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Best Drawing Books

Whether a budding artist or a seasoned illustrator, these top drawing books will sharpen your skills and inspire your creativity, chosen for their prominence in the art community's recommendations.

Recommendations from 62 articles, Christopher Paolini, Feng Zhu, Baylee Jae and 6 others.
Best Drawing Books
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Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book cover
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
The Definitive, 4th Edition
Betty Edwards - 1999-08-30 (first published in 1979)
Goodreads Rating
Learn to draw like a pro with the world's most popular drawing instruction book! Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain has sold over 1.7 million copies in the US and has been translated into 17 languages. This revised and updated fourth edition includes new research on brain plasticity and the importance of utilizing the right hemisphere of the brain for drawing. Gain greater confidence in your artistic ability and deepen your perception of the world around you with this life-changing guide.
Keys to Drawing book cover
Keys to Drawing
Bert Dodson - 1990-08-15 (first published in 1985)
Goodreads Rating
Learn to draw confidently and like an artist with the practical guidance of Bert Dodson's Keys to Drawing. This complete drawing system includes fifty-five "keys" and numerous practice exercises, perfect for beginners or anyone looking to improve their skills. With the ability to render any subject, you'll learn how to restore, focus, map, intensify, and free your hand motion. Additionally, the book covers conveying illusions of light, depth, and texture, as well as stimulating creativity through "creative play."
Perspective Made Easy book cover
Perspective Made Easy
Ernest R. Norling - 1999-01-19 (first published in 1939)
Goodreads Rating
Learn the simple rules of perspective drawing with this essential guide. Using over 250 line drawings and clear discussions of horizon, vanishing point, and eye level, you'll master the skills necessary to create successful perspective drawings. This nontechnical, easy-to-follow book makes mastering perspective accessible to artists of all skill levels. An essential addition to any artist's bookshelf.
Figure Drawing for All It's Worth book cover
Figure Drawing for All It's Worth
Andrew Loomis - 1971-01-01 (first published in 1943)
Goodreads Rating
"Master the art of figure drawing and elevate your skills to new heights with a timeless classic recommended by renowned artists like Alex Ross. Andrew Loomis' Realist style and expertise in figure drawing make his instruction books a must-read for any serious artist. Titan brings back his classic titles with the first facsimile edition of 'Figure Drawing,' a true gem for art students and professionals alike."
How to Draw What You See book cover
How to Draw What You See
Rudy de Reyna - 1996-01-01 (first published in 1972)
Goodreads Rating
Learn how to draw realistically with How to Draw What You See. This classic how-to book has been helping artists for 35 years and is a must-have for anyone who wants to truly capture the world around them. Rudy de Reyna's methods teach you to recognize the basic shape of an object and draw it with accuracy, from cubes and cylinders to cones and spheres. Join the generations of artists who have mastered this technique and bring your drawings to life with How to Draw What You See.
Drawing for the Absolute Beginner book cover
Drawing for the Absolute Beginner
A Clear & Easy Guide to Successful Drawing (Art for the Absolute Beginner)
Mark Willenbrink
Goodreads Rating
Learn how to draw in a realistic style with "Drawing for the Absolute Beginner". From choosing materials to tricky perspective, this book covers everything you need to know. 24 mini-demos lead up to 9 full step-by-step demos, helping you build your skills and confidence. Perfect your strokes with fun, hands-on exercises that start with simple subjects like coffee mugs and progress to more challenging matter like animals and portraits. Discover the pure joy of drawing - it's never too early or too late!
Drawing the Head and Hands book cover
Drawing the Head and Hands
Andrew Loomis - 1956-01-18
Goodreads Rating
This book by the esteemed illustrator Andrew Loomis covers the topics of figure drawing and clean Realist style, making it a must-have for any artist seeking to improve their skills. Drawing the Head and Hands is part of a series of art instruction books that have never been outdone, and is now available in a facsimile edition after being out of print for decades. Loomis is widely respected by other artists, including painter Norman Rockwell and comics superstar Alex Ross.
Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner book cover
Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner
Claire Watson Garcia - 2003-10-01
Goodreads Rating
Learn to draw like a pro with this bestselling beginning drawing book. The revised 15th anniversary edition includes new sections on drawing in 3D and travel sketching, and updated materials with contemporary design. Based on the successful courses and workshops of author and art instructor Claire Watson Garcia, this book takes beginners through a series of progressive lessons in sketching and rendering. With step-by-step methodology and examples of student works, novices will learn to make competent and eloquent renderings of still lifes, portraits, and more. Discover new techniques for drawing-on-the-go and drawing in three dimensions with this reinvigorated classic.
The Natural Way to Draw book cover
The Natural Way to Draw
A Working Plan for Art Study
Kimon Nicolaides - 1990-02-01 (first published in 1941)
Goodreads Rating
Great for the beginner and the expert, this book offers readers exercises to improve their work....
The Practice and Science of Drawing book cover
The Practice and Science of Drawing
Harold Speed - 1972-06-01 (first published in 1913)
Goodreads Rating
Learn the basic principles of art with "The Practice and Science of Drawing" by Harold Speed. With a focus on the principle of "dither," the book explores the balance between realism and artistic vision. Speed covers a range of topics, including line drawing, portrait drawing, and materials, with the help of historical backgrounds and exercises for beginners. This classic book is a great resource for artists and anyone interested in understanding the importance of principles in creating a work of art.
Step-By-Step Drawing Book by Fiona Watt
Pen and Ink Drawing by Alphonso Dunn
The How to Draw Book for Kids by Jacy Corral, Modern Kid Press
Draw 50 Animals by Lee J. Ames
The Drawing Lesson by Mark Crilley
Pop Manga by Camilla D'Errico
The Vilppu Drawing Manual by Glenn Vilppu
Light for Visual Artists Second Edition by Richard Yot
How to Draw 101 Animals by Dan Green
Framed Ink by Marcos Mateu-Mestre
How to Draw by Scott Robertson
The Master Guide to Drawing Anime by Christopher Hart
All the Things by Alli Koch
Mastering Manga with Mark Crilley by Mark Crilley
Anatomy for the Artist by Sarah Simblet
Successful Drawing by Andrew Loomis
The Manga Fashion Bible by Christopher Hart
Drawing People by Barbara Bradley
Beginner's Guide to Creating Manga Art by Steven Cummings
A Foundation Course in Drawing by Peter Stanyer
Classic Human Anatomy by Valerie L. Winslow
My First I Can Draw by Thomas Nelson
Traveling With Your Sketchbook by Joyce Ryan
Doodle Adventures by Mike Lowery
How to Draw Cool Stuff by Catherine V Holmes
The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing by Anthony Ryder
How to Draw People by Barbara Soloff Levy
Art for Kids by Kathryn Temple
Christopher Hart by Christopher Hart
Charles Bargue by Gerald Ackerman
How to Draw a Unicorn and Other Cute Animals with Simple Shapes in 5 Steps by Lulu Mayo
Manga for the Beginner Kawaii by Christopher Hart
The Drawing Book for Kids by Woo! Jr. Kids Activities
Color and Light by James Gurney
Figure Drawing by Michael Hampton
I'm NOT just a Scribble... by Diane Alber
You Can Draw in 30 Days by Mark Kistler
How to Draw Deluxe Edition (Pokémon) by Maria S. Barbo, Tracey West
How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way by Stan Lee
How to Draw Pokemon by Tracey West
How to Draw for Kids by Dylanna Press
Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters by Robert Beverly Hale
The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws
Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist by Stephen Rogers Peck
Space Coloring and Activity Book for Kids Ages 4-8 by Activity Lab
Constructive Anatomy by George B. Bridgman
The Artist's Complete Guide to Drawing the Head by William Maughan
Ed Emberley's Complete Funprint Drawing Book by Ed Emberley
50 Ways to Draw Your Beautiful, Ordinary Life by Irene Smit, Astrid van der Hulst
Kawaii Doodle Class by Pic Candle
Drawing the Head and Figure by Jack Hamm
Alla Prima II by Richard Schmid, Katie Swatland
WORKBOOK by Betty Edwards
The Skillful Huntsman by Khang le
Beginning Drawing Atelier by Juliette Aristides
Figure Drawing for Artists by Steve Huston
Manga for the Beginner by Christopher Hart
Sketching from the Imagination by 3dtotal Publishing
Modern Cartooning by Christopher Hart
Human Anatomy for Artists by Eliot Goldfinger
Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces by Carrie Stuart Parks
Follow the Directions & Draw It All by Yourself! by Kristin Geller, Kristen Geller
You Will Be Able to Draw By the End of this Book by Jake Spicer
Draw Manga Faces for Expressive Characters by Hosoi Aya
Figure Drawing Atelier by Juliette Aristides
You Will be Able to Draw Faces by the End of This Book by Jake Spicer
Drawing Manga Animals, Chibis, and Other Adorable Creatures by J. C. Amberlyn
Adventures in Lettering by Dawn Nicole Warnaar
Essential Techniques of Landscape Drawing by Suzanne Brooker
Modern Flowers by Alli Koch
Tangle Art and Drawing Games for Kids by Jeanette Nyberg
Manga Crash Course by Mina Petrovic
Fashion Design Workshop by Stephanie Corfee
Designing Creatures and Characters by Marc Taro Holmes
The Urban Sketching Handbook by Uma Kelkar
A Handbook of Anatomy for Art Students by Arthur Thomson
Animal Drawing by Charles Knight
Learn to Draw and Paint by Curtis Tappenden
Drawing Made Easy by E. G. Lutz