Whoosh! 250 Ways to Get Motion into Your Drawings

Graphic novels and comic books are sometimes disregarded, but their illustrations deserve recognition as a legitimate art form. Whether or not you read them, you should admire the craft that goes into the drawing.

In this book, author Carlos Gomes Cabral walks you through the way artists can make their drawings come to life. He explains various techniques, beginning with the basics of head and body proportions, perspective, light and movement; moving through expressions and body language; movement through foreshortening, exaggeration, and expressing weight; and ending with storytelling such as composition, props, and character direction. The book is detailed with lots of illustrative drawings that explain the author’s suggestions or clarify the technique he is offering.

This is an incredibly detailed, helpful book. Whatever your artistic skill, you will find helpful ideas, although this book will probably be more helpful to someone who already has some drawing experience, rather than a complete novice. Reading through the suggestions will open your eyes to the amount of skill and artistry that go into graphic novels, and give you a deep appreciation for illustrators’ work. Implementing these techniques into your own drawings will be sure to bring your characters to life.