The Monster Book of Manga: Draw Like the Experts

This book definitely isn't for the amateur artist! With the massive amounts of detail and not enough line-by-line detailing and explanation, it would be difficult for the less-experienced to follow along unless they were copying directly from the book. Essentially though, this book packs lots of bang for the buck and it comes with a guarantee of inspiration! Plus, this thing is so huge, you would be crazy not to get it! The back does do quite a bit of explaining of how to digitally enhance pictures you've drawn. It wasn't much help to me seeing as I have already learned how to use my Intuos4 tablet, but it was a bit helpful in telling me that I should probably buy a new scanner! ^_^' So if you've already gotten a bit of experience drawing manga/anime styles under your belt but need some ideas, this book is for you! You'll also learn about drawing a few strange creatures, which are always adorable! So this book with definitely pack a punch for someone needing that little kick to make drawing entertaining again!

Are you interested in being able to draw ALOT of different types of anime characters step by step? if yes this book can help it works for beginners or advanced artists, shows you 6 steps per character, points out various details which you can use to make your own unique characters, LOTS of different characters that span a few categories like girls, fantasy, music, Monsters, Science Fiction, Samurai, and drawing manga digitally. In each category theres several different types of characters. If your wanting to learn to draw manga, this book is sure to have you satisfied.

Although this book has 300 pages, it does not go into great detail when it comes to sketching out each character that is depicted. To some, that might throw them off if they're just learning, but for me, the images were good examples to use as references. Each chapter deals with different genre's, such as Girls, Fantasy, Monsters, etc. Several of the illustrations are good in detail, but they lack any major guidance for beginners. Vague captions are inserted here and there around the images, but that's about it. I suppose the author assumes that you have some knowledge of drawing and digital coloring, which is probably why he doesn't go into great detail. For me, this book is great to use to form ideas for character concepts. My favorite portion of the book is towards the end, where you're given a better idea on how to digitally color your drawings and how to utilize Adobe Photoshop. It's a shame it's one of the shortest chapters. Overall, if you have a good grip on drawing and you don't need a great deal of guidance, then this book is for you. Every page shows a step by step progression of a character. However, if you're just learning how to tackle this style and you're looking for in-depth detail on how to make things look right, then this book may not be for you. Great illustrations throughout and they're all in color, too.

I would say this book is great. This book was great all around. Excellent techniques and tips for starters to advanced drawers. The book breaks down simpler drawings and more advanced techniques to allow for more illustrator input. With so many options, it allows for multiple aspect and gives many idea for a drawer to come up with and blend for their own creation.

The bad news: Only the extremely motivated beginner will "Draw Like the Experts" using this book. The bulk of this book (aprox. 325 pages)gives the reader an illustrated process of building each character. However, it assumes that the reader understands perspective, scale, proportion ect. If you don't already have an understanding of the basics of drawing you may struggle through the process (unless you're gifted). If a beginner would like to take instruction from this book, I'd suggest getting a ream of tracing paper and a soft pencil and start tracing the examples to at least get a "feel" for how to build the designs given. The ONLY plus this book: This book dedicates the last 50 pages to digitally publishing drawings, coloring, rendering, ect. using Corel and Photoshop programs on Mac and PC. Here you will find the true value of the book. In conclusion, this book teaches drawing by example with very little leadership. Think of it as looking over the shoulder of an introverted metiocre artist as he/she starts and finishes each character illustration...with few spuratic notes aside. If you must have this book spend no more than $15. In my opinion the final 50 pages are what makes this book worth a respectable $15.

This book is about many projects. Drawing girls, robots, heroes and everything else that is in manga. Every project is 4-8 pages long, in which each page is one step of the whole process. Beginning with very easy out-linings and sketches, and ending with the finished image. Every page is art. The lines are very elegant, precise and beautiful. The pages are glossy. When it comes to a tutorial, this one and the others in the "Monster book of Manga" outshines anything else. A must have for everyone who wants to learn how to draw.

I thought the book would be a compilation of works from several artists, but instead, it looks at the work of a few, maybe less than 2 or 3 artists. They pretty much look the same. What the illustrations DO show (in no particular order because the pictures are grouped by subject) tips that make a drawing "good" but not "good" in the sense they will transform the amateur artist into a professional. - Make sure you note the direction of light in your drawings. (curious seeing the drawings have so few shadows...) - Be mindful of perspective so your drawings do not look flat. - Use clothing, hair, and accessories to create a feeling of motion. Some Expert advice I would have liked to learn FROM MANY ARTISTS are: - Compare and contrast mediums of different types and from different manufacturers - Inking techniques including fills and line variations - Color palettes and choices rather than "use earthy colors..." - Tones (no offense, but the pics are rather flat) - Markets for distribution, tips on entering the market, who's buying? - A list of notable manga-ka - Perhaps some tips for those wanting to become "experts" so they can then become "professionals" I also would have liked to see the methodology behind proportions explained. Although this is not a book on HOW to draw, seeing how or why choices were made would have been nice. "The girl is young so make her head a little bigger..." No, a lot of manga heads are typically larger than average. Manga characters also have larger eyes, smaller feet, tiny noses and mouths...the drawings stray from the typical manga. These are akin to good cells from Saturday morning cartoons in the U.S...not a real good representation of manga art. I have a lot of experience with graphic editors, but unless that part of the book covers hardware -- pens, tablets, and other digital drawing technologies, that section is pretty useless to me. Otherwise a good book -- heavy, well-contructed, arrived in great shape. I'll probably give it to my 9-year old daughter. She likes to draw and probably wouldn't bother to read it any way, but she might find it easier than drawing from photos. A slightly disappointing purchase.

When they say monster they are not joking, it's huge (that's what she said) but any ways. It's a great book, I truly love it. More info then I was thinking would be in there. I think it has the right amount of text vs step by step. It's 300+ pages of greatness. A most buy in my eyes