Drawing Manga, by J.C. Amberlyn, is an encyclopedia of sketches. It describes how to draw animals, people, various body parts, various backgrounds, and all sorts of other pictures, all in the characteristically cute “chibi” art style. The typical page format is a “teaching” paragraph, followed by a few process sketches and a final result picture.
I very much enjoyed Drawing Manga. I found the instructions simple and easy to follow, but with their help I was able to draw some amazing pictures. Drawing Manga had instructions to draw an enormous number of animals and people, all with clear instructions and demonstration sketches. In addition, Drawing Manga gives the reader the tools to forge ahead and design their own characters, not limiting them to the demonstration pictures between its covers. The book itself was a good balance of pictures and words, and the bright colors held my attention. I loved how the author inserted occasional sketches of herself into the illustrations. Overall, I would recommend the book to any budding artist wholeheartedly; it is an educational and entertaining read.
- Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications
- Publication date: 2009
- Genre: How to Draw
- Date of Review: 05/22/2010
