Reviewed by annieb123 on
You Can Draw Manga Chibi Characters, Critters & Scenes is a tutorial style book for manga chibi characters, animals, and scenes. Due out 3rd March 2020 from Quarto on their Walter Foster Jr imprint, it's 96 pages and will be available in paperback format.
I love to draw and doodle. Despite not being super advanced and skillful yet, I find drawing very relaxing most of the time. This is an accessible guide full of techniques and cheerful upbeat advice. The drawing style itself is completely adorable (chibi ちび translates to 'little'). They're big eyed and round faced with tiny hands.
This guide has an accessible and appealing format. A short introduction is followed by tools and supplies, basic techniques, some color theory, and then the individual drawing tutorials. The authors do a good job of explaining (and showing) proportions for different ages, positions, action and movement, etc. The authors have also included a number of templates at the end of the book which can be photocopied and used to improve consistency in drawing and proportion.
Great selection for a gift for a young artist, perhaps with some added sketch pads and pencils. This would also make a superlative classroom or library book.I would also recommend this book to babysitters, grandparents, parents, and basically anyone who spends a fair bit of time with small kids in order to up their 'draw with me' game. I really enjoyed this. I will use these to decorate journals and notes for friends. I see some chibi style science stuff in my future (chibi microscope, chibi lab, chibi test tubes)!
Four stars. Fun collection.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 29 February, 2020: Finished reading
- 29 February, 2020: Reviewed