The Drawing Lesson: A Graphic Novel That Teaches You How to Draw

by Mark Crilley

Read This Comic and Start Drawing Today! Nominated for a 2017 Eisner AwardFor the first time ever, drawing instructor and graphic novelist Mark Crilley brings his easy-to-follow artistic instruction to aspiring artists in the form of a comic book, providing you with a one-of-a-kind how-to experience. In The Drawing Lesson, you’ll meet David—a young boy who wants nothing more than to learn how to draw. Luckily for David, he’s just met Becky—his helpful drawing mentor. Page by page, Becky teaches David (and you!) about the essential fundamentals that artists need in order to master drawing, all in a unique visual format. In panel after panel, Crilley provides lessons on shading, negative space, creating compositions, and more, with accompanying exercises that you can try for yourself. Are you ready to start your drawing lesson today?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Art, Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Drawing, Comics, Childrens

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2016

About the author

Mark Crilley is an American comic book creator and children's book author/illustrator. He is the creator of Miki Falls, Akiko, and Brody's Ghost. He is also noted for his instructional videos for drawing in the manga-style. Crilley distributes drawing advice to artists via YouTube videos and his DeviantArt account. In August 2010, he starred in some how to draw videos for Funimation on demand. Mark Crilley's wife is Miki Crilley who he named Miki Falls after. The two have a daughter, Mio, and a son, Matthew.
Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Cri...

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a self taught folk artist. As a kid, I loved to draw, but my art teacher in school didn't like my style and told me I had no talent. If she'd taken the time to work with me , instead of stifling my creative yearnings, the paths I chose in life might have been different. Instead, at nearly 60, I got my first art lessons along with David, from Becky, courtesy of Mark Crilley. It's been a lot of fun. Just in time, too-- my coloring book comes out in October from Tor Books. Imagine if I'd had Becky's help in the creation of that.

Thank you blogging for books and publisher for sending me my copy of this graphic book.

[Lada]

The interpersonal dynamics were weird, but the drawing instruction was great.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

An invaluable tool for beginning artists. The story was a little off and the dynamics between these two people wasn't always fun, nor did it always make sense. But this book is worth the reader's time if they want somewhere to start to learn how to draw realistically and learn the basics of composition.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've spent the past several years teaching 7th/8th/9th graders the basics of drawing. I've worked to distill instruction to the simple and easy-to-understand-and-implement basics. This book takes it all and presents it in a simple, modern, and interesting way. I would eagerly recommend it to any of my students or any kids interested in serious drawing.

This book was recommended to me by my school's awesome librarian. Thanks Mrs. Nef!

[Elizabeth A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel has an interesting premise. Can you take the basics of how to draw, and incorporate them into a story? This book shows that you can. It's a cute story of a young boy who has a passion for drawing, and along the way the reader learns along with him the fundamentals of drawing. This would make a good introduction for young artists.

[DaNae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I feel like I could draw anything. A book that does what it does, elegantly. A how to draw book coupled with and engaging story.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a clever story to teach budding artists how to draw! Told through a narrative format, this graphic novel follows young David and his inquisitive nature that leads him to beg an artist in the park to teach him her ways. Each week, David learns a new technique from his mentor. I loved the progressive lessons and pauses at the end of each chapter for artists to try on their own. I wish I had this story as a young artist. This will surely be one I recommend to others.

[Stewart Tame · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another descriptive title. A young boy, David, who really wants to learn how to draw, by chance encounters Becky, a young woman who agrees to teach him. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of drawing basics, and ends with suggested exercises for readers to try. I'll confess that I didn't actually try any of these myself, but they seem sound enough. I'm content with my passable doodling skills, and feel no burning desire to better them--seems like it would cut into my reading time, for one thing--but I would think anyone who followed Crilley's suggested lessons would see a marked increase in the quality of their drawing skills. I like the idea of telling the drawing lessons in comics form. I've been a fan of Crilley's work since the beginning of his Akiko series many years ago. There's a warmth and simplicity to his style that I find appealing, and he's good with slightly exasperated characters. I liked the relationship between David and Becky, how she finds him annoyingly over enthusiastic at first, but warms to him over the course of the lessons. This was a fun book and an interesting concept as well. Recommended!

[Michael Galdamez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only every once in a while do you come across a book as innovative as this.

I have loved drawing for as long as I can remember, making little comic books and copying pictures of characters I loved as a kid (example, my bazillion drawings of Sonic the Hedgehog). I heard about Mark Crilley around 2013 and instantly loved his teaching style. His books and videos have helped me in several ways, so when I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it.

Mark Crilley really shows off his talent for teaching, drawing, and writing in The Drawing Lesson. The story, art, and tips are all expertly executed. I think I was most surprised by the story. The two characters, David, a young aspiring artist, and Becky, a middle-aged experienced artist are both very enjoyable to watch interact with each other and see how much David progresses in his ability to draw. David's devotion inspired me. I wanted that to be me. Ultimately, the story is both very fun and real (although, sometimes it would be a little concerning if it was real, like David finding where Becky lives and his semi-stalking her for more lessons. Love it.).

Becky's tips throughout the book are extremely helpful, taking basic concepts about shapes, lines, shadows, and even empty spaces, and making it all easy to understand, and most importantly, possible to accomplish. Crilley says in the introduction to the book that its main purpose is to basically turn you into your own mentor. You will be the one to point out your flaws. You will be the one who knows what it's supposed to look like. And you will be the one to force yourself to do it right.

I would highly recommend this to any artist no matter where they are in their journey. There's plenty here to enjoy. So here's to picking up that pencil, and pad of paper (and eraser) more often!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about a boy, David, being mentored in drawing. As he is taught new concepts the reader is encouraged to try them too. I love the feedback that David is given, as he learns different techniques and works through his mistakes. I think children will get a lot out of this book and I can't wait to share it. I have also now discovered Mark Crilley's Youtube channel and this guy is awesome!

[Kat Ice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great graphic novel and way to learn to draw. Of course you wont have someone to say how well or not your doing but it was still amazingly drawn and written!

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

David was pesky and Becky was cranky af, but the drawing basics were good and instructional.

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant way to teach drawing! This isn't like your typical art books for kids where you learn how to draw a horse, a dog, or a lion. It's a graphic novel with a story about David, a boy that wants to learn how to draw. He meets Becky, who reluctantly gives him several drawing lessons and teaches him about proportions, shading, and negative space, among other things. After each lesson, there is a challenge for the reader to complete.

I love the approach this book takes. I love the way it doesn't follow the same format as other art instruction books. It's informative and well planned out. The art instruction is well written and because it's completely illustrated, easy to understand.

While this isn't a comprehensive book about drawing (things like perspective and concave lines aren't addressed), it's a fantastic starting point. Kids and adults that are jumping into the fray will find this helpful and entertaining guidance. It's very similar to a real art lesson where the teacher instructs, corrects, and critiques your work.

Highly recommended for budding artists ages 8 and up (Miss K loves it!)

Content: Clean

Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

My blog: Batch of Books

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very impressed with this new approach to drawing lessons. Fresh and different there is a lot to learn. There are several "Chapters" touching on subjects such as: Shading, Using Negative Space, Checking Proportions, Simplifying Things, and more. Seeing the examples and poor David's frustration at constantly having to redraw lines, helps me feel a little more normal in my artwork. I love the interaction between teacher and student. David's eagerness to learn and study...And his teacher's guiding hand, bringing him back to earth. I recommend this book for those who have a basic concept of drawing, but would like to learn more. Have fun with it, and remember, art is NOT like math!

I received a free copy of The Drawing Lesson through Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Renae McBrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Penguin Random House (via Blogging for Books) in exchange for an honest review.


This book is actually pretty cool. I'm artistically challenged and this book starts with the very basics and work its way through some rudimentary drawing skills in a way that my brain can process. I can't say that it actually worked, because I'm pretty sure the ever-learning-to-draw ship has sailed, but I'm keeping it around for my kids for later.

[♪ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and instructive, with interesting lessons and a sweet story. However, I wish that 1) the style of the comic was different from the characters' drawing style, because it's pretty confusing to figure out what's "real" and what's "drawn" in the book, and 2) the little kid was less immature and annoying so that the plot could develop beyond a simple story.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art is phenomenal. I mean, a book about art better have good art, right? But it really irked me how angry the characters got all the time! It felt super weird and angry throughout the book. And her leaving like that? Not cool! I like that it's a teach-and-try book. That's pretty cool.

[Chayah Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this book teaches you how to draw and tells an adorable story at the same time. This is such a cute story and I love how it ends. Its a combination of two of my favorite things: Graphic novels and drawing.

I highly recommend this book for you and your children!

[B.A. Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHOAH! a good plot, and really solid lessons in art technique and more importantly, mindset. I want 30 of these for my classroom.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was so totally amazing! It is exactly what it says it is: The Drawing Lesson, A Graphic Novel That teaches You How to Draw, except it should say Lessons, plural!
David a young boy who wants to draw more than anything else finds a talented, but semi-willing, mentor in Becky, drawing in the park. Frame by frame, page by monochromatic page, Becky shows the persistently insistent David how to draw, and see what he draws, test and correct accuracy, different ways to hold the pencil and make his lines, learning and practicing, adjusting the essential fundamentals of making a simple line drawing, adding shading to add form and light, seeing negative space, simplifying shapes, composing a composition, learning when to stop. This amazing instruction progresses in precise detail from frame to frame. From drawing a simple watch, to a tree, a pillow, laundry on a line, seascapes and creating a visual path into the drawing, paintings in a museum, a sleeping guard, picking just the right composition to frame an exquisite sculpture, Mark Crilley has invited us to join in and learn to draw with David. What also is expressed are the emotions, eagerness, frustrations, caring of the two characters and the challenges, loss and growth each experiences in their relationship, and a path of mentor ship moving forward.
I bought this for my always sketching, graphic novel loving granddaughter, but I think we’ll have to share it, for I have as much to learn from it as she does.
Incredible!

[Jamie Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot to add this when I read it last October but I LOVED it. I thought it was such a compelling and effective format for teaching some of the fundamentals of drawing in an engaging way. The illustrations were gorgeous, and I loved how they captured that sketchy quality of learning to draw. The lessons were simple yet powerful. I got it because I had set myself a challenge to draw for at least 10 minutes a day for the last 100 days of the year (to see if that kind of minimal effort but sustained consistency would get me anywhere) and was seeking all the instruction and inspiration I could get. This book certainly provided an abundance of both; I was pleased to find such a wealth of practical tips and instructions that I could immediately try out for myself (a session of focusing on the negative space of my bookcase comes to mind).

In addition to the instructional aspect though, I was pleasantly surprised by the impact of the story and characters. I fell immediately in love with the eager David and the reluctant, but eventually won-over Becky and was more emotionally impacted by those final, full-circle panels of the epilogue than I expected. So good. Take all the stars, Mr. Crilley. (Incidentally, I didn't realize Crilley was a renowned artist/author with a VERY popular YouTube channel, but it has been fun to discover that connection after seeing some of his videos and recognizing his name from this book.)

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the fact that I am well into adulthood, I never felt like I got much past kindergarten level regarding art. I felt totally at home jumping into all things theatrical, but put a drawing pencil in my hand– and I felt woefully underprepared. So when I saw the title of Mark Crilley’s book THE DRAWING LESSON, and the fact that it was a graphic novel, I was intrigued. Perhaps I could learn something about drawing in an easy, fun way.

The book did not disappoint. It provides a bunch of lessons about skills to think about and develop when drawing, with one focused lesson per chapter. These lessons include shading, negative space, creating a composition, checking proportions, and others. This is all taught within the graphic novel plot of a little boy eagerly seeking lessons from an artist name Becky whom he meets by chance. The plot mostly serves as a medium for the lessons to be taught to the boy (and the reader), but it is still a touching little story.

This book would be a great gift for a kid, but honestly– it’s great for anyone who wants to draw but feels intimidated by how much they don’t know. Mark Crilley’s passion for the subject and compassion for the reader are highly evident in this whimsically drawn and educational graphic novel.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crilley, Mark The Drawing Lesson : A Graphic Novel That Teaches You How to Draw, 167 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Watson-Guptill, 2016. $19. Langage: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’) Mature Content: G Violence: G

Davis loves to draw but admits he isn't very good. One day, while in the park, he watches a woman drawing and convinces her to give him a drawing lesson. The lessons continue (despite her attempts to avoid him) and David gets better and better. He learns about shading, sketching, light and shadow, using negative space, proportions, compositions and many other techniques artists use.

This book really is a drawing lesson. Although it is set up as a story about a boy finding a mentor, it's really a step by step instruction book teaching you how to draw. At the conclusion of each lesson, the reader is invited to try what they have just learned. So simple, this book is inspiring. In the artist's forward, Crilley talk about needing mentors, and that some people don't have access to them - this book does the trick. David is young - he talks about a 5th grade friend who can draw a Ferrari. Elementary or middle school students will love this.

EL, MS - ESSENTIAL Lisa Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Panel by panel, this graphic novel leads its budding artist and the reader through the ins and outs of rendering pictures with pencil. The lessons are easy to follow for children and the lessons are much as I remember from my own youth.

At first, I wasn’t quite on board with the story. The kid is a nosy, intrusive, inconsiderate stalker. Yikes! I kept waiting for Rebecca to point out to David how potentially dangerous his behavior is: approaching a stranger in a park, following her home and coming to her in the early morning before any of the neighbors are awake. (Seriously, David is just asking to have his picture put up on posters along with the caption “Have you seen this child?”)

However, he won me over to him. David is eager and willing to learn how to draw. His fierce dedication, definite talent and improvement throughout the story and the growing affection between him and his often exasperated but always encouraging tutor are as heartwarming as the lessons given. The illustrations with their sepia tones provide terrific complements to a story about pencil drawing.

If you want to learn to draw or know a kid who does, this is the perfect gift to give. Modern teens who like manga and graphic novels will cotton to it, too.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davis loves to draw but admits he isn't very good. One day, while in the park, he watches a woman drawing and convinces her to give him a drawing lesson. The lessons continue (despite her attempts to avoid him) and David gets better and better. He learns about shading, sketching, light and shadow, using negative space, proportions, compositions and many other techniques artists use.

This book really is a drawing lesson. Although it is set up as a story about a boy finding a mentor, it's really a step by step instruction book teaching you how to draw. At the conclusion of each lesson, the reader is invited to try what they have just learned. So simple, this book is inspiring. In the artist's forward, Crilley talk about needing mentors, and that some people don't have access to them - this book does the trick. David is young - he talks about a 5th grade friend who can draw a Ferrari. Elementary or middle school students will love this.

Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!

[Kirill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Не могу оценить как самоучитель по рисованию, так как выполнять все эти задания по ходу чтения заняло бы слишком много времени и я бы просрочил срок сдачи в библиотеку.
Но для книги, которая осознано сделана в форме комикса, она этой формой слабовато владеет. Разные комедийные и другие эмоциональные биты выглядят грязновато - выражения лиц в такие моменты как будто слишком отличаются от общей стилистики, карикатурность здесь не органична и слабовата. Да и монтаж сиквенсов иногда кажется неудачным и выбирающим из темпа повествования. Так что доверие к автору подрывается и он лишается в моих глазах очков авторитета.

Но всё равно вполне имеет право быть как один из вариантов начать учиться рисовать. Не супер удачный, наверное, зато относительно доступный для понимания(кроме части про негативные пространства. Я, зная, что это такое, всё равно не мог понять откуда у меня должно взяться знание о них до середины комикса).

[Adayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little gem. Really enjoyed slowly reading this with my 7 year old budding artist. We've read it together over maybe 2 months, on and off? He's taken it upon himself to draw a lot more often in his spare time and I see this story's instruction working its way into his art.

The lady in the book had a temper, some sarcasm and impatience. But it's a graphic novel. It didn't feel out of place to me and though it could be dramatic, it still often made us laugh.

The instruction works very well with Betty Edward's methods and would be a great introduction. If you have no idea how to teach drawing but still want it as part of your child's education, this is a really fun book to go through. I plan to use it with more kids. 7 years old is probably about the youngest I would go for and then I could see it being good up past teen years even. I think there is definitely a prime audience in that 8-12 age range though.

[Myra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic novel by well-known graphic novelist Mark Crilley. I have to admit a high degree of skepticism when I picked up this graphic novel claiming to teach drawing, especially after a very quick flip-through at the library. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased once I read it. Is this a comprehensive how-to guide on drawing from A to Z? No. Many topics are not even addressed (for example, foreshortening, perspective, different media, etc.). But this book does a really good job at teaching some of the basics - being observant, using negative space, using reference points, shading, etc. And the style of the book makes it very non-threatening and approachable.

I will note that both of the characters in the book rather annoyed me, David in particular. They are both a bit moody and over-dramatic.

[Darlene Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the intro states, it's best to have a drawing mentor nearby to help you grow as an artist, but that's sometimes not possible. Within a story of a young boy and his mentor that he happens to first meet in the park, chapters in the book teach about seeing, shading, loose sketches, light and shadow, negative spaces, proportions, simplifying, and composition in the context of pencil drawing. Each chapter explains a concept, allows the boy to begin to apply it, and then offers a critique of the boy's work that results in revisions and better skills. Each chapter ends with a drawing assignment. On the story level, there is a reference to a mother, but it doesn't seem that the boy or mentor keep her in the loop even though they meet at the mentor's house and go to a museum and the beach. On an art level, some information about supplies would have been helpful.

[Kim Mento · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me want to draw! It's a cute story of a boy who stumbles upon an artist in the park one day. She teaches him to draw while teaching the reader to draw. There are chapters on negative space, proportions, sketching, and shading. At the end of each chapter, there are instructions on what skill to practice.

When I opened the book, I didn't like that the illustrations were in yellows, but after a few pages, I didn't notice it. I liked Becky and David. Becky has the best "teacher" facial expressions. 🤣 David just wants to learn. She tells David to "thank me by practicing" and "You don't get better at things by pretending that you never make mistakes." Life lessons mixed with drawing lessons.

I understand that the author has a YouTube channel with art lessons. I need to check it out!

In our library in the nonfiction graphic novel section.
GN 741.2 CRILLEY