Many of us would like to try ourselves as an artist. For beginners, for experienced artists, there is always something to strive for. There are many textbooks that are taught in universities, but it would be convenient to master the skills on their own.
In order to draw well, you need to know the anatomy, the theory of chiaroscuro, understand the colors, perspective, the basics of the composition, as well as how to master these or those materials, watercolors, oil, pencil, depending on the desire and situation.
Consider below the best books for artists and designers, which will help any person to learn the basic fundamentals to draw.
All knowledge and theory is what has been accumulating for centuries. Artists drew and comprehended many useful skills that are now passed down from generation to generation.
Nikolai Lee, "Fundamentals of Academic Academic Drawing"
The author’s favorite textbook is mainly used by students of art directions. The book is more likely intended for academics, but self-taught women with a free style of drawing can learn a lot of useful things for themselves. There is a lot of written theory here, it mainly appeals to academism, but the plus of this big book is that the whole theory is supported by visual convenient drawings.
Here are the basics of composition, drawing, anatomy, perspective and other useful things that it would be useful to know, even if you draw in a free style.
Jeno Barchai, "Anatomy for Artists"
Drawing people is very difficult without anatomical knowledge, so you should have fundamental knowledge on the proportions, structure of bones and muscles, the correct bends of the body and other things. All this is in one of the best atlases on the anatomy of people in the book of Jeno Barachi.
The author of the book has long been an art professor. He collected all the essentials, and formulated it in one textbook.
V.K. Kuzin, "Drawing. Sketches and Sketches"
Everything begins with sketches and sketches: full-fledged paintings are drawn or written and inspiration is drawn when it seems that there is nothing to draw.
VK. Cousin in his book took apart the basics of the drawing so that every beginner could take and sketch something, and to do it qualitatively.
Betty Edwards, "Discover the Artist in You"
This book has already been published in several million copies and is popular in many countries of the world. The approach to learning in this book is suitable for many people who are not sure that they can draw at all. But after reading this book, you will understand that everyone can do it, gain confidence and skills, and discover creative potential.
Mark Kistler, "You Can Draw in 30 Days"
If it so happened that you want to draw, but don’t know anything at all, then a book is suitable for you to introduce. There is no complicated theory and strict requirements. There are the necessary basics. And also there are indicative images and works of students who went to a different level after a month. It can not but cheer and inspire anyone.
Every day a certain skill is mastered. The theory of chiaroscuro, the transmission of volume, perspective, is gradually studied, then how to draw eyes, face, beautiful inscriptions and much more.
Of course, in 30 days it is impossible to reach the professional level. This is a long and hard work. But to improve your skill in a month of daily efforts is real. Then you should still study books for the more advanced.
Theodorico Battalini, "We draw in watercolor. From the basics of craftsmanship to the finest nuances"
Painting also has its own nuances. A lot depends on what you paint. Many people like watercolors for many of their qualities. As a rule, it is with watercolors that they begin to study painting as such.
The textbook by Teodorico Battalini will teach you how to properly use various techniques, as well as how to draw certain things.
Mose Menotti, "Drawing. We adopt the secrets of famous masters"
The author in his book took apart many of the paintings of great creators in detail in order to clearly explain all aspects. How to work with shadows, how to enhance realism, convey form, color, contrast - all you will learn from this book.
Byrne Hogarth, "A Game of Light and Shadow for Artists"
Without chiaroscuro, a realistic picture will never turn out, you will never be able to convey the desired shape and volume. Therefore, light and shadow are incredibly important when drawing.
The author lucidly explains in his book all the subtleties of working with shadows, how moonlight differs from diffuse light, how to use glare, reflexes, penumbra, shadow and many other useful things in your work.
Ernest Norling, "3D Drawing and Perspective"
All objects that the human eye sees are at a certain angle. One part of the subject at a far distance seems smaller than the near. The knowledge of perspective is needed in order to correctly reflect what was intended in the drawing, as we would see it in life. The book will explain the theory and teach you to reliably transmit the image.
Hennes Roussing, "A Complete Course in Oil Painting"
For those who want to start writing Malaysia, Roussing's book will be useful. He will talk about all the difficulties of working with oil and how to cope with them.
Johannes Itten, "Color Studies. The Art of Color"
Knowledge of color is not superficial, as it may seem to beginners. There are certain secrets that Johannes Itten writes about.
Kimon Nikolaidis, "A New Textbook on Drawing"
Kimon in his textbook offers exercises designed to ensure that you can reach a whole new level. If you are ready to spend several years and draw from life, then the technique described in the book is ideal for you.
Edwards Betty, "The Artist Inside Us"
Another book aimed at revealing the creative in man. If you draw, regardless of skills and knowledge, then the potential itself will begin to unfold.
O. Shmatova, "Tutorial on watercolor painting"
Shmatova’s small textbook on watercolors as a self-instruction manual fully justifies itself. Unlike the Battalini textbook and many other books, everything here is much simpler and clearer: it is ideal for beginners.
Giovanni Civardi, "Drawing. Landscape: methods, techniques, compositions"
The ability to correctly transfer the landscape to the drawing is very important for any draftsman. With the Chivardi tutorial, you will learn how to do it well.
Jack Hamm, "The First Lessons in Drawing and Painting"
Still lifes are an integral part of the paintings of those who write. Jack Hamm with his book will introduce to the course on how to write still lifes. But he also teaches you how to compose.
Other useful books for artists
The list of the best books for artists has no end. Someone will like one book, someone - another. In addition, new textbooks and tutorials are constantly being published.
Consider some more books by category.
The best books for artists about human anatomy and how to display it correctly so that creations look as believable as possible are listed below. As already mentioned, this knowledge is important, usually it is the ability to correctly convey the structure of a person that says a lot about the level of skill of the artist. These are books such as:
- Giovanni Civardi, "Drawing. The human body. Anatomy, morphology, plastic . " He even considers plastic here, so that anyone can draw correctly from an anatomical point of view. Chivardi has another useful tutorial on the basics of drawing.
- There is another useful book with many illustrations, entitled "Anatomical Atlas for Artists" by Fritz Schieder
Graphics / Drawing:
- N. N. Rostovtsev, "Academic Drawing". A useful textbook, suitable for both beginners and experienced.
- B. V. Lushnikov, "Drawing. Portrait." The author focuses here only on the face and portraiture.
- A series of books by N.P. Beschastnov on schedule. He has all the textbooks divided into categories: color, plot, black and white graphics, still life and landscape graphics.
- Another famous book by N. Lee: "The Head of Man."
- B. Dodson, "The Art of Drawing."
It is worth noting that there are a lot of tutorials on a schedule, but they cannot be put on one list.
Painting:
- Barber Barrington, "You Can Draw Anything You Want."
- Yu. P. Shashkov, "Painting and its means."
- A. S. Zaitsev, "The Science of Color and Painting".
- Kate Fenwick, The Course of Watercolor Painting.
- Drawing water with watercolors is not so easy, so Joe Francis Dowden in the book "We draw water with watercolors" collected all the useful information about it.
- Tom Hoffmann, "How to Understand Watercolor."
- How to portray flowers beautifully will be told to you by Billy Shawell in the book "Portraits of Flowers in Watercolor".
- Wendy Gelbert, "Draw with Acrylic Paints."
- N. I. Prokofiev, "Painting. Technique of painting and technology of pictorial materials."
Composition:
- R.V. Paranyushkin, "Composition".
- O. L. Golubeva, "Basics of composition."
- S. A. Gavrilyachenko, "Composition in the educational drawing."
- N. M. Sokolnikova, "Basics of composition."
Other:
- Austin Cleon, "Steal Like an Artist." In his book, Austin Cleon sets forth the idea that everything new is a well-forgotten or modernized old, so it is worthwhile to be influenced from the outside if it is for the good.
- Thomas Brill, "Light. Impact on Works of Art."
- Gottfried Bammes, "Animal Image".
- Natalie Ratkowski, "Profession: Illustrator."
- Lisa Kongdon's “Do It All Day” is not a drawing tutorial, but it’s a great guide for people who already draw and earn money on formal intricacies and business promotion.
- F. V. Kovalev, "The Golden Ratio in Painting". The golden ratio plays a special role in art. Many great artists can trace the harmony of the composition, due to the golden ratio. It will be useful to read to any beginner.
It contains the most common drawing and painting textbooks for artists and beginners. You should always look at the reviews first, because there are positive, and even negative reviews from the best books for artists. And after weighing the pros and cons, choosing the most liked tutorial (or better a few), you can indulge in a pleasant business.
Conclusion
There are many drawing tutorials that will never be redundant in order to learn something or deepen your knowledge. It is not so difficult to choose a book, but the main thing is to be persistent and draw regularly, and then the results will not be long in coming. Talent is a ghostly abstract concept, but work, aspiration and perseverance will definitely make any person talented. Remember that any book is just a learning aid.