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books

• the basics
• composition
• figure drawing and anatomy
• perspective
• objects and environments
• rendering and color
• specific interests

information

recommended progression

1. the basics + composition
2. figure drawing + perspective
3. objects and environments
4. rendering and color

finding the books

many of these books can be borrowed from libraries or the internet archive.

make sure to check if your local libraries support something like libby.

if a library near you doesn't have a copy of a book on this list, try to request it.

you can find books in libraries using worldcat.org

notes

don't rely on books alone.

draw what's around you, draw reference photos. draw!

get feedback.

don't feel that you need every book on this list. pick what you need.

time estimate: this can take a long time depending on the hours you put in. do it at your own pace.

the books

these books are in the order i have worked through/will work through them.

feel free to pick and choose books based on your skill level and interest

the basics

for the complete beginner

• Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain - Edwards

  once you can draw what you see, you're ready to move on

optional but recommended

• How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way - Lee, Buscema

  take what interests you. other books on this list offer a more comprehensive overview

  this book covers a lot but is very accessible. it's a lot of fun and good to come back to any time

composition

recommended for everyone

• Picture This - Bang

figure drawing and anatomy

start when you can draw what you see.

work on perspective skills alongside figure drawing. don't wait until you finish figure drawing to start the perspective section.

you should be doing figure drawing practice alongside these books.

check out the following for figure drawing references and timed practice:

• line of action
• sketchdaily
• quickposes

essential

1. Figure Drawing: Design and Invention - Hampton

   move on once you understand figure construction

the grind (optional)

you don't have to do this

• Bridgman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life - Bridgman

  don't read the text. copy every drawing in the book, then draw it again from memory. here's what David Finch recommends: "Look at the picture, close the book, and do your best".

  if you choose to work through this book, don't rush. take your time

head break

• Drawing the Head and Hands - Loomis

  draw heads and hands at scary angles

observational/gestural figure drawing

• Vilppu Drawing Manual - Vilppu ← this is what i'm working on

  watch videos of glenn vilppu drawing

specialized topics

use these if you feel you need them.

• Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery - Hogarth

• Dynamic Light and Shade - Hogarth

supplementary resources

you can skip these if you don't feel you need them

• Morpho: Anatomy for Artists series

  these can be worked through the same as "Bridgman’s Complete Guide to Drawing from Life". copy then try to draw from memory

• Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters - Hale

  other books on this list cover much of what's in this book. it's still worth reading due to Hale's commentary on the drawings presented within

• Anatomy Lessons From the Great Masters - Hale

  an excellent anatomy resource. if you want a deep dive into anatomy, read this

perspective

consider Marshall Vandruff's 1994 Perspective Drawing Series before looking at any perspective books.

essential

• Space Drawing Perspective - Kim

  not as dense as the other perspective books on this list, but a great read. my favorite book on perspective

more perspective

the following books are much drier than Space Drawing Perspective

if you feel like you need more perspective knowledge, read them

1. Perspective Made Easy - Norling
2. Creative Perspective for Artists and Illustrators - Watson

supplementary resources

check out krenz cushart's instructional resources at this point. this collection in particular is excellent

objects and environments

essential reading before rendering and color. requires that you have perspective knowledge

• How to Draw - Robertson, Bertling

  an advanced overview of drawing. covers a lot of topics. dense but great read

rendering and color

once you have a solid drawing foundation, work through this section

1. How to Render - Robertson, Bertling
2. Color and Light - Gurney
3. Artists' Master Series: Color & Light - 3DTotal

specific interests

skip these sections if none of them interest you

animal anatomy

pick the book that suits you

• An Atlas of Animal Anatomy for Artists - Ellenberger

  very, very dense

• Animal Anatomy for Artists - Goldfinger

  an easier read than the atlas

• The Art of Animal Drawing - Hultgren

  more stylized than the others

design for comics

1. Understanding Comics - McCloud

2. Making Comics - McCloud
3. Framed Ink - Mateu-Mestre, Katzenberg
4. Framed Ink 2 - Mateu-Mestre

urban sketching

• The Complete Urban Sketching Companion - Blaukopf, Bower

creature/character design

• Designing Creatures and Characters - Holmes
• Sketching from the Imagination: Characters - 3DTotal

painting

• Alla Prima - Schmid
• Alla Prima II - Schmid, Swatland