LET'S DRAW PEOPLE

Thirteen diverse artists deliver step-by-step instructions for drawing characters, objects, and features.

A short, upbeat preface encourages aspiring artists to find a style that works for them, spend plenty of time practicing, and embrace a “no rules” approach to creativity. Each double-page spread features numbered instructions paired with a full-color finished drawing, several “Tips and Tricks," and a photograph of the artist. The kid-appealing subjects include a ninja, superhero, wizard, and astronaut, with the titular catchall “people” stretched to include Wook Jin Jung’s robot and C.G. Esperanza’s robustly embellished sneaker. Kyle Beckett covers cartoonish facial expressions, while Ángeles Ruiz offers examples of boys’ and girls’ haircuts. Approaches to the steps and tips vary among the artists. Lian An-Lin’s approach to drawing a biker, which appends a thoughtful suggestion to each of six steps, is among the most child-friendly. Several artists provide ideas for creating the illusion of form by using shading and color variations. Colin Bootman’s pirate has an androgynous appearance; Tim Palin encourages artists to jazz up their images of a clown by playing around with clothing and makeup. The strength of this work is in the practicing artists’ varied styles and their collective, dual emphasis on technical tips and readers’ own imaginative choices. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An accessible, appealing introduction for beginning artists.