The 9 Best Figure Drawing Books (2023 reviews)

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Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Buy: Valerie l Winslow Figure Drawing Book READ REVIEW

Best For Figure: Buy: Steve Huston Figure Drawing Book READ REVIEW

Best With Pencil: Buy: Michel Lauricella Figure Drawing Book READ REVIEW

Best For More experienced Artists: Buy: Angela Rizza Figure Drawing Book READ REVIEW

Best For magazines: Buy: Mellem Figure Drawing Book READ REVIEW

Best For Beginner: Buy: Tom Fox Figure Drawing Book READ REVIEW

Best For Right handers: Buy: Juliette Aristides Figure Drawing Book READ REVIEW

Best Anatomy Book: Buy: Victor Perard Figure Drawing Book READ REVIEW

Best Art Book: Buy: Patrick J Jones Figure Drawing Book READ REVIEW

Best Overall: Valerie l Winslow Figure Drawing Book

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The valerie l winslow figure drawing book's material feels more premium than its price would suggest. This is a highly recommended anatomy reference book, for beginner to advanced artists. It's great for figure drawing. The art is gorgeous and Winslow has a great eye for how anatomy plays into figure art. It can reach to further convey understanding of what is happening underneath the form.

This book does not contain more than a couple of master drawings, but there are works by the author on every page. The book contains a glossary in the back which is very cool. The book is ideal for learning how to draw body parts/face/skeleton.

• Provides tips and illustrations on how these structures can be interpreted for drawing
• A must-have for anyone interesting in any artistic depiction of the human figure
• Good brand reputation

Best For Figure: Steve Huston Figure Drawing Book

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Next on the list, we've got yet another book that manages to win our hearts. It's the steve huston figure drawing book and it's widely considered as one of the best convenient book you can buy. If you have somewhat of a background and understanding in figure drawing prior to buying this book you'll get great value. Teaching the ability to put "life" into figure drawing, this Master artist leads the reader through the fundamentals building a foundation on which the drawer is not just depicting a solid figure, but a figure with life and movement. It covers every detail of the figure, even down to the tip of the thumb. It is deceptively comprehensive and very informative because the authour's teaching approach is to 'keep it simple', and to use a light dash of humour to deliver every element of life drawing to the reader/student.

This book includes many helpful exercises to help you become better at your craft. The different plane lets artists take brush or pencil to flat paper or canvas and make it look like rocks, or water, or a figure, or all of those things. It’s what gives the subject a lively and organic quality. This book will be the yardstick that all other instructional drawing books are measured by.

• Art, at its most powerful, appeals to the emotions
• Great, well-illustrated how-to anatomy book for beginners or more advanced
• Classic fundamentals clearly organized to build a solid foundation

Best With Pencil: Michel Lauricella Figure Drawing Book

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The michel lauricella figure drawing book gives the top-tier book a run for their money by offering flagship specs at a much more affordable price. It is a small book that is easy to tote. It allows artists to lay the book flat on the table. It is easy to follow, more drawing than words. It does make it easier to use for referencing because it lays mostly flat.

The books in this series are overall great, but instead of broken down steps, you dive right in the head first. It is good as hands on practice. They vary from dynamic to quiet, with a good variety of perspectives too. This is really good for studying and drawing anatomy.

• Begins with the head and ends at the feet
• Human anatomy is succinctly explained & demonstrated
• Awesome book for anyone who wants to draw

Best For More experienced Artists: Angela Rizza Figure Drawing Book

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Next on the list, we've got yet another book that manages to win our hearts. It's the angela rizza figure drawing book and it's widely considered as book that has the most suitable features. This drawing book is so wonderfully organized, illustrated and explained. It covers basics like shapes, using a grid, movement and point of view to name a few. It features, and creates an entire scene. It is perfect for children and any age group that's a beginner artist wanting to improve the way they draw.

This truly is a complete tutorial and would be appropriate for anyone of any age, not just children. It's really great for kids just starting out as well as kids that are well-versed. This would make a nice addition to a learning to draw shelf. The pelvis the chest and the joints (elbows, wrists, knees, etc) and you will learn how to make a more natural looking posture in a drawing.

• Easy to follow instructions and definite results
• Excellent for the artistically inclined or older child/adult that wants to learn
• A perfect book from which to learn to draw people
• Basic principles, perspective, movement, etc., are defined and explained

Best For magazines: Mellem Figure Drawing Book

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Gesture drawings are a better way to build a drawing because they show both the pose and the proportion of your figure (like an armature does) but also give your drawing a rhythm and flow. It is easy to figure out how to draw the hip line.

Mr. Mullem's illustrations are drawn in the size one might draw in your own sketchbook, which is helpful to someone who is trying to learn the forms of the body and anatomy because you are not having to struggle with adjusting size along with recreating the form. It's really more for slightly intermediate artist but still a very good book for people of all levels. It comes with a couple of additions and modifications, you can turn a simple stick figure into a foundation for a drawing.

The format of the book is so very approachable and full of great content without overwhelming you with too much detail. The book is really good, clear explanations, the pictures and drawings in it are very good for help in drawing people. It is perfect for beginners and those getting frustrated and overwhelmed with other books about firgure drawing.

• A fundamentally sound reference book for all artists
• Wonderful tool to help establish a foundation
• A very nice and simple tool

Best For Beginner: Tom Fox Figure Drawing Book

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If you are into cartooning and need a better understanding of anatomy, this is by far the best book out there. This book breaks down anatomy into small easy to understand chunks and gives you insight on the anatomy to come towards the end of the book. It simplifies and provides an excellent tool for creating your own characters. It's beautifully illustrated, and full of helpful tips.

This book has basically everything you would need to know and its great quality. Practicing the techniques from this book forces you to think three dimensionally in ways that other books on perspective sometimes miss as well. It's easy, simple and quick, which you can take at your own pace. The first chunk of the book gives you insight on the anatomy to come towards the end of the book. This book is a must have for anyone interested in drawing people occupying space.

• Good for anyone suck at how to go further
• Gives a huge leg up for quick improvement
• Lot of satisfied buyers

Best For Right handers: Juliette Aristides Figure Drawing Book

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The difference between this book and art school is that they make you draw and paint in art school. Not only is the book itself gorgeous with exquisite drawings, it is SO helpful in teaching the techniques needed to successfully draw the human figure. The book calls to the reader to become the artist and invites the interested artist/reader to work. It can make you a good at drawing the figure.

This book builds sequentially, from beginning lines to rendering volume, helping you understand the drawing process from start to finish. The print quality is beautiful and the instructions are easy to follow. It will smear on a smooth surface as it brushes against the opposite page. The only materials you need for this book are a good pencil, an eraser, and a pencil sharpener.

• Accuracy and improving your eye will come with time
• Must have for any artist into life drawing or classical style
• Excellent text especially during the covid crisis and classes all on line

Best Anatomy Book: Victor Perard Figure Drawing Book

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If you want nothing but a book that is satisfactory, this victor perard figure drawing book is certainly a best investment. Anatomy and Drawing by Victor Perard is a wonderful book for all serious artists of the human figure. This book intimately details bones, muscles, and poses from grouping gesture sketches all the way up to full contour drawings. It also has pages of the body from babies to ages 3, 5, and adult that you can look off of. This belies the book's eugenics-style, antiquated, culturally-insensitive thinking and needs desperately to be revised by someone with a current anthropological background.

This is an excellent book for the aspiring artist. It can be used in racial typology and are considered offensive. This is one of the most helpful guides on drawing and knowing the human body. It is a must have for your reference library.

• Full of greats illustrations of every bone and muscle in human body
• Outstanding resourse for a figure drawing artist
• New and hot release

Best Art Book: Patrick J Jones Figure Drawing Book

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As a professional artist who works a lot from photographs, this book is eye-opening and inspiring. This book is probably essential for any imaginative realist. This book has a lot of finest advises on how to get from structural to gestural, yet with the solid understanding of structure. This book teaches the artist to analyze the photo and not copy what you think you are seeing.

This book is full of those tips and process pointers that can help to refine your own work and change the way you think about creating. This book will be a ground breaker for aspiring artists and even open the eyes of those who have been drawing as a hobby for a long time. The quality of the book is good, you won't be disappointed, but it surely will withstand living next to your easel should you chose it.

• Shows the pitfalls of drawing from photographs
• Great art book to help your growing as an artist
• Good brand reputation