From the Studio with Patrick McEvoy.
One subject artists like to talk about is art technique books. The ones they love, the ones they hate, the ones they can’t do without. Everyone has their favorites, and I certainly have mine. This article is about some of my favorite books, why they’re my favorites, and some ideas about what to look for when deciding which books to add to your collection.
First, a bit of info about my library might be interesting: I have a hobby of sorts, which is reading and collecting books on art technique. I have lots of obscure artists’ magazines from the 1930s and ’40s, and even a few tutorial books from the 1920’s era. The great thing about these is that they are from the aptly termed “Golden Age of Illustration”. There was, at that time a vast, popular appreciation for illustrators, many of whom had the sort of superstar status which is today reserved for performing geniuses like Britney Spears and Keanu Reeves. With this popular support came an exceedingly high standard of craft, which is reflected in the books of the time; they can be very enlightening.
I also love second-hand bookshops! I haunt them regularly, and in my part of the world (Northern California) there are approximately 2.3 bookstores per capita. So every time I’ve spied a bargain book over the last ten years or so I’ve picked it up to at least give it a read. I estimate, that I have bought and read at least 1,000 books on the subject of art technique in that time, and my collection is currently around 200 volumes strong, not counting magazines and books about artists or reference books. That’s a lot of sheer tonnage, but then there are a LOT of cool books out there.
But let us delay no further! The following is a list of my favorite technique books, my idea of the essentials:
Technique books for artists
Rendering in Pen and Ink, Arthur Guptill
Rendering in Pencil, Arthur Guptill
Color in Sketching and Rendering, Arthur Guptill
I’ll start with my favorite writer on the subject of art: Arthur Guptill. The man just flat-out knows how to write an instruction book! I re-read these and other books of his periodically, just for the joy of running my eyes over his prose and excellent examples. Even though they were written in the 1930’s and ’40s, they are as useful today as they ever were.
Amazingly, two of these books, Rendering in Pencil and Color, are out of print, though they seem to print the Pencil book every few years, so it’s easier to find. These books are complete, they’re easy to follow, and they include lots and lots of stunning examples by different top artists of the day, representing as many different styles as Guptill could find, it seems.
If I had one book to give an aspiring illustrator, I think it would be Rendering in Pen and Ink.
The Illustrator’s Bible, Rob Howard
The subtitle (though potentially coma-inducing) says it all: The Complete Sourcebook of Tips, Tricks, and Time-Saving Techniques in Oil, Alkalyd, Acrylic, Gouache, Casein, Watercolor, Dyes, Inks, Airbrush, Scratchboard, Pastel, and Mixed Media.
And it really is, too!
It ’s very well written and filled with unexpected tips from the personal experiences of a very good commercial artist. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth, Andrew Loomis
Creative Illustration, Andrew Loomis
(Out of Print)
You may have heard of Loomis, but until you have read one of his books you simply don’t know what you are missing. Here is a man who is both a master illustrator and a master teacher. His knowledge and his ability to convey this knowledge in print are both breathtaking. I can say with total assurance that everything you would ever need to know about being a professional illustrator is contained within these books – the rest you could teach yourself. Seriously.
The subjects covered in these books are all indispensable to any illustrator: from basic techniques such as perspective, composition, figure drawing and using reference, to such advanced ideas as how to proceed from a client’s brief to final art.
Sadly, problems between Mr. Loomis’ estate and potential publishers have kept these and other Loomis books out of print for 30 years or more. Walter Foster offers some VERY truncated volumes, but they’re really only useful for looking at the pretty pictures – I’m afraid I can’t recommend those. There’s good news though – you can find some scanned versions of the books online! It’s a pain but it’s better than nothing… Or you can save up your money and buy one yourself, but expect to spend $75 – $250 or more, depending mostly on the edition and condition.
Keep your eyes peeled for a bargain – they’re worth it.
Bridgman’s Complete Guide to Drawing from Life, George Bridgman
(a.k.a. Bridgman’s Life Drawing)
Bridgman’s easy-to-follow “constructive anatomy” technique is a great standard, and very useful to the working artist. This book is not very expensive, and can often be found used.
