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There are some reference books that are considered required reading for a serious
art student, with good reason. Others might be considered "just kid stuff". But I've learned
never to discount a good reference, no matter the intended audience. Some "children's" books,
such as DK publishing's "Eyewitness Books" are spectacular resources. So in the end,
I say use what works for you, and here are a few that have worked for me.
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Celtic / Medieval art
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Bridgman's : Complete Guide to Drawing from Life by George B. Bridgman
If I had to recommend one anatomy book above all others, this would have to be it. I have an
older hardback copy (circa 1952) of this that my mother gave me years ago, and I still
reference it constantly.
The Illustrator's Reference Manual photography by Mick Dunn and Dick Hatfield
I'm sorry to say this treasure from the UK appears to be currently Out of Print, but
it is possible to find used. If you can't purchase a copy, check your local library! This
book is a HUGE collection of photo poses of both men and women in a variety of positions and
costumes, filmed in complete 360 degree views, above and below. It really helps take the guess
work out of perspective and positioning on figures, and is well worth the investment if you can
find it.
The Artist's Complete Guide to Facial Expressions by Gary Fagin
To me, the face is probably the most important (and one of the most difficult) parts
of the body to render credibly. Learning good facial drawing techniques is a critical skill,
and this book is great place to start! I use this one myself very often, as it's user-friendly,
easy to follow, and presented with humor and style. Highly recommended!
How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way by Stan Lee and John Buscema
If you're interested in learning the techniques of dynamic superhero-style sequential art,
this is one of the first books I'd recommend reaching for. It's full of terrific facts and
techniques, dealing with perspective, figure drawing, inking and composition - not to mention
how to assemble a really good splash page or interior layout. The video version of this also
fun, not only for the chance to enjoy Stan Lee's enthusiastic narrative, but to see the late
master John Buscema in action. Definitely a keeper.
Dynamic Figure Drawing by Burne Hogarth
This book can be a little intimidating for the beginning illustrator, but to complement
the earlier figure reference books, it's well worth adding to your collection when you're
ready to move beyond basic figure construction and into (as the title states) dynamic
movement and presentation.
As a matter of fact, just about any anatomy book by Burne Hogarth is a worthwhile reference -
in particular,
Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery - another fantastic and often-used reference.
Drawing the Head and Figure by Jack Hamm
I also own Hamm's books on Drawing Animals and Drawing Scenery, and all are just wonderful.
Drawing the Head and Figure is especially useful as it not only focuses on specific trouble
spots in facial illustrations, but also covers hair styles for men and women (something easily taken
for granted) and dynamic lighting and shading. It's a solid, well rounded reference.
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How to Draw Animals by Jack Hamm
This book claims to be "intended for ages 9 - 12". To which I say, "rubbish!" This is a
great book for anyone wanting to learn more about the basics of drawing animals, with plenty
of useful tips for ALL ages and experience levels.
The New Encyclopedia of the Horse by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
If you're looking for an all-inclusive photo reference of horses, you could not ask for a
better guide than this gorgeous book. It's huge, it's on the pricey side, but it's probably
the most comprehensive breed guide on the market today. Another DK masterpiece, this beautiful
book covers not only every known breed of horse, but also a pictoral history of horses and
their contributions to human civilization. As an artist's guide, this is the first one I turn
to when illustrating horses. The breed guide alone is worth the investment.
The Complete Wolf by Liz Bomford
A wonderful natural history pictoral of wolves and their association to man through myth and
misconceptions. Beautiful photography showing them in their natural habitats on 3 continents.
There are some very disturbing photos in the section about wolf hunting, so as informative
as this book I don't recommend it for young children.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds by Angela Rixon
While some breeders have claimed that the text is not entirely accurate, the reference
value of this guide cannot be denied. Literally hundreds of beautiful photos of cat
breeds from around the world, as well as color and fur pattern guides, anatomy and more.
Great Cats (Majestic Creatures of the Wild) illustrated by Frank Knight
Sadly this book has also recently gone out of print, though at last look Amazon does have
some available yet. This amazing book details the breeds and habits of the world's 37
known cat breeds (16 of which are currently facing extinction). The photos are breathtaking,
and the book itself is extremely informative. If you love big cats, this is a great book!
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Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction by Iain Bain
This book was my introduction to the field of Celtic Art, Calligraphy and Illustration,
and as such it will always hold a place in my heart. This is another classic resource,
full of wonderful techniques and reference illustrations to help even the most novice
artist learn to create Celtic knotwork designs.
Celtic Spirals and Other Designs by Sheila Sturrock
If you're looking for a fantastic basic instruction guide with easy-to-follow tutorials
for learning Celtic art, this is the book I recommend highest. It is very well illustrated
and user-friendly, and is an excellent beginner's reference. Her sections on spirals alone
were worth the purchase price! :)
The Celtic Art Sourcebook by Courtney Davis
Courtney Davis has produced several wonderful books relating to Celtic Art and
Illumination, but this is one of my favorites. Not an instruction book so much as a display of
some of her best pieces. But whether you are an artist or just a lover of Celtic art,
I recommend adding this book to your collection. Amazon.com carries a HUGE collection of
her instructional guides and artist's references in the Dover collection, and I have to
say they're all worth the investment if you love Celtic art.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Arthurian Legends by Ronan Coghlan
This is a treasure trove of information about Arthurian legend and illustrations, from a
wide variety of sources - such as Geoffrey of Monmouth, Malory, Chretien de Troyes, the
Mabinogion, and the English Gawain Cycles. It contains many famous and beautiful
illustrations from Herbert Draper, George Fredrick Watts, Arthur Rackham, John Collier,
Edward Burne-Jones, William Russell Flint, and Fredric Lord Leighton, mixed with insets
from medieval manuscripts from the 12th and 14th centuries. A must-have for devotees of
Arthurian myth and fans of medieval, pre-Raphaelite and Victorian art.
The Book of Medieval and Renaissance Alphabets pub. by Graphics Arts Archives
Another book unfortunately out-of-print at the moment, but you might be able to find a used
copy at your local SCA or other specialty bookseller. This is a collection of decorative alphabets
from the 8th to the 14th centuries ce., and is a wonderful reference for calligraphers and
artists interested in medieval manuscript design.
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The "How to Draw Manga" series by Hikaru Hayashi
I've been collecting this series for a while now, and I have to say that as a newcomer
to illustrating Manga I'm extremely impressed with the information provided. Especially on
the books devoted to expressing emotions, bodies and anatomy, clothing, and drawing mecha.
The entire ElfQuest graphic novel series by Richard and Wendy Pini
I've been teased about this, but I'm not the least bit ashamed to say I am a HUGE fan of
Wendy and Richard Pini, and the Elfquest series played a very large part in my interest in
illustrating fantasy art. Wendy is an amazing artist, Richard an amazing author, and together
they are just a force of nature. I will proudly list this wonderful comic series as part of
my reference list, for it's beautiful layouts, dynamic expressions and body language illustrations,
and a perfect example of how good a comic can be when the art and story are properly blended.
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The Encyclopedia of Fantasy and Science Fiction Art Techniques
by John Grant, Ron Tiner
Possibly one of the greatest single resources a fantasy artist could have on their shelves,
and one I HIGHLY recommend to anyone interested in the genre!
The Encyclopedia of Colored Pencil Techniques
by Judy Martin
Colored pencil (especially watercolor pencil) is one of my all-time favorite mediums to
work with, and I found this book an extremely useful reference.
Fantasy Art Techniques by Boris Vallejo
Boris Vallejo has been an inspiration to many of my generation's artists, and is truly a
bright star in the firmament. This textbook is a terrific resource for learning basic
painting techniques and creating from photo references.
Drawing Scenery : Landscapes and Seascapes by Jack Hamm
My mother gifted me with this one as well, and it was one she recommended to all her students.
Mr. Hamm has taken a lot of the fear factor out of landscape composition and illustration
in this easy-to-follow guide. Another must-have reference!
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The Illustrated Book of Signs and Symbols by Miranda Bruce-Mitford
Not specifically an art reference, yet a valuable resource all the same. This book
is published by the amazing Dorling Kindersley company -
who also produce some of the most fantastic reference books I've ever seen. What really sets
them apart is their use of actual photo images of their subjects, with very informative text
to accompany it, and this book is certainly no exception. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone
interested in the specific use of symbology and color in presentations.
DK Books has a series called "Eyewitness Books", which although they're marketed toward
young teenagers, is the perfect example of the photo-realistic references I've just mentioned.
The series covers a very wide range of topics, and all have unbelievable amounts of very
useful reference photos. I own several myself and look forward to building up the collection
as I'm able. Look for Eyewitness Books at your favorite book seller today!
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