Practicing your drawing is fun, as is the joy of seeing your progress.
here is a list of the best drawing books for artists.
You are reading: Best how to draw books for beginners
my quick recommendations
- best overall – right brain drawing by betty edwards
- best anatomy drawing book – figure drawing by michael hampton
- best book to learn to draw – traveling with your sketchbook by joyce ryan
the links above take you to current prices and customer reviews on amazon.
There is something for everyone, from absolute beginners to advanced artists.
drawing books are excellent for learning to draw well.
I reviewed and updated this post on January 1, 2022.
bert dodson drawing keys
“Anyone who can hold a pencil can learn to draw with some skill.” -bert dodson.
has good arguments to support that claim. divided into lessons, called “keys”, it breaks complicated practices down into easy steps.
bert dodson is a professional illustrator and painter. Bert has written best-selling books on drawing. he is an illustrator of children’s books and has worked on more than 70.
Covered: aimed at beginners and novices. It introduces you to new techniques at an easy-to-follow pace and teaches you how to control your hands and elbows for clean, careful strikes.
the basics of texture and tons of hands-on exercises to help you.
Why I like this book: Focuses on simple, repetitive practice of techniques. It has a clear style. Bert Dobson’s book is a guiding light in the confusing world of learning to draw.
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drawing for absolute beginners
by mark willenbrink
a clear & easy guide to drawing success (art for absolute beginners)
Mark and Mary Willenbrik have brought another of their comprehensive, enjoyable art tutorial books to the table. Published in 2006, this book teaches you drawing in a fun and easy-to-do way. Perfect if you want to learn drawing, but in short, fun bursts.
mark used to be a commercial artist and had a job in advertising. but he is now a freelance illustrator. He and his wife, Mary, are art teachers and write books.
Covered: This book covers the basics of drawing. They guide you through every step of the way. the book is packed with helpful advice.
why i like this book: drawing for the absolute beginner lives up to its name as an easy guide. the authors have a pleasant writing tone. They would be great guides for your first attempt at drawing.
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drawing on the right side of the brain
by betty edwards
You live under a rock if you’re an aspiring artist and haven’t heard of this book. It’s a popular book, a bestseller in the United States. It’s even been translated into over seventeen languages. Betty Edwards knows what she’s talking about!
betty edwards is an art author from the united states. She taught and did research at California State University until her retirement in the 1990s.
Topics Covered: Published in 1979. This book has been expanded to include more of Betty’s experience. has tips, exercises, and tricks that artists of all experience levels are sure to find useful. has a section dedicated to talking about the “right” and “left” brain. talks about how valuing the right side of the brain is essential.
Why I like this book: This book was written a while ago, but the experience and advice are clear, easy and helpful.
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drawing for absolute and absolute beginners
by claire watson garcia
Claire Watson Garcia has always had a passion for art, reflected in her day job. For years, she taught workshops, but they only reached a specific audience.
In 2003, he published Drawing for Absolute and Absolute Beginners. covers tips and tricks for the budding beginner.
claire watson garcia is a writer and artist from the united states. she has written and illustrated children’s books. Her artwork has appeared in exhibitions and she works at the Silvermine School of Art.
covered: teaches you how to draw still lifes, of objects, nature and people. shows the basic shapes and textures for drawing complex and realistic still life.
Why I like this book: It has a section dedicated to creating shadows with graphite and charcoal pencils. your book is built with attention to detail.
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simplified perspective
by ernest r. norling
One of the most challenging concepts of drawing to grasp is perspective. No one explains it better than Ernest R. Norlingod.
ernest r norling was a painter and art teacher who published two books on perspective and profile.
Covered: Contains over 250 line drawings that cover the concepts of horizon and vanishing point. also, the relation of the level of the eyes with the drawing in perspective. you will learn how to create shadows and shadows. also, place figures and objects and build interiors.
Why I like this book: The skill of perspective is not always considered easy for a beginner. but the content of this book makes it easy. the way it is written is entertaining. helps build a solid foundation in perspective concepts.
Because it was written in the early 20th century, some writing may seem dated. the activities are easy to follow. teaches you the essentials in no time.
light for visual artists
by richard yot
understanding & use of light in art & design
Light for Visual Artists is an essential resource for anyone serious about drawing. Invaluable for anyone who wants to make their art stand out.
richard yot works in traditional print and digital media.
Covered: An introduction to the fundamental skill of rendering light and shadow. learn light and shadow drawing techniques and understand the physics behind them.
Why I like this book: This book is easy to follow. detailed writing is not loaded with technical terminology and applies to any visual art.
vilppu drawing manual
by glenn vilppu
This book focuses on life and figure drawing based on a comprehensive art course. It’s one of the best figure drawing books for beginners.
glenn vilppu worked at disney for 15 years. she taught drawing techniques and worked on the fox, the hound and the black cauldron.
Topics Covered: Gestural drawing, manual action, and shape construction are the main concepts covered in this drawing guide. other areas of study are basic ways to measure and build objects in life.
Why I like this book: It’s great for beginners looking for a different approach to learning how to draw lifelike drawings.
the natural way of drawing
by kimon nicolaides
a work plan for the study of art
Take a lifetime of learning from the experts, a passion for teaching, and put in a book. What do you get? This book is based on the course he taught at an art school in NYC.
This best-selling collection of art tutorials is complete!
kimon nicolaides studied with the greats: bridgman, miller and sloan. He became a professor at the New York Art Students League and taught for 15 years.
Covered: how to draw figures and objects from life, focusing on sketching and animation. teaches you how to capture figure poses. it is packed with exercises and it takes a serious commitment to read the entire book.
Why I like this book: This book is an amazing resource. but it’s like taking a full year’s course in an art class. it’s not for absolute beginners.
figure drawing for all it’s worth
by andrew loomis
Humans are some of the most interesting subjects to draw. However, they’re some of the hardest. Andrew Loomis was an esteemed art teacher and author in his time, and he wrote books on the subject.
Andrew Loomis studied art, opened his studio in Chicago and worked in publishing and advertising. he became an art teacher and is known for his books on illustration and realistic art.
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Covered: This book by Andrew Loomis has the intermediate steps you need to draw a figure. how to draw body parts in proper proportions and poses.
Perspective is a big part of the teaching of this book. teaches you how to create realistic figures with clothing and shading. also, how to draw body parts.
Why I like this book: People recommend this book for beginners in figure drawing. the step-by-step teaching approach is easy to follow. Although the drawing style may seem a bit dated, it’s great for learning the basics.
how to draw what you see
by rudy de reyna
If you like to draw or sketch still life, you may be aware of the problem I am about to illustrate. You set up a collection of things, ready to use them as a reference. You collect your art supplies, sit down to draw.
except when you’re done, it looks nothing like what you see in front of you. frustrating, right? rudy de reyna’s book will help.
rudy de reyna has written books, including magical realism drawing techniques.
Covered: written in exceptional detail. you will learn perspective through realistic drawing exercises.
Why I like this book: Realistic drawing exercises are helpful and easy to understand. is written for novice artists who have never tried to draw from what they see around them.
traveling with your sketchbook
by joyce ryan
a step-by-step guide to drawing travel with an emphasis on pen and ink
Traveling is incredible and life-changing. Whether you travel long term or have yearly vacations, travel sketching is an excellent way to record memories.
plus, you’ll learn a new skill and an enjoyable hobby. gives you the tools to start drawing on your travels.
an author from the united states. he has written books on drawing, cooking, and other hobbies.
Topics Covered: This book focuses on how to sketch your surroundings, nature, and urban scenes. she provides examples, lessons, and techniques. This book is best suited for people who have already mastered basic drawing. great reference material.
gives lessons and techniques for intermediate and above. For inspiration, include sketches from his portfolio.
why i like this book: traveling with your sketchbook is a great guide to drawing travel. apply the techniques discussed in any field of illustration. useful to learn to draw well.
a basic drawing course
by peter stanyer and terry rosenberg
Looking for a book with extensive coverage on drawing? Peter Stanyer and Terry Rosenberg straddle the divide. A Foundation Course in Drawing. The perfect choice to get started with being serious about drawing.
they are university professors who teach popular drawing courses.
Covered: The projects in this tutorial include fun drawing exercises. you study space, texture, light and form. also, the movement of figures, still lifes, landscapes and abstract themes.
why i like this book: although it is not for beginners, the content of this book is wide and varied. the projects are exciting and many techniques are covered.
learn to draw and paint
by curtis tappenden
Although two art mediums, drawing, and painting have so much in common. Sketching and drawing are often the beginning of painting projects. It improves your ability to draw and paint.
This book offers a range of basic art techniques for those short on time but eager to learn.
Curtis Tappenden’s work is displayed in collections around the world.
Covered: A guide to drawing and painting with practical lessons. with an emphasis on pencil and charcoal drawing. covers line, contour, pattern, scale, depth, and perspective exercises. the painting section covers pastels, oils, and watercolors.
Why I like this book: It contains valuable insights. has several color illustrations to inspire you. It is aimed at intermediate artists. if you’re a beginner, you need a book that goes deeper into some techniques.
how to draw
by scott robertson
draw and sketch objects of your imagination
Eager to understand drawing using the process of model building? This book enhances your drawing skills and knowledge.
scott robertson has nearly two decades of experience teaching how to design, draw, and render. he has the experience of the highest university level. He is a co-author of books and has worked on projects for prominent companies.
Covered: is a guide to perspective drawing, but focuses on design. model processes, working with volume, ellipses and rotations. new design studio press app scan over 25 pages via smartphone or tablet, links to video tutorials. this is a fantastic feature.
why I like this book: a detailed guide accompanied by images and explanations of the techniques. video tutorials make it easy to learn the methods.
framed ink
by marcos mateu-mestre
drawing and composition for visual storytellers
Storytellers need their illustrations to engage their readers. This is where this book comes in. Graphic novel enthusiasts who want to create stories find this fabulous.
Marcos mateu-mestre is a visual conceptual artist and traditional animation layout artist. he is also a comic artist and writes and illustrates graphic novels.
Topics Covered: drawing and composing a single image, organizing shots with a purpose. he also composes for the continuity and the graphic novel. techniques are covered in detail and illustrated with excellent examples.
Why I like this book: This guide is perfect for understanding the techniques needed to create a visual novel or comic book. Two things caught my attention. one, the theme of drawing to convey emotions. two, using light to represent day and night.
draw the head and hands
by andrew loomis
Another Loomis book! This had to be on the list. Drawing body parts is difficult. Getting the proper perspective isn’t easy. Andrew Loomis’ book aims to give the artist the skills necessary to tackle drawing heads and hands as objects.
Covered: Most of the book focuses on learning the techniques for drawing the human head. there is some content covering methods for drawing hands. includes simple means of representing proportions on the head and hands. the author is methodical in his approach.
Why I like this book: Simple methods make it easy to draw heads and hands.
figure drawing for artists
by steve houston
making every brand count
Attention to detail, advice, and instructions about the tiniest things is a welcome addition to any tutorial guide. This book has it in spades. Some beginners may find it confusing, but this is an excellent, comprehensive resource.
Steve Huston studied at the Pasadena Art Center School of Design. then he moved on to illustration work for major corporations and movie studios. he later he created a unique teaching method and continues to teach.
treatise: structure, gesture, perspective and light around the drawing of the human body. has detailed breakdowns of artwork created by master artists.
Why I like this book: Useful information on figure drawing for intermediate to advanced artists.
figure drawing
design and invention
by michael hampton
There are countless books on how to draw a human figure. However, little focus is on drawing from an anatomical sense. Understanding this is crucial for figure drawing.
michael hampton is an author and professional cartoonist. he runs art workshops and a website on drawing the human body.
covered: focuses on the mechanics of the human figure. it helps you gain a strong skill set that you can translate to other mediums. sections are divided into easy-to-understand parts.
Why I like this book: It is aimed at all skill levels. there is something for everyone.
successful drawing
by andrew loomis
Artists revere the mastery of Andrew Loomis’ drawing technique. His style is clean and realistic. Are you an artist with advanced skills and looking to master 3D drawing? This is the book for you!
Topics Covered: learning proportions, perspective placement, plans, and patterns. there is a detailed examination of scale, light effects, and three-dimensional drawing. covers conception, construction, outline, character, and consistency.
Why I like this book: It is packed with beautiful illustrations and step-by-step instructions to increase drawing skills. an engaging and exciting read while developing layout and design skills.
anatomy for the artist
by sarah simblet
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Understanding the human body is critical in figure drawing. Sarah Simblet’s book has high-quality photos and diagrams. The book includes translucent overlays showing detailed illustrations of skeletal anatomy.
one of the best anatomy drawing books for beginners.
sarah simblet teaches at ruskin drawing school. She is also a professor at the University of Oxford and the Royal College of Art in London.
Covered: Learn to see inside the human body to map its muscle groups and skeletal structure. also, to capture her poise, poise, and grace. practical drawing lessons on how to draw body parts.
Why I like this book: The reference images are great. A unique feature is the translucent pages that define the anatomical reference of bones and muscles. it also has the exact positioning according to the model posing.
draw people
by barbara bradley
People are such intriguing and fun drawing subjects. However, great intrigue comes great difficulty, as humans are so complicated. This focuses on drawing people with realistic-looking clothing. My clothes don’t defy gravity, and I doubt yours do either!
barbara bradley is an artist who has taught classes for years. for 25 years, she was director of illustration at the academy of art university in san francisco. Her work has been exhibited in collections in the United States.
Covered: This covers the drawing of people and their clothing with realism and attention to detail. she focuses on how to draw folds of clothing and shadows to make it look realistic. also, how the clothing responds to its environment and what the wearer is doing.
why i like this book: this is an informative, detailed and entertaining book on a topic that other guides often neglect . . the methods he shares are realistic and easy to master. she gives you lots of exercises to practice.
human anatomy for artists
the elements of the form
by eliot goldfinger
Serious artists have to know where everything goes and how it responds to outside factors. This is the definitive work on the anatomy of the human figure.
eliot goldfinger is a renowned sculptor. he developed the anatomy program at the new york academy of art.
Covered: Draw the human skeleton, bones, and muscles.
Why I like this book: It is a detailed and complete analysis. covers a lot of content on everything you could possibly want to know to help you with your human figure drawing.
draw the living figure
by joseph sheppard
Understanding the effects of anatomical infrastructure on surface anatomy is essential to realistic drawing. let this guide you in figure drawing.
Joseph Sheppard’s art is featured in collections around the world. she has won many awards. She works as an artist and is an author of books.
Topics Covered: The focus of this book is how the position and movement of muscles and bones affect the surface shapes of living models. the artist/author’s drawings present poses of the human body. images show the skeleton, muscles and a finished figure.
Why I like this book: There is so much detail in the illustrations. it is beneficial to understand the surface of the human body.
an anatomy manual for art students
by arthur thomson
This is easy to read because it’s a less medical or scientific approach. The illustrations are outstanding. There are photos of models in various poses accompanied by flayed examples showing the position of muscles.
arthur thomson m.a. megabyte. he was a professor at oxford university. He lectured at the National School for Art Training, South Kensington.
covered: the superficial form of anatomy with illustrations and photographs.
Why I like this book: The less medical approach to anatomy is easy to understand.
pen and ink drawing
a simple guide
by alphonse dunn
Drawing with pens creates a vibrancy and feel gray lead pencils can’t imitate. But you can’t erase the lines! Don’t panic. This book helps you improve!
alphonso dunn is a professional artist, art instructor and youtuber. he runs a successful youtube channel. he has written books on how to draw with pen and ink.
Covered: This book is comprehensive and takes an in-depth look at everything there is to know about drawing in this medium. It’s also full of inspiration, as it’s packed with his amazing drawings.
why i like this book: alphonso has an entertaining and warm style, as if you are getting advice from a friend.
the great book of the secrets of realistic drawing
easy techniques to draw people, animals, flowers and nature
by carrie stuart parks and rick parks
Ever wanted a comprehensive, detailed book including everything about realistic drawing? Carrie Stuart Parks and Rick Parks have such a guide!
carrie stuart parks is a forensic artist. She has worked in the United States and at the FBI. To top it off, Carrie writes best-selling mystery novels.
rick parks is an actor and screenwriter. He and Carrie have written instructional drawing guides.
Covered: This book contains everything you need to know about the basics of drawing. it covers form, structure, and touches on the anatomy of people, animals, and plants. is packed with useful tips and exercises. help you improve your drawing skills.
why i like this book: carrie and rick’s style and tone are gentle and down to earth. this book is perfect for both beginners and advanced artists.
the artist’s complete guide to drawing the head
by william maughan
William Maughan introduces the reader to the centuries-old technique of ‘chiaroscuro”. Italian for ‘light and dark.’) Leonardo da Vinci developed it during the High Renaissance.
william maughan has been a commercial illustrator since 1973. his art career began in the early 1980s.
Covered: the basics of ‘chiaroscuro’, showing how to analyze shapes, lights and shadows; use dark pencil, white pencil and toned paper. design elements enhance the likeness and capture the model’s gestures and proportions.
There are step-by-step instructions on how to draw each facial feature. also, to develop visual awareness and paint the head in color with soft pastels.
ideal for still life drawings.
Why I like this book: Learning a centuries-old technique is a great skill in your drawing repertoire. step-by-step instructions are great to help achieve likeness and proportions. easy to understand with beautiful illustrations.
classical human anatomy
the artist’s guide to form, function and movement
by valerie l. winslow
This has more than 800 distinctive illustrations. They detail the movement and actions of the bones and muscles.
valerie winslow has taught at renowned institutions. such as the art center college of design, california institute of the arts, and pixar animation studios. Valerie Winslow works at the San Francisco Academy of Art University.
Covered: There are three main sections in this book. skeletal form, muscular physique and muscle action, and movement.
Why I like this book: The anatomy of the human body is a complex subject. but the way the author has divided it into sections is helpful. instructions are easy to understand. this is more suitable for an intermediate artist.
an illustrated life
by danny gregorio
Imagine a book filled with the ultimate amount of artistic inspiration. Many artists are pitching in to share drawings from their private sketchbooks. All mediums, styles, and creative processes. That’s what An Illustrated Life is.
Danny Gregory is an executive creative director at an advertising agency. he runs the successful daily affairs blog in which he recounts life experiences and draws from him.
Topics Covered: This is not an instructional guide. however, she will learn tips and techniques. danny interviews each of the featured artists. ask about her creative processes. this is perfect for inspiration in your drawing activities.
Why I like this book: This is an amazing book. each piece is stunning in its own unique way. good luck trying to read the book without jaw dropping.
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The best drawing books improve your drawing skills and creativity.
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