Yokai Bestiary: How to Draw Eerie and Enchanting Japanese Ghouls and Monsters

by Lance Red (illustrator)

Learn how to draw a bestiary of supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore, and discover their origins as you go.Yokai is a Japanese term for mystical beings that encompasses a range of supernatural phenomena, including demons, monsters, ghosts, and shapeshifters. Known to be mischievous, wise, and eccentric when teaching life lessons to humans, the creatures are often at the center of popular anime and manga stories. In Yokai Bestiary, learn how to draw 35 types of yokai while learning the folklore behind them. Created for artists of all skill levels, this step-by-step drawing book shows you how to block in major shapes, provide proper shading to give dimension and depth to your drawings, and draw small but culturally significant details. Among the yokai types, you’ll learn to   Kitsune, fox demons with multiple tails Kappa, reptile-like spirits with a turtle's shell on their backs Tengu, monsters with bird-like characteristics Kodama, tree spirits  Nekomata, cats with two tails  And many more!  With both drawing instruction and Japanese mythology to engage your mind, Yokai Bestiary will transport you to a fantastical land of beasts and spirits.

Genres: Nonfiction, Japan, Art, Asian Literature

192 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2024

About the author

Lance Red is an illustrator and designer with a love for animated colors and clean line art. As an artist, he paints both digitally with Photoshop or Procreate and traditionally using oil paints. Either way all of his illustrations start with a pencil, paper, and a good drawing; his first love in art.

Lance worked for years as a freelance artist in the tabletop gaming industry creating character illustrations for a variety of role playing games and currently is developing a new collection of personal work revolving around his love for yokai, Japanese culture, and the craft of traditional painting.

'Yokai Bestiary: How to Draw Eerie and Enchanting Japanese Ghosts and Monsters' published by Wellfleet Press is Lance's first book that he has written and illustrated. In it he shares his passion for yokai mythology and walks the reader through drawing a wide variety of yokai creatures. He also goes over his favorite drawing tools, tips & techniques, and insight on how to take your drawings to the next level.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Wellfleet Press, for the advance reading copy.

Just grab this book as it expertly guides you through the easiest simplest steps on how to draw the theme art of Yokai, Japanese term for mystical creatures.

I am thoroughly impressed with everything about this book. Any one of any age can take creative inspiration easily from this book.

[Anna Makowska · Rating 5 out of 5]

A part drawing guide, part lesson about Japanese folklore, it's an enjoyable read with practical exercises for drawing. From cute tanuki (Japanese raccoon-dog) to imposing oni (a demon-ogre), we're introduced to a slew of various supernatural mythological creatures, some more dangerous and scary, some more mischievous and mundane, including a glossary at the end. The drawing process is explained stage by stage and framed by general drawing advice and discussion of equipment for physical and digital drawing. The designs and interpretations of the mythological creatures are clear, creative and evocative.

I would recommend this book for beginner fans of Japanese folklore and drawing, who want to learn about basics of both.

Thank you Netgalley and Wellfleet Press for the ARC.

[Lex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book. I thought at first it’s just a Yokai encyclopedia. But when I opened it the author is teaching me how to draw them! So fun! And the author makes drawing the yokai so easy. The additional knowledge about the yokai backgrounds are definitely fun to know for someone who likes anime too.

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many interesting yokai. I think my kids would love this book. The art is beautiful. I can't wait to see it in its physical form.

4 stars

[Knigoqdec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Макар че това е книга от серията "Как да рисуваме...", подборът от йокаи, информацията за тях и цялостната ѝ визия са страхотни. Аз лично не мога да нарисувам и една права линия, но ми беше доста интересно, дори и авторът да е избрал да представи някои от йокаите с не толкова зловещите им истории. Повечето йокаи така или иначе не са винаги непременно зли, така че не е направил нищо лошо, ами напротив. Успява да привлече интереса дори към всекидневните и най-често безвредни създания, които правят само бели.
От дълго време си търся хубав справочник за йокаите, така че тази книга е доста добро начало, нищо, че не разполага с неограничено количество информация. И без това трудно може да се обхване всичко, след като основната идея е рисуването. За съветите за пресъздаването на образите не мога да кажа нищо, защото нямам идея дали са лесни за изпълнение. За мен всичко е трудно :D

[Justin Reedmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun beginner's "how to draw" book, focused on yokai.

I wish I had more books like this growing up. Rather than focusing solely on the drawing aspect, the book seconds as informative and entertaing giving profiles and background on the yokai it's teaching you to draw. Lite level, of course, but enough to draw pique interest, and inspire the desire to research more.

My only criticism, is much like most "how to draw" books, even as a novice level book, it's a bit lite on direction and technique. That said, i do appreciate that, unlike many others, it makes a point that you need very little to draw, something to mark with and something to mark on, rather than bombarding new artists with "here are 100 different tools pro artists use". I love that approach. Pencil? Paper? You're perfect!

*ARC provided by NetGalley & Quarto Publishing Group*

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yoaki Bestiary: How to Draw Eerie and Enchanting Japanese Ghouls and Monsters is a great drawing book on, you guessed it, how to draw yokai! Not only is there a really plain and easy to follow step by step instructions, ranging from easier to much harder, on how to draw these Japanese creatures and beings of legend, but also information on each one -- the origins, if known, the cultural relevance, what they do, if they're goofy or spooky...

A neat little book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Wellfleet Press | Wellfleet Press for the eARC in exchange for review!

[Kateryna Sternberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The art style was extremely beautiful and I found the steps for drawing easy to understand and to follow. I wish there were more in-depth descriptions of the yokai as well as more of their stories to truly understand their nature. Another note I would have loved a page after each yokai depicting it in different poses or its different incarnations.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, "Yokai Bestiary: How to Draw Eerie and Enchanting Japanese Ghouls and Monsters" is a super cool guide to drawing all sorts of weird and wonderful Japanese creatures - ghouls, monsters, urban legends! Not only does it provide a step by step tutorial on how to draw them, but goes into each of the unique creatures' lore and background story. All around an interesting drawing guide and book.

[Tyler Spragg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Yokai Bestiary is exactly what the title suggests, providing details on various supernatural beings, with how-to-draw instructions for each entry. It’s pretty thorough, and I’m probably going to show this to my kids around the time they get interested in Pokemon and other little monster stuff! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Each yokai is introduced with a quick paragraph on their origins or cultural appearances prior to step by step drawing instructions. Yokai designs included are very detailed. Some kawaii style drawings of yokai would have been a good addition.

[Read With A Teacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley Review

Star Rating: ★★★★★

Nice easy to understand steps, great explanations on each step and great tidbits of information about each Yokai. Any kid that loves to draw and loves monsters would love this book!

Like always though, read it and decide for yourself

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yokai Bestiary is perfect for anyone interested in drawing mythological creatures. The instructions are clear and precise and before each drawing, it gives a detailed description of the mythical creature that is fun to read and very educational. The book even has a list of classic yokai artists and a list of recommended reading to learn more about yokai. 5 of 5 stars.