Sometimes we just need a kick-start in the right direction.
Although the intention was always there, itās been a while since Iāve drawn seriously. As such, Iāve decided toĀ reboot! Itās helpful to get back to basicsĀ after a long period of not creating (or even during a really tough art block).
What better way to beginĀ than by hittingĀ the books?
For those who want to learn to draw or those who want to get back into the habit of creating, there areĀ oftenĀ two obstacles that prevent even starting:
MindsetĀ ā Limited and generally negative, it often sounds like āI canāt, I suck,ā or some other similar variant.
StructureĀ ā Donāt know what to draw, how to draw, when to draw, where to draw, etc.
ā¦ it leads toĀ stagnation.
Iāve selected 5 books that focus on clearing those obstacles, all of which are geared towards people who have never drawn before. Especially for people who believe theyĀ canātĀ draw or areĀ notĀ creative, which can happen to even experienced artists. Most of the books include exercises for practical application.
This time, I’ll be noting any nuggets of wisdom as I read and each book will be reviewed separately in future posts. They’ll be read in order with the first books touching on the mindset (the why), leading up to the ones about the structure (the how).
If there are other books you’d like to recommend, please let me know!
The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to Be the Artist You Truly AreĀ ā By Danny Gregory. The tagline to this book is about permission, which is something I struggled with. I received this book from someone special at a time when my dreams of being an artist were being crushed over and over again (pressure to becomeĀ anythingĀ but an artist, ideally a doctor). Although I didnāt agree with some of the ideas presented in the book, it was responsible for a few sketchbooks being filled. Ā So, itās worth reading again.
Update: Read the detailed review here.
Sketchbook Confidential: Secrets from the private sketches of over 40 master artistsĀ ā Edited by Pamela Wissman and Stefanie Laufersweiler. This is actually a collection of some sketchbook pages from various artists with their thoughts on sketchbooks and how they use them. Itās more inspiration than informative, though I bought it at the time because it listed some artists I admired (Cathy Johnson, Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, among others).
Update: Read the detailed review here.
The New Drawing on the Right Side of the BrainĀ ā By Betty Edwards. Possibly the most famous beginner’s book and required reading for pretty much any beginner drawing class, this book is the only one on the list with more text than art or drawings. It covers the ever popular Right Brain/Left Brain theory. Though the book can be a dry read, and I donāt entirely believe everything said in the book, itās helpful for breaking mental barriers that prevent people from accurately āseeing.ā
Update: Read the detailed review here.
The Magic of DrawingĀ ā By Cliff Wright. I actually love this book and bought it thanks to a good friendās recommendation. Itās also geared towards beginners, much like The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, but itās more lighthearted andĀ covers the imagination whereas the former book is focused on observation.
Keys to DrawingĀ ā By Bert Dodson. Iāll be honest here. Iāve owned this book for at least a year, probably more, and Iāve never actually done more than skim through it. It containsĀ exercises and checklists and has great reviews on Amazon. Iāll definitely have to do it justice and read it from cover to cover.
Have you read these or are there any otherĀ books that have gotten you past an art block? Ones that got you to start drawing?
āĀ Kimi