How To Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style Volume 4: All About Perspective (v. 4)

Review by W for How To Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style Volume 4: All About Perspective (v. 4) Rating: I ordered this book a few weeks ago just to keep up with the series. I had not been disappointed with the prior books, but I didn’t have high expectations for this book either. It blew me away!

But first, the technical stuff.

This book is organized slightly different than others in this series. While the content table was in page 3 or 4 after a brief introduction, in this book it is in page 18. This is because the prior pages were used for a hands-on introduction to perspective called “Portraying Space and Volume”.

In addition to the interesting introduction, the book is organized into three chapters:

Introduction: Portraying Space and Volume

o From Solids to Spaces

o Portraying a Space That Expands Infinitely into the Distance

o How “Horizon” Lines Divide Space into an Above and a Below

o The Evolution of a Two-Dimensional Space into Three Dimensions

Chapter 1: Basic Compositions Begin with One-Point Perspective

o The Basics of One-Point Perspective

— Differences between Flat and Solid Objects

— Solid Drawn Using One-Point Perspective

— Where to Position the Horizon Line

— Where to Position the Vanishing Point

o Using Angles of Perspective Appropriately

o Learning How to Portray Depth in a Corridor

— Drawing a Corridor Using One-Point Perspective

— Drawing Corridor Components Successfully

— Drawing Characters in a Corridor

o From Corridors to the Outside World

— Narrow Streets and Broad Avenues

— Street Intersection in a Residential Area

— Shopping District

o Using One-Point Perspective to Draw Bends and Slopes in Roads

— Bending Roads

— Sloped Streets

— Steps

Chapter 2: Two-Point Perspective for Practical Composition Creation

o The Basics of Two-Point Perspective

— Differences between Solids Drawn in One-Point and Two-Point Perspective

— Tips for Drawing Buildings in Two-Point Perspective

o Drawing Architectural Structures

— Drawing Buildings and Houses

— Drawing Houses and Streets

— Drawing Room Interiors

o Schools

— Exterior View

— Classrooms

— Nurse’s Offices

— Gymnasiums

o Drawing Familiar Establishments

— Family Restaurants

— Fast Foods Restaurants

— Convenience Stores

Chapter 3: Advanced Compositions Using Perspective

o The Basics of Three-Point Perspective

— Compositions Portraying High or Low Angles

o Seated Characters Drawn in Perspective

o Drawing While Using Photos as Reference

— Tracing Photos

— Making Corrections While Drawing

o Methods for Creating the Illusion of Depth without Using One-Point, Two-Point, or Three-Point Perspective Techniques

o Beyond Perspective

In beyond perspective, it shows how the artist created the cover illustration.

This book lacks the lengthily demonstrations and interviews of previous books, but retains the instructional aspects. In my opinion, this change works well in this book. Also, It doesn’t teach you anything about perspective that other books in the subject hadn’t cover before like in Perspective! For Comic Book Artists. However, what is good about this book is that it provides very useful tips about using perspective while sketching manga-style.

If you had bought other books in this series, you won’t be disappointed with this volume. If you hadn’t, but want a good how-to-draw book about perspective, this is it.

Other books in the series:

Volume 1: Sketching As Composition Planning

Volume 2: Logical Proportions

Volume 3: Unforgettable Characteristics

Volume 5: Sketching Props

Review by Grant Beaudette for How To Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style Volume 4: All About Perspective (v. 4) Rating: I always thought the perspective book in the original How to Draw Manga series was one of the better of the group. This edition of the much higher quality Sketching Style series expands on that book, presenting a practical guide to some specific perspective problems you might have to tackle while drawing.

Many perspective books focus mainly on abstract boxes and circles for much of the teaching. In this one all the lessons center around applying perspective to comics compositions, such as placing characters in depth and evenly spacing out windows down a hallway.

Most of the examples are specific perspective challenges you might face when drawing a comics scene, like depicting a curved/sloping street or a staircase. It also show the perspective of smaller parts of scene you might not think about that still need good perspective,like desks and doors.

Admittedly some of the architecture examples are rather Japan-centric and might not be instantly useful unless you’re drawing in a true manga style. But even if you aren’t, the principles being showcased can be adapted to any style of drawing.

This probably shouldn’t be your first book on perspective. If you’re new to all this start out with a book like Perspective! For Comic Book Artists: How to Achieve a Professional Look in Your Artwork and grab this book when you’re ready for some great practical help in drawing your backgrounds.

Review by M. C. Collins for How To Draw Manga: Sketching Manga-Style Volume 4: All About Perspective (v. 4) Rating: This is a great book for learning perspective in the world of manga. Was a little put off by all the school scenes, but that’s manga for you!!

I recommend it.