also includes several drawing exercises so you can perfect your craft. Readers can expect to learn the following drawing fundamentals:
Rudy De Reyna’s How to Draw What You See was first published in 1970. De Reyna’s signature drawing methods have helped generations of artists capture their worlds and bring them to life on paper. Readers learn how to recognize basic shapes in what they see in their surroundings and translate them into a cohesive drawing.
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09/30/2023 08:33 am GMT
“Perspective, light and shade, values, perspective, composition are all essential topics that are clearly taught with assigned exercises to practice on. Any subject, from landscapes to still lifes, portraits and figurative studies is taught. The best thing about this method is that all you really need to start with is a #2 pencil and a sheet of paper.”
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by American art teacher Betty Edwards has been used as a standard text in countless art classrooms since the late 1970s. Edwards was inspired to share her perspectives on utilizing the “whole brain” when educating children. The book is known for instilling confidence in young artists, allowing them to deepen their perception and abilities.
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09/30/2023 08:39 am GMT
Husband and wife team Mark and Mary Willenbrink wrote a series of five books for beginning artists, including Drawing for the Absolute Beginner. Here, the two make drawing realistic subject matter both easy and enjoyable. The book covers everything from which drawing supplies to purchase to how to get scale and proportions correct in your work. It’s also broken down into 24 mini-demos and nine full step-by-step exercises, so there’s plenty of opportunity to practice.
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09/30/2023 08:43 am GMT
Artists who would like to take a deeper dive into mastering perspective, Perspective Made Easy by Ernest Norling is a great read. Norling includes over 250 line drawings to illustrate each concept and technique presented. Topics discussed in detail include horizon, vanishing point, and eye level. Readers will learn now to place figures and items to scale within a drawing as well as how to create shadows.
If you’d like to take what you learn in Perspective Made Easy to the next level, consider purchasing the book’s companion, Perspective Drawing Handbook.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
09/30/2023 08:43 am GMT
Andrew Loomis was widely known for his work in advertising and magazines, but the artist is also famous for his series of instructional books for aspiring artists. Loomis’ Realist style and approach to human figure drawing is clean, crisp, and straightforward. Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth is a bit of a cult classic in the art world, receiving praise for its timeless teachings from generations young and old.
World-renowned comic book artist Alex Ross was heavily influenced by Loomis and has this to say about his book:
“Andrew Loomis’ books were a formative influence on my life and art. My mother is an illustrator herself who worked in the era of Loomis’ heyday, and she passed his art instruction books on to me. Andrew Loomis’ instruction of how to draw the human figure was one of the first teachings that I would study, inspiring me to try and make my own artwork more realistic. My entire approach to drawing and painting superheroes owes its genesis to Loomis’ work.”
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
09/30/2023 08:43 am GMT
Looking to learn how to draw your favorite superheroes? Stan Lee and John Buscema are household names in the world of comic books. In How To Draw Comics the Marvel Way, the co-authors use real Marvel artwork to teach readers how to make comics of their very own.
The beginning of the book covers everything you’ll need to have on hand before getting started. It also dives into all the elements of a comic strip along with the associated terminology. Amazon reviews highlight how the book is well-suited for both children and adults.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
09/30/2023 08:43 am GMT
Whether you’re looking for ideas to aid in your drawing practice or you’re an experienced artist on the hunt for a new project, The Sketch Encyclopedia has you covered. The book contains over 1,000 drawing projects, each broken down into four key steps to help you sharpen your skills. Projects cover a wide range of concepts, including texture, perspective, and light. Drawing topics include everything from famous landmarks to animals and creatures.
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Are you new to the world of drawing and seeking instructional books to help sharpen your skills? Perhaps you’re a seasoned artist looking to brush up on advanced techniques. Whatever your skill level, there are countless drawing books to take your abilities up a notch. In this guide, NetInfluencer covers some of the best drawing books to have on your shelves.
[Unsplash]
Best Drawing Books for Artists
Keys to Drawing by Bert Dodson
Author and illustrator Bert Dodson’s best selling book Keys to Drawing is one of the most popular books for beginning artists. Bert’s unique system contains 55 “keys” that artists of all skill levels can use to sketch out anything. The book also includes several drawing exercises so you can perfect your craft. Readers can expect to learn the following drawing fundamentals:
How to Draw What You See by Rudy De Reyna
Rudy De Reyna’s How to Draw What You See was first published in 1970. De Reyna’s signature drawing methods have helped generations of artists capture their worlds and bring them to life on paper. Readers learn how to recognize basic shapes in what they see in their surroundings and translate them into a cohesive drawing.
One reader shared their thoughts in this review:
“Perspective, light and shade, values, perspective, composition are all essential topics that are clearly taught with assigned exercises to practice on. Any subject, from landscapes to still lifes, portraits and figurative studies is taught. The best thing about this method is that all you really need to start with is a #2 pencil and a sheet of paper.”
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by American art teacher Betty Edwards has been used as a standard text in countless art classrooms since the late 1970s. Edwards was inspired to share her perspectives on utilizing the “whole brain” when educating children. The book is known for instilling confidence in young artists, allowing them to deepen their perception and abilities.
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is in its fourth edition. The latest version of the book includes:
Drawing for the Absolute Beginner by Mark and Mary Willenbrink
Husband and wife team Mark and Mary Willenbrink wrote a series of five books for beginning artists, including Drawing for the Absolute Beginner. Here, the two make drawing realistic subject matter both easy and enjoyable. The book covers everything from which drawing supplies to purchase to how to get scale and proportions correct in your work. It’s also broken down into 24 mini-demos and nine full step-by-step exercises, so there’s plenty of opportunity to practice.
Perspective Made Easy by Ernest R. Norling
Artists who would like to take a deeper dive into mastering perspective, Perspective Made Easy by Ernest Norling is a great read. Norling includes over 250 line drawings to illustrate each concept and technique presented. Topics discussed in detail include horizon, vanishing point, and eye level. Readers will learn now to place figures and items to scale within a drawing as well as how to create shadows.
If you’d like to take what you learn in Perspective Made Easy to the next level, consider purchasing the book’s companion, Perspective Drawing Handbook.
Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth by Andrew Loomis
Andrew Loomis was widely known for his work in advertising and magazines, but the artist is also famous for his series of instructional books for aspiring artists. Loomis’ Realist style and approach to human figure drawing is clean, crisp, and straightforward. Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth is a bit of a cult classic in the art world, receiving praise for its timeless teachings from generations young and old.
World-renowned comic book artist Alex Ross was heavily influenced by Loomis and has this to say about his book:
“Andrew Loomis’ books were a formative influence on my life and art. My mother is an illustrator herself who worked in the era of Loomis’ heyday, and she passed his art instruction books on to me. Andrew Loomis’ instruction of how to draw the human figure was one of the first teachings that I would study, inspiring me to try and make my own artwork more realistic. My entire approach to drawing and painting superheroes owes its genesis to Loomis’ work.”
How To Draw Comics the Marvel Way by Stan Lee and John Buscema
Looking to learn how to draw your favorite superheroes? Stan Lee and John Buscema are household names in the world of comic books. In How To Draw Comics the Marvel Way, the co-authors use real Marvel artwork to teach readers how to make comics of their very own.
The beginning of the book covers everything you’ll need to have on hand before getting started. It also dives into all the elements of a comic strip along with the associated terminology. Amazon reviews highlight how the book is well-suited for both children and adults.
The Sketch Encyclopedia by 3DTotal Publishing
Whether you’re looking for ideas to aid in your drawing practice or you’re an experienced artist on the hunt for a new project, The Sketch Encyclopedia has you covered. The book contains over 1,000 drawing projects, each broken down into four key steps to help you sharpen your skills. Projects cover a wide range of concepts, including texture, perspective, and light. Drawing topics include everything from famous landmarks to animals and creatures.
[Unsplash]