Favorite Books For Learning The
Art Making Process By Neil Blevins Created On: Sept 18th 2025 Software: Any
Even if a world with a billion youtube videos and countless online
articles, I still get many questions on what books do I recommend for
learning how to make art. In that spirit, here's a collection of my
favorite books that teach everything from drawing to painting to
composition theory. See if you have a few of these in your library, and
if not, maybe you should!
Creative Illustration by Andrew
Loomis
Everyone's collection needs to include an old classic, and this one is
my personal recommendation. Contains lots of fundamentals such as
composition theory, sketching, etc. There's been many advances in
teaching artwork over the years, but this book is that one old standby
that contains the ancient knowledge.
Speaking of art fundamentals, these 2 books by Art Center
head Scott Robertson are modern classics. Need to know how to draw in
perspective? He has the clearest lessons I've ever seen. Especially
great for people interested in Industrial Design, which should be a
fundamental for most concept artists.
A spectacular book on composition theory (the
amount of info she squeezes into this short book is nuts). She breaks
down
complex topics into the simplest abstract forms to discuss things like
focal points and compositional weight.
Every collection needs an art history book, which delves
into paintings, drawing, architecture and furniture from all the major
art periods, from Baroque to Art Deco to the Renaissance. Several books
fit this bill, but the one I used in school was Arts & Ideas by
William Fleming, and I found it to be decent, if you're missing a book
of this type in your collection, this is a good one to grab.
Especially if you're a concept artist, having a little
more information on product design is a must, and this book is a decent
one in the field. If you've never heard of an Eames chair or De Stijl,
get this book, it will teach you a ton about product design, form and
function, and will help you design better items to populate your
imaginary worlds.
Colossal Collection Of Action
Poses by Buddy Scalera
For people who want to draw or paint characters, this
amazing book has thousands of real life reference photographs, people
posed in every configuration imaginable: sitting, looking heroic,
jumping, climbing, shooting arrows. Great
reference if you want to give your characters far more life beyond them
just standing there.
Vision: Color and Composition For
Film and Sketchbook: Composition Studies For Film by Hans P Bacher
Two great books that are mostly just simple paintings of
expressive and eye catching filmic compositions. Lots of thumbnails
using the minimal amount of visual information to get its point across,
can be used for inspiration for your own more detailed keyframes.
Still Life: Pro Lighting by Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz
While mostly geared to photographers, once you understand
how to set up compelling imagery through careful lighting in real life,
it will 100% improve the lighting and materials knowledge in your
imaginary drawings and paintings.
The Skillful Huntsman by Khang
Le, Mike Yamada, Felix Yoon and Scott Robertson
For those interested in concept art or concept design,
this is the first book to really shine a spotlight on the larger
process of creating an art bible. A story is chosen, then a set of
students come up with drawings and paintings or characters, vehicles,
props and environments that propel the narrative forward. If you're
interested in the process of visual development for live action film,
animation or
games, this book is a must buy.
