Any good books on the basics?

[Mazy]

First let me say this is probably one of the best sites that I've ever been on. I've learned a lot and have learned that there is so much more than I need to learn. Just...I'm not really sure what I'm doing anymore. I love drawing. I love illustrating the stories in my head. But I've never stepped foot into a art class and I don't feel as if I've ever really learned the foundation stuff that I think I'm suppose to learn.

Just about everything I do is trial and error, drawing from little tidbits that I've read here and there, looking at artwork and trying to visualize how the artist did it. But I think I've crippled myself by just focusing on certain aspects of things. I feel like I'm just drawing the same things over and over and not really getting anywhere.

Er...so I'm wondering if anyone could recommend some good books for beginners? It would help to start from square one, wouldn't it?

I don't know. Please forgive me for any ignorance. :bashful:

Thanks!

[FalconInverse]

I'd generally avoid books which try to appeal to begginers, because they are often targeting a different audience than those keen to truly learn the art of.. art.

That said, I think there are some good beginners books to recommend. Almost everyone I've spoken to seems to think highly of

The New 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' by Betty Edwards.

also

'The Natural Way to Draw' by Nicoliades, comes highly recommended for a person with a lot of time, and a live model to work from.

Two things in particular, i'm told, will improve your drawing.. 1) drawing from life (or live model) and 2) practice.

Books are mostly icing for the cake.. you can't do too much with it, unless you have the cake.. Unless you're the type of person who likes to eat the icing by itself. I know it tastes good at first, but it really does a number on your teeth.. what were we talking about again??

[MCImaginary]

We were talking about the party at your house on sunday. With lots of cake. Lots of it, get to work.

As a beginner myself I find that before I jump into creativity, comics, painting, or anything else I need to learn the basics. Learn what you draw. I'm starting off with a highly reccomended book by Andrew Loomis named "Drawing the Heads and Hands". Of course, that is all it will teach you, but the practice is good and it is a technique which can be mastered.

For the rest of the body, I have found "Figure Drawing Basics" to help quite a bit. It brings you slowly into the method you should use for drawing people by starting with a stick figure and slowly telling you to do some more things to it. Unfortunately I can't find who the author is, sorry.