Step 1: How Do You Actually Learn?

Be honest about this—it matters more than you think.

Step 2: Physical vs. Digital—The Honest Trade-offs

What's the best way to learn art as a complete beginner?

Start with drawing fundamentals regardless of where you want to end up. Walter Foster's "How to Draw" series and Betty Edwards' "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" are proven starting points. Combine books with video tutorials so you can see techniques demonstrated in real-time. Most importantly, actually do the exercises—reading about art won't teach you to make art.

Are digital art books as effective as physical ones?

Depends on how you'll use them. Physical books work better as side-by-side references while you're working and reduce screen fatigue during study sessions. Digital books excel for quick lookup, travel, and building a large reference library affordably. Many working artists use both—digital for convenience, physical for deep study.

How do I choose between different instruction books?

Look for clear step-by-step photos, multiple technique examples, and projects matching your current skill level. Check the author's credentials and teaching experience. Read reviews from other artists (not just general ratings). Publishers like Walter Foster, North Light, and Dover have established reputations for quality instruction. Most importantly, flip through the book if possible—does it match how you learn?

What's the difference between technique books and inspiration books?

Technique books teach you HOW to do things through exercises and step-by-step instruction. Inspiration books show you finished artwork and explore artistic concepts. You need both, but for different reasons. If you want to improve skills, buy technique books. If you want to explore ideas and see what's possible, buy inspiration books. Just don't confuse looking at beautiful art with learning to make beautiful art.

Which publishers offer the best value?

Dover Publications wins on pure price—their public domain reprints and affordable originals are hard to beat. Walter Foster provides excellent beginner-to-intermediate instruction at reasonable prices. North Light Books covers professional techniques at mid-range prices. Taschen and Phaidon produce gorgeous books at premium prices—worth it for inspiration, but you're paying for production quality, not necessarily better instruction.

Are expensive coffee table art books worth it?

Depends on what you want from them. For inspiration and appreciation, high-quality books from Phaidon, Taschen, or Thames & Hudson justify their cost through superior printing and comprehensive content. For learning technique, a $20 Walter Foster book will usually teach you more than a $100 coffee table book. Buy expensive art books when you want to study and appreciate finished work, not when you want to learn how to make it.

• Drawing Books and Media
• Painting Books and Media
• Specialized Techniques
• Art Reference Books
• Architecture and Design
• Photography Books
• Graphic Design
• Activity Books
• Coloring Books
• Instructional Videos and DVDs
• Craft and Hobby Books
• Professional Development
• Digital Art Resources

Drawing instruction is where everyone should start, regardless of what medium you eventually want to work in. Even if you plan to paint, sculpt, or work digitally—learn to draw first.

Where to Start:

• General drawing techniques - Walter Foster's How-To series (practical, photo-based), Betty Edwards' "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" (perceptual shifts that actually work), Dover instruction books (affordable classics)
• Perspective drawing - Scott Robertson for technical perspective (demanding but thorough), traditional one and two-point systems for basics

Once You Have the Basics:

• Figure and portrait drawing - Burne Hogarth for anatomy (stylized but educational), Andrew Loomis for construction (free PDFs available, originally from the 1940s but still excellent)
• Animal drawing - Jack Hamm for animal construction basics
• Landscape and seascape - Plein air techniques, outdoor sketching

Painting instruction varies wildly by medium—oil, acrylic, and watercolor all have different technical demands.

Oil Painting:

• Oil painting books - Richard Schmid's "Alla Prima" (expensive but considered the bible), Kevin Macpherson for landscape (practical outdoor approach)
• Reality check: Oil painting books often assume you already know how to draw—don't skip drawing fundamentals

Acrylic Painting:

• Acrylic books - Nancy Reyner's technique books (comprehensive), Golden Artist Colors guides (free PDFs from the paint manufacturer)
• Why acrylics are different: Fast drying changes everything about technique—need acrylic-specific instruction

Watercolor:

• Watercolor instruction - Charles Reid for loose watercolor (freeing approach), John Pike for landscapes (classic technique)
• The watercolor challenge: Hardest medium to control—needs specific instruction, not generic painting advice

Mixed Media & Other:

• Mixed media - Seth Apter, Dina Wakley for layering and experimental techniques
• Decorative painting - Folk art, stylized approaches

These mediums need specialized instruction—general art books won't cut it:

• Pastel techniques - Richard McKinley (landscapes), Maggie Price (portraits), covering both soft and oil pastels
• Printmaking - Beth Grabowski (contemporary methods), traditional etching and lithography texts
• Sculpture - Three-dimensional work in clay, stone, metal, contemporary materials
• Ceramics - Peter Cosentino for wheel throwing, Lark Books for surface treatments

Reference materials you'll actually use versus ones that just sit on your shelf:

Essential References:

• Color theory - Josef Albers' "Interaction of Color" (the classic), Johannes Itten (more accessible), practical color mixing guides
• Reality check: Color theory books can be theoretical to the point of uselessness—look for ones with practical mixing exercises

For Inspiration and Context:

• Art dictionaries and encyclopedias - Oxford, Thames & Hudson references
• Artist portfolios - Taschen monographs (beautiful but pricey), Phaidon artist surveys, museum catalogs
• Art history surveys: Gardner's "Art Through the Ages," Janson's "History of Art" (textbook-style but comprehensive)

Architecture books help artists understand spatial relationships, structure, and environmental design. Publishers like Taschen, Phaidon, and Princeton Architectural Press offer everything from technical drawing to contemporary theory—useful even if you're not an architect.

Photography instruction splits into technical skills (exposure, lighting, editing) and artistic vision (composition, storytelling). Aperture, Rocky Nook, and Focal Press publish both—figure out which you need more.

Graphic design books bridge traditional art skills with digital tools. Princeton Architectural Press, Rockport, and New Riders cover typography, layout, branding—essential if you want to work commercially.

Activity books build skills through doing rather than reading about doing. Klutz, DK Publishing, and Quarry Books excel at project-based learning—great for kids, but also for adults who learn best by making things.

Adult coloring books actually teach pattern recognition, color relationships, and fine motor control—Dover Publications leads this category:

• Famous artworks - Study masterpieces by coloring them (surprisingly educational)
• Patterns and motifs - Celtic designs, Art Nouveau, mandalas
• Nature and animals - Detailed wildlife, botanical studies
• Stained glass patterns - Gothic windows, Tiffany designs

Video instruction shows you things books can't—brush pressure, hand movements, real-time decision-making. Crystal Productions, North Light, and Artist Network produce professional instruction where you learn by watching masters work.

Modern alternative: YouTube and streaming platforms now offer tons of free instruction, but quality varies wildly—curated DVD instruction often saves time by cutting through the noise.

Beyond Traditional Books:

• Streaming courses: Skillshare, CreativeLive, MasterClass (subscription models—calculate if you'll use enough to justify the cost)
• Interactive apps: Procreate tutorials built into the app, Adobe Creative Cloud training, color theory apps
• VR art tools: Tilt Brush, Gravity Sketch (learning through spatial creation)
• Live online workshops: Real-time instruction via Zoom (combines video learning with feedback)

Craft instruction for specialized making skills:

• Jewelry and beading - Lark Books techniques, Kalmbach Publishing guides
• Book binding - Traditional and contemporary binding, paper arts
• Calligraphy and lettering - Traditional scripts, modern hand lettering
• Woodcraft - Fine Woodworking techniques, furniture making
• Metalsmithing - Jewelry fabrication, blacksmithing

• Scrapbooking - Memory keeping, photo presentation
• Fashion design - Pattern making, draping, fashion illustration
• Interior design - Space planning, color coordination

Art business books teach you how to actually make money from your work—technical skill alone won't pay the bills. Allworth Press and Watson-Guptill specialize in professional development:

• Portfolio development: Presenting your work professionally
• Pricing: Carol Michels' "How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist" (realistic about the economics)
• Gallery relationships: Constance Smith's marketing guides (practical strategies)
• Online marketing: Social media for artists (constantly evolving—seek current publications)
• Legal issues: Tad Crawford's legal guides (copyright, contracts, essential protections)
• Grants and funding: Finding financial support for your work

Modern art increasingly involves digital tools:

• Digital clip art: Dover royalty-free collections, contemporary design elements
• Software tutorials: Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, Corel Painter instruction
• 3D modeling: Rocky Nook and Focal Press for 3D printing and modeling
• Digital photography: Scott Kelby techniques (practical, not overly technical)