Illustration School Let's Draw Plants and Small Creatures

Illustration School

by Sachiko Umoto

Learn to draw plants, animals, and more in the distinctive Japanese character style—and have fun while you’re creating!

Let popular Japanese artist Sachiko Umoto show you simple methods for sketching butterflies , flowers , cactus , bees , birds , fish , and more. Build on basic lines and shapes to create flower petals, butterfly wings, tree branches, and leaves. Discover helpful tips that will improve your drawing skills , such as focusing on how branches grow, differences in flower shapes, and how poses express emotion.

See how easy it is to turn plants and animals into sweet expressive characters by adding facial expressions and clothes.

A singing butterfly? Why not! Sachiko’s clear step-by-step instructions for tracing and drawing are perfect for all ages and skill levels . After mastering a few elements, build a composition that shows off your unique style. Draw lovely bouquets, sunny fields of flowers, or sketch a rabbit running by a tree. In no time you’ll be creating doodles and illustrations every day in sketchbooks, art journals—anywhere you can.

Techniques you’ll learn Fill pages with your own Illustrated stories—or just doodle whenever the mood strikes. With Illustration Let’s Draw Plants and Small Creatures, you’ll never lack for ideas or inspiration. School was never this much fun!

Discover how the  Illustration School series of books makes drawing enjoyable and stress-free. Using Sachiko Umoto’s fun, easy techniques for sketching quirky animals, plants, landscapes, and people in the Japanese character style, you’ll fill pages with charming illustrations that are uniquely you. 

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

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

1970年生まれ。多摩美術大学油画科卒業。
イラストレーターとして活動するほか、ユニット・ウサギ王のアニメーターとして映像作品も手がける。犬とハワイをこよなく愛する。

Source: About Umoto Sachiko.

Reviews

[Emma Sea · Rating 2 out of 5]

ugh, I have buyers remorse. I shall find a good home for this.

[Pannita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plants and flowers are always the hardest part for me. I’ve to admit that i don’t like drawing them so much but this book helps me a lot. I found that starting with simple drawing of an unfamiliar object is much easier and I can add more details later on. Check out my full reference books collection here: http://korpannita.wordpress.com/2013/...

[Mycala · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ah, this one was a solid "it's okay". The other book she did was a lot better, the one about the animals. Her drawing style is "cute", which is fun and I did find a nice lily pad scene that I liked. However, for someone who is teaching others how to draw, the proportions on the jelly jar later in the book were clearly not right. If one treats this book as a cute read to just look at the drawings, that's one thing. But I think perhaps "illustration school" might be a lofty title.

[Bronwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute little books with helpful tricks to drawing different plants. I loved the cute details and the tips for drawing bugs.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The basics in drawing plants and critters, geared toward children and beginner adults. It's a good way to get started on your doodling career and was easy, relaxing, and fun.

[eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend got this book for me at the library! Now I want to buy more of them! 😍

[Pchu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Umoto's art style, so I had a lot of fun with this book.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple little book of easy techniques to learn to draw simple plants (and some bugs, too!) in a really basic but cute way. Adorable little book, simple instructions, and has traceable prompts.

[Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has darling ways and simple directions as to how to draw VERY cute flowers and plants and fruits. I like the style of the artist, lines and layers. As an introduction there are funny little songs as you learn to draw the bee and the sunflower. It's cutesy! There are also pages that have places you can trace on the drawings and finish the artists work. This not only is crazy fun but helps you get the layers and technique. Not only that, the book's cover is a good heavy paper and the binding well done. Was a wonderful book to explore and one that will help me with lily pads, cherry blossoms and all sorts of fun drawings!

[Child960801 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is Japanese and some of the plants and flowers she has instructions for are things I've never seen before. The book is set up so that you are suppose to trace some of the pictures and add things to pictures on the alternating pages. I haven't done that, as this is a library book, but I've had fun doodling the flowers while waiting or talking on the phone.

[Stef · Rating 3 out of 5]

More cute ways to draw the world around you, this time with a focus on plants, trees, flowers, fruits, and veggies. Really enjoy the artist's easy breakdown of how to draw certain items, as well as her joyful interpretation of life.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is darling, and for the whimsical doodler at heart. i look forward to picking up the other versions.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book to break down drawing in a way that is interesting and doable. I have started drawing and love it. Eventually I look forward to gaining my own style.

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked following along with this book. The drawings inside are cute and easy enough to replicate or make it your own.

[Tif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her books are elegant, simple and absolutely lovely! I recommended all 3 of them to the girls in my art class.

[Nisah Haron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very practical book for drawing and sketching!

[Jocelynne Broderick]

Cute to look at, not quite what I was hoping for. I picked up the other two books.