If You Want To Learn To Draw, Buy These 4 Books Right Now!
The most common phrases I hear all the time from people are “I wish I knew how to draw” or “I’ve always been interested in drawing but I gave up on it” or “I’m so jealous, I wish I could draw!”
After hearing this over and over, I decided to make a list of the drawing books that helped me out immensely with learning how to draw, and I know they can help you too!
Because remember, drawing isn’t a skill you were born with, it’s a skill you teach yourself and anyone can do it! It just takes lots of practice and the willingness to learn...
Drawing on the right side of the brain by Betty Edwards
I don’t know a single artist that hasn’t gone through this book. It’s basically the godfather of art books. It’s exceptional.
Dr. Betty Edwards theorizes that the reason why people create drawings that look “childish” is because they are drawing using the left side of their brain and not the right side. She theorizes that if you shift gears and use the right side instead, you’ll draw better. There are multiple exercises that teach you how to shift your brain to start drawing from the right hemisphere.
This classic drawing book shows you how to develop the necessary perceptual skills to see things as they really are- and then be able to render them accurately as a pencil drawing. Basically you are drawing exactly what you see and not what you “think” you see. This book has sold more than 1.7 million copies in the United States alone. It’s been translated into more than seventeen languages. Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is the world's most widely used drawing instruction book and is a must for anyone looking to enhance their artist abilities. If you put the effort in, it’s been proven time and time again to work, so make sure you pick one up!
Keys to drawing by Bert Dodson
This book is another classic art book that has taught MANY artists how to draw and is a must buy for any artist. It teaches the basic fundamentals of drawing such as composition, how to get proportions right, and much more. Each chapter has a series of exercises with a checklist at the end, to make sure you’ve gone through everything.
Each chapter is very easy to follow. As well, it should be noted this book teaches you o draw a bit more “loosely “then other books; as opposed to drawing more line drawings like in other books, which you may find easier to follow.
The sketch encyclopedia by 3D total publishing
This book is amazing! I can’t say enough good things about it! Drawing is ALL ABOUT PRACTICE and there are definitely enough drawing projects to make sure you are able to practice enough (over 1000!). The beginning of the book breaks down basic art theory, terminology and technique you should familiarize yourself with beforehand such as tools to use, perspective and scale, light and shade (light sources) and so much more! (I won’t give it all away haha)
Then it goes into drawing everything from nature to food to buildings and structures.. all broken down into step by step guides.
Starting from a basic line drawing, then going step by step to the fully rendered sketch.
This book is filled with subject matter to draw that will keep you interested and busy for many hours! so stick with it and you’ll be a pro in no time.
Pro tip: if you are struggling with the line drawing (step 1) take a piece of tracing paper and trace the line drawing at least 20-30 times... really get a feel for the process of creating the lines in order and be mindful of exactly what you are doing line by line. Then when you feel ready, try drawing the line drawing again without the tracing paper (just by drawing what you see)
Drawing the head and figure by jack hamm
This recommendation is a bit more specific and focuses in on how to draw the human body. Being able to draw anatomy is drawing 101 and everyone should learn how to do it. This book gives a step by step guide on how to draw faces, eyes and even clothing properly with easy to follow instructions. This book is dense with information and teaches you how to draw male and female faces as well as how to draw hair texture properly! (So important and most artists struggle with drawing hair so pay attention lol)
I love this book because it’s also packed with a TON of drawings along the way, the pages are full of drawing examples which make it easier to follow and to be honest more beautiful to look at. The breakdown of the proportions of the human figure is such a handy reference that I still use to this day!
This book is a definite must for anyone looking to improve how they draw people. Specifically, if you’d like to get into comic book illustration or portrait drawing eventually.