How to Draw Almost Everything: An Illustrated Sourcebook

by Chika Miyata

Not sure how to start your drawing of a flamingo or a flying squirrel? Businessman? Bat? Baobab tree?  How to Draw Almost Everything  is here to help!

With over 2,000 images, this visual reference book offers instructions for drawing animals , people , plants , food , everyday objects , buildings , vehicles , clothing , and more. The section on people gives simple tricks for showing emotion (angry, surprised) and action (skipping, doing a handstand). There's also a section on clothing that shows how to draw coats and jackets , shoes and boots , bell-bottoms and skinny jeans . From tricycles to tanker trucks, the book gives tips on drawing all kinds of moving vehicles. At then end of each chapter, author and artist Chika Miyata challenges you to synthesize what you've learned and create a scene . At the end of the chapter on animals, the challenge is to draw a zoo. At the end of the chapter on food, the challenge is to keep an illustrated food journal. Each entry is broken down with step-by-step illustrations , making this book perfect for beginners or experienced artists in need of a quick refresher and a great resource for those who want to express themselves through illustration or cartooning .

Each book in the Almost Everything series offers readers a fun, comprehensive, and charmingly illustrated visual directory of ideas to inspire skill building in their creative endeavors.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Drawing, Crafts, Unfinished, Reference

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2016

Reviews

[Blumeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a cute book and meets what it promises. You will learn how to draw a bunch of things in a japanese-style, from a simple strawberry to the loch Ness monster. Don't let grumpy adults that see a hat instead of the boa constrictor eating an elephant discourage you. Lovely book.

[Robb Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a self taught beginning artist and I cannot believe how much better I have gotten by spending time practicing and using how to draw books. This book was disappointing because it gave a TON of examples but not step but step. It shows a completed colored drawing of a fish 🐠, then says draw it. But it does not go over the steps on how to draw it. I've enjoyed books like, 'How to draw cool stuff', by Catherine V. Holmes, and 'How to draw cool stuff: a drawing guide for teachers and students, and 'How to draw flowers', by Blonde. These books were far more helpful for a beginner like me.

[Rhein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sebagai manusia yang punya level menggambar minus, buku ini ajaib! Sekarang udah bisa gambar hal-hal sederhana. How-to yang mudah diikuti.

[María E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro te da lo que promete su título: "Como dibujar casi cualquier cosa", te enseña paso a paso cómo dibujar animales, plantas y flores, alimentos, personas, prendas de ropa...

Pensaréis que si te enseña a dibujar todo eso, donde está el problema. Pues sencillamente en que te enseña a dibujar todo eso ¡como si tuvieras 5 años!

En fin, que no me ha servido, ni me ha aportado nada aprovechable, dinero tirado a la papelera y un libro inútil más ocupando espacio en las estanterías. 😒

[Uku · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book filled with cute childlike drawings about basically anything. Some might be put off by the childalike drawings and not see value of this book anywhere uselful. -However it's extremely beginner friendly book with nearly each paged filled with several step by step images of different animals and objects. I think it also is guiding people to not just perceive things around and break them apart in simplified shapes to use as building blocks to reconstruct drawings with but also once you undestand basic shapes of things you can basically draw them with anything you get your hands onto before advancing to all that sketch first and refine it later. Children most likely would like this book but I think one other reason besides being cute goes back to being very beginner friendly. Let's just say that if thrown in something complex like directly starting to draw as realistic human and animal potraits the step for beginner can get very high. In some cases way too high for them to even consider taking that step. -Or they have and are struggling when realizing how much practice it actually takes to get to that realism god tier. Yet pretty much everyone who has ever drawn as a child or starts to draw, begins from simple and for that reason too this book is so good. Also it works as a reminder from where everyone has began when they started. As well as first ever drawing doesn't really need to be master piece. I think we remember famous artists from their most famous artworks but not really by how long road they have gone on their creative journey which lead them to the that point.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. I "forgot" how to draw when I went to college and took a drawing class. I remember very vividly how the professor was so critical without giving any real guidance or suggestions. It really crushed my spirit. (And it wasn't even art school!)

Fast forward to years later -- I am a mixed media artist. I still have a block about drawing, so I thought this book would help. I've been drawing 1 little thing a day for #The100DayProject and it's been liberating. It doesn't need to be perfect, but damn, that actually DOES look like a jaguar!

But here's the best part: I have an almost-6-year-old daughter. Her homework every week is to write 5 words beginning with whatever letter is assigned that week and to draw a picture for each. My daughter either phones it in or freaks out because she "can't draw it!" Doing homework is a nightmare and it was worrying me because I don't want her to start out her school career hating homework.

I brought out the book from my stack and we started using that as a guide for her. She loves it. It is so helpful that I think I'm going to get her (us) the "for kids" versions, too.

Great book. So glad I followed my impulse when I saw this title!

[T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am I the only who thinks this book makes it look a lot easier than it really is? Or maybe I'm just really bad at drawing. Anyway, the illustrations are very cute and I wish I could copy her style, but for some reason her intentionally basic drawings end up looking purposeful and cute and mine end up looking like chicken scratch.

Despite my apparent lack of talent and obvious frustration, I still think there are some improvements that could be made. For example, the step-by-step guide she promises falls off after the animal section and even when she does have a step illustrated, they are not accompanied with any tips or instructions. (No real explanation on how to draw) I wish this book included some tips for strokes, direction of strokes, or guides on perspective.

[aname x · Rating 4 out of 5]

About illustration rather than realistic(?) drawings. Would be very tedious and repetitive something that would make you a better artist if you actually draw everything which I did not. If you've had other art instruction or if you actually work through the whole book it hammers through the concept that you can create a faithful rendition of anything by interpreting / copying its lines, shapes and / or colors. Copying the step by step examples of complicated subjects such as the famous sites in Japan was quite satisfying.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable. Both my 9 year old son and I have been busy using this book today. The illustrations are simple and effective and easy to follow. Definitely within reach of any age from 4 onwards (with assistance) or any skill set. The author is Japanese and many of the images are culturally relevant to Japan, so it’s fantastic for those who have an interest. It’s quite a thick book and the paper is high quality. The only way this could be better is if it was on a ring binding, so you don’t have to weight down the corners to keep it open while using it.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is simply amazing. When I first got it, I thought: “Oh great! I have a new book to help me draw!”. I started drawing using this book, and I was very impressed in what I could suddenly draw! It makes drawings very fun with step-by-step instructions. I have never been so motivated to draw, but now drawing is one of my favourite pass-times! In this book, you learn how to draw animals, fruits, vegetables and so much more! I would highly recommend this book to who wants to draw realistically or just for fun!

[S D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so great for when you just want to draw something and don't need an extremely detailed "how to" tutorial. I love that the author wasn't lying with the title. There is just about almost everything you can think of in this book. It is great for teachers and kids, and those who need some improvement with drawing, like myself.

[Bronwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best, simple drawing books. I tested many of the drawings and always found success. This book is perfect for an art classroom as it provides excellent visuals and small steps. I know this will be a favorite in my classroom.

[Uuttu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ei ole niinkään piirrosopas kuin kokoelma erilaisia piirroksia. Vain osasta kuvista on oikea ohje, vaan enemmänkin ideana on vain piirtää läpi, ei oppia itse. Tekijän piirtojälki on söpö ja yksinkertaistettu, mutta en sitä tahtoisi itse opiskella.

[Anggit · Rating 4 out of 5]

The drawing is so cute.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

East to follow

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, just a bit of fun

[Eric Hinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic for anyone who wants to draw. Perfect for elementary kids or creative kindergartners...or adults with bad creative eyes, like myself!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great basic drawing sourcebook, Japanese style illustations

[Charlynn Kah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this book! It has everything I need for some mindless doodling. Plus, the drawings are cute, colourful and very japanese-style. There are sections dividing the book into different categories - i.e. food, landmarks, animals etc. Pick one up, you won't regret it.