7 Books on Realistic Life Drawing to get you Started

Perfect your knowledge of the human body with these must-have books

The human body is one of the most fascinating subjects for anyone who loves drawing or wants to learn how to draw. We are naturally attracted to human figures, and faces are a near endless source of inspiration and practice.

Artist and teacher Xavier Denia Valls (@xavi_denia) believes drawing allows us to discover new ways to solve problems and learn how to communicate, making this skill a genuinely intriguing art.

Extend your reference library and grow your personal collection with Xavier’s top seven books on life drawing that are guaranteed to inspire you. What’s your favorite?

Morpho: Anatomy for Artists, by Michel Lauricella

Michel Lauricella gives you a systematic method for drawing the body. He teaches you to consider the musculature in order to capture poses and moving figures with over a thousand illustrations. He also provides diagrams of the bone structure, a variety of anatomical structures, and the principles of movement. The book is also available in French and Spanish as Morpho: Anatomie Artistique or Anatomía Artistica.

Figure Drawing for Artists by Steve Huston

This book follows the same two-step methodical principle studied by animators at major film studios like Disney and DreamWorks. It was created to reveal structure and gesture and is founded on the study of classic works like the Venus de Milo or Raphael’s frescoes. The Spanish edition is titled: Dibujo de la figura humana: Técnicas de los artistas clásicos.

Fundamentals of Drawing by V.A. Mogilevtsev

This book has been recommended reading at the Saint Petersburg Institute for Painting, Sculpture and Architecture for over four decades. It includes illustrations, tables, anatomical diagrams, and work by the great masters, curated by a teacher belonging to the Russian classical school. He also gives you step-by-step instructions on how to draw.

Drawing the Head and Hands by Andrew Loomis

Loomis was an illustrator who dedicated himself to the art of teaching people how to draw. Many of his works are considered classic manuals. This publication includes detailed techniques to capture facial details, expressions, and features. Hands and faces require a certain degree of skill. He explains how to achieve realistic results using simple methods. In Spanish the book is known as: Dibujo de Cabeza y Manos.

Anatomy for Sculptors. Understanding the Human Form. by Uldis Zarins and Sandis Kondrats

This book is reputed to be one of the most important titles on human anatomy for artists. It’s full of easy explanations for visual thinkers and it’s useful for artists, sculptors, and anyone wanting to understand the body.

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention by Michael Hampton

This book is an instruction manual for both experienced and newbie artists. It focuses on a simplified understanding of structures to allow you to understand the mechanics of the body and how it moves. It includes a series of practical exercises to help you assimilate each step.

The Practice & Science of Drawing by Harold Speed

This guide covers various principles you may encounter while drawing, for example, the freedom to choose between realism and artistic vision. This author approaches drawing and painting by contrasting precise methods with artistic freedom. He explains his ideas using diagrams and historical examples. Although the English edition is easier to obtain, the Spanish edition is entitled: La práctica y la ciencia del dibujo.

If you’d like to explore this subject further with Xavier, sign up for his course: Realistic Portraits Using Charcoal. He’ll also teach you the materials and step-by-step processes you need to achieve portraits that jump off the page.

English version by @claregaunt

You may also like:

- 3 Steps to Become a Happy Full-time Artist by Claudia Sahuquillo.
- Why is No-one Smiling in Classic Portraits and Photographs?
- Illustration Tutorial: How to Use Light.