10 Best Drawing Books
1. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain: The Definitive by Betty Edwards
Translated into more than seventeen languages, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is the world’s most widely used instructional drawing book. Whether you are drawing as a professional artist, as an artist in training, or as a hobby, this book will give you greater confidence in your ability and deepen your artistic perception, as well as foster a new appreciation of the world around you. This revised/updated fourth edition includes:
- a new introduction;
- crucial updates based on recent research on the brain’s plasticity and the enormous value of learning new skills/utilizing the right hemisphere of the brain;
- new focus on how the ability to draw on the strengths of the right hemisphere can serve as an antidote to the increasing left-brain emphasis in American life-the worship of all that is linear, analytic, digital, etc.;
- an informative section that addresses recent research linking early childhood “scribbling” to later language development and the importance of parental encouragement of this activity;
- and new reproductions of master drawings throughout
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2. Keys to Drawing by Bert Dodson
Anyone who can hold a pencil can learn to draw.
In this book, Bert Dodson shares his complete drawing system — fifty-five “keys” that you can use to render any subject with confidence, even if you’re a beginner.
These keys, along with dozens of practice exercises, will help you draw like an artist in no time.
You’ll learn how to:
- Restore, focus, map, and intensify
- Free your hand action, then learn to control it
- Convey the illusions of light, depth, and texture
- Stimulate your imagination through “creative play”
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3. Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner by Claire Watson Garcia
Based upon the author’s own successful workshops, Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner helps new artists create competent, often eloquent drawings. A series of progressive lessons demonstrates such essential skills as recording edges, creating dimension, adding accuracy, developing value, balancing compositional elements, and drawing the human face, both frontal and profile views. Step by step, readers learn how to create a reasonable likeness of an object and give it spatial depth using such simple black-and-white mediums as pens, pencils, charcoal, and graphite wash. Inspirational examples and tips for success from beginning students who have worked on the same material confirm readers’ successes, and allow readers to consider the advice and impressions of others at the same level.
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4. Drawing the Head and Figure: A How-To Handbook That Makes Drawing Easy by Jack Hamm
A how-to handbook that makes drawing easy. Offers simplified techniques and scores of brand-new hints and helps. Step by step procedures. Hundreds of illustrations.
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5. Drawing the Head and Hands by Andrew Loomis
The illustrator Andrew Loomis (1892–1959) is revered amongst artists — including the great American painter Norman Rockwell and comics superstar Alex Ross — for his mastery of figure drawing and clean, Realist style.
His hugely influential series of art instruction books have never been bettered.
Drawing the Head and Hands is the second in Titan’s programme of facsimile editions, returning these classic titles to print for the first time in decades.
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6. Modern Cartooning by Christopher Hart
Aimed at beginner artists interested in cartooning and at the countless fans of cartoons, animation and comics. Not only are cartoons a form of entertainment, but they’re an incredibly popular style of drawing! With a fresh and easy-to-follow approach to cartooning, Christopher Hart shows readers basic tips for creating a cast of the most hilarious, outrageous characters inspired by today’s cartoons. Chock-full of tips, hints and step-by-step illustrations, Modern Cartooning gives artists of all ages the tools they need to let their imaginations run wild.
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7. How to Draw Comics the ‘Marvel’ Way by John Buscema
Stan Lee, the founding father of Marvel Comics, and John Buscema, artist of the classic Silver Surfer series, give professional advice and instruction for budding comics artists. Learn how to draw the Marvel way, courtesy of this lavishly illustrated, step-by-step guide to all facets of the process.
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8. Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes by Walt Stanchfield
Published for the first time ever, Drawn to Life is a two volume collection — each volume sold separately — of the legendary lectures from long-time Disney animator Walt Stanchfield. For over twenty years, Walt helped breathe life into the new golden age of animation with these teachings at the Walt Disney Animation Studios and influenced such talented artists as Tim Burton, Brad Bird, Glen Keane, and John Lasseter. These writings represent the quintessential refresher for fine artists and film professionals, and it is a vital tutorial for students who are now poised to be part of another new generation in the art form.
Written by Walt Stanchfield (1919–2000), who began work for the Walt Disney Studios in the 1950s. His work can be seen in films like Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, 101 Dalmatians, and Peter Pan.
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9. Art Fundamentals: Color, Light, Composition, Anatomy, Perspective, and Depth by Gilles Beloeil, Andrei Riabovitchev and Roberto F Castro
A broad understanding of the fundamental concepts, conventions, and theories of art is essential when it comes to producing a successful piece of work. Art Fundamentals addresses key basic subjects such as color and light, composition, perspective and depth, anatomy, and portraying emotions in a series of insightful chapters. Find out about color relationships and how to choose colors that work well together. Learn about the Rule of Thirds, Rule of Odds, Golden Triangle, and Divine Proportions, all of which are key when it comes to creating a realistic and dynamic composition. Discover the power of storytelling in an image and how the slightest tilt of an eyebrow can transform happiness into anger.
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10. Pocket Art: Portrait Drawing by Joanna Henly
This debut book in the Pocket Art series is packed with expert technical guidance on drawing realistic portraits in pencil and stunning, inspirational examples.
London-based artist Joanna Henly (a.k.a. Miss Led) guides you through every aspect of pencil portraiture with a lively, graphic approach to instruction — demystifying the complexities of the human face with step-by-step illustrations and expert tips.
Get started with a quick overview of how to set up your work space, how to hold a pencil, and tips on mark making. A section on understanding the face begins with a look at its underlying structure (the skull and muscles) and includes guidance on capturing facial relationships from different angles.
Then learn to accurately draw each individual feature — eyes, ears, nose, mouth, skin tones, and hair — with illustrations of their anatomy and examples of their differing shapes. You’ll also find tips on rendering the facial expressions of your subjects.
The exercises demonstrate and reinforce the skills as you go, while the incredible artwork inspires and motivates. With its compact size and sturdy flexi binding, you can carry this invaluable resource everywhere you go — in your backpack, bag, or pocket.
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Thanks for reading!
