Illustration & Manga Drawing - Technical Books for Polishing Expression
By systematically learning techniques for drawing illustrations and manga from basics to application, you can freely express the images in your mind.
What Is the Art of Drawing Illustration and Manga
The art of drawing illustrations and manga is not mere talent but a skill that can be systematically learned. By acquiring foundational knowledge like facial balance, body structure, and expression of movement, you can realize the images in your head on paper or digital screens.
One point where beginners often stumble is trying to aim for perfect drawings from the start. However, excellent technique books present step-by-step approaches, showing paths to reliable improvement while accumulating small successful experiences.
Benefits of Learning from Technique Books
When self-studying illustration, you may not know what to practice and in what order, taking a roundabout way. Quality technique books concentrate the know-how professional illustrators and animators have acquired over many years.
- You can learn efficient practice methods
- You can objectively grasp your weak points
- You can continue while maintaining motivation
Recommended Books
The books introduced here are practical guidebooks for acquiring illustration and manga drawing techniques. They can be used according to your level from beginner to intermediate.
No "Drawing Well" Allowed: Painless Illustration Improvement Methods
This book teaches that the most important thing in improving illustration is 'not trying to draw well.' Being freed from perfectionism lowers the psychological barrier to drawing and enables continuous practice. A popular YouTube illustrator clearly explains mindsets and specific practice methods for not giving up.
- The pressure to draw well is the biggest enemy hindering improvement
- The number of drawings made and continuation are the keys to skill improvement, not completeness
- Drawing roughly without fear of failure expands the range of expression
- Continuing to draw while having fun is the most efficient way to improve
Hiromasa's Drawing Lecture: Face Drawing Edition
This book carefully explains the basics of drawing character faces in manga format. It is structured so that beginners can learn step by step through points they tend to stumble on, from how to place guide lines to drawing different expressions. By actually moving your hands while reading, you naturally develop a sense of facial balance.
- Facial balance stabilizes by correctly placing guide lines
- Understanding the positional relationship of parts allows drawing faces from various angles
- Expressions can be infinitely expressed through combinations of eyes, eyebrows, and mouth
- There are clear rules for drawing differences between genders and ages
【マンガ】ヒロマサのお絵かき講座<顔の描き方編> (廣済堂マンガ工房)
うえだ ヒロマサ, 廣済堂マンガ工房 / 廣済堂出版 / 2014-07-01
お絵描きについて心底悩んだ経験を持つ作者「ヒロマサ」が、 読...
Anime Private School Style: Character Drawing Techniques to Draw Anything Fastest
This book generously shares the drawing techniques practiced by professional animators. It is packed with practical techniques from how to simplify and capture human body structure to drawing poses with movement. The included DVD shows actual drawing processes, allowing understanding of nuances that are hard to convey through text alone.
- Complex poses can be drawn by replacing the human body with simple shapes
- Being conscious of center of gravity and flow of movement creates lively drawings
- Watching professional drawing processes reveals efficient procedures
- Training observation and memory is the foundation for improving drawing ability
DVDビデオ付き! アニメ私塾流 最速でなんでも描けるようになるキャラ作画の技術
室井 康雄 / エクスナレッジ / 2017-11-16
Youtube、Twitterで話題沸騰! あの「アニメ私塾...
Drawing People is Fun! Figure Drawing for Manga
This book is an introductory guide designed to make learning the basics of figure drawing enjoyable. You can learn how to draw the human body for manga and illustration while understanding the structure of bones and muscles. Rather than rigid artistic anatomy, it focuses on knowledge actually needed for drawing, making it accessible for beginners.
- Knowing the basic structure of the human body allows free deformation
- Understanding the mechanism of bones and muscles enables drawing natural poses
- The secret to improvement is drawing enjoyably without overthinking
- Building a solid foundation creates the ability to apply
Summary
Illustration and manga drawing techniques will definitely improve with proper materials and continuous practice. The books introduced explain drawing techniques through different approaches and will help you find a method that suits you. What's important is not seeking perfection but gradually improving while enjoying drawing.