Still Life Drawing For Beginners: 18 Must-Have Books

Still life drawings and paintings are classic and have been executed in every art medium imaginable. The best way to master them is by practice and the guidance of someone who’s amazing at it.

What if you don’t know anyone like that?

You are in luck! Because we’ve picked 18 awesome books that will help you get started with still life!

And you’ll improve quicker than if you tried to figure everything out on your own.

Even though still life paintings often seem complicated, you can create amazing work with just a little guidance!

They don’t require the knowledge of figure drawing, plein air art, or drawing from imagination, which makes them easier to tackle.

Still life art is mostly associates with peaceful little scenes that feature fruit, flowers, and tableware, but this may vary depending on the concept of the painting. Still life can be made in any art style from realism to constructivism, and you can experiment all you like.

If you feel like creating still life work, you can do it even without having taking an art course beforehand. We created a list of books that are perfectly suitable for beginners.

Following the guidelines of any of these books, you’ll be able to learn still life drawing easily and with joy. Have fun! 🙂

(Note: these books are all incredible and are shared in a random order

1. The Art of Still Life by Todd M. Casey

Aside from having the basic information about still life for beginners, this book also features advice for advanced artists. And a lot of artistic references to look at and work with.

You’ll be able to use this book throughout your entire learning process and enjoy it even after you become an experienced still-life painter. So, if you want to dive deep into the world of still lifes, this book is a great choice.

It will provide you with in-depth knowledge of anything you’ll need for drawing or painting still life. Starting from such basics as to how to use art materials and how to arrange your studio. The book contains advanced drawing techniques as well, but don’t worry, it’s very easily comprehensible for beginners too.

The book is written by Todd M. Casey, an artist with a classical painting training, who creates award-winning masterpieces that are featured in exhibitions.

2. Drawing Still Lifes: Learn to Draw a Variety of Realistic Still Lifes in Pencil by Steven Pearce

The author, Steven Pearce, comes from a family of accomplished artists and has learned a lot about art since he was a child. Despite having a career in the fire department, he also achieved a lot in the art field, never giving up his passion for pencil drawing. After his retirement, he dedicates most of his time to art and writing books about drawing.

Beginning still life artists who want to draw with pencils will learn a lot of useful information from this book. How to choose the right paper and material, how to handle a pencil like a pro, how to create effective compositions and more. The instructions that the author gives are easy to understand and follow, and the book is totally beginner-friendly.

Other information that you’ll find in this book includes shading, lighting, textures, value scale, and other valuable information for realistic drawing. Aside from the information, the book contains step-by-step drawing projects and a lot of artwork for inspiration.

3. Drawing: Beginning Still Life by Steven Pearce

Another great book by Steven Pearce, the author of art instruction books and the master of graphite pencil drawing. He puts his personal drawing experience in his books, explaining how to master these techniques along the way.

The book will teach you all about what you need and how to get started with graphite pencil drawings. How to choose perfect paper, use your pencil, build composition and volume – all of these are thoroughly covered. You’ll learn basic, but useful and widely used techniques that will allow you to create the still lifes you want.

The lessons in the book are given as step-by-step instructions, which makes them very easy to follow. These projects cover various topics from flowers to fruit, and include useful art tips and tricks from the author.

4. Realistic Still Life in Colored Pencil by Cynthia Knox

This book is written by Cynthia Knox, the art instruction book author and art teacher. She’s an expert in her field of colored pencil drawing, and she gladly shares her secrets and techniques.

With this book, you’ll learn how to create realistic still life drawings and finished pieces with colored pencils. Various techniques, such as shading, blending, layering, burnishing, etc. will help you achieve vibrant and deep colors and realistic lighting. The book will teach you from basics to more advanced information, and you’ll be able to find something useful in it at any level of experience.

You’ll be introduced to basic materials and tools, theoretical knowledge, and you’ll be fully armed to bravely start creating realistic still lifes with your pencils.

5. The Art School Approach: Still Lifes & Florals by Vanessa Rothe

Do you want to learn how to draw and paint not by simply following the tutorials, but to have deeper knowledge that an art school can give? Then you’ll surely enjoy this book and the information that it’s going to give you. It goes beyond the regular step-by-step tutorials and divides the information into topics while being concentrated on still life and floral paintings and drawings.

The book is really easy to use and comprehend since it features chapter outlines, review sections, various exercises, etc. You will study perspective, composition, colors and mixing, lighting, form, and value, and other art basics that will make your still lifes incredibly realistic.

This book is written by Vanessa Rothe is a professional artist who had classical training. She’s an editor at Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, a signature member of influential art societies, and has a business and literature degree. She also teaches group and private art lessons in California and France.

6. The Artist’s Complete Book of Drawing Projects Step-by-Step by Barrington Barber

The author of this book is Barrington Barber, who is also known to have written and illustrated Everyone Can Draw and many other books for beginner artists. He studied to be a graphic designer, worked for top advertising agencies, and later became a freelance designer and illustrator. His practical art books have sold more than 4 million copies all over the world.

This particular book is dedicated to delightfully easy drawing projects that you can recreate no matter what your skill level is. Many out of these 100 drawing projects are still life, florals, or objects.

The accessible teaching style of this book will allow you to start creating easily recognizable drawings right away. You’ll be able to capture light and shadows, wrinkles, and smoothness. Four easy-to-follow steps are a very stress-free way of learning to draw, and each step is followed by an extensive description of what’s happening and why.

7. Beginning Drawing Atelier: An Instructional Sketchbook by Juliette Aristides

Atelier education is based on the principle that learning in the studio is more efficient than just listening to the lectures. Juliette Aristides, the author of this book, is a classically trained artist who created the Classical Atelier at the Seattle Academy of Fine Arts. She broke down the drawing process in this book into small and easily manageable lessons so that beginners could learn easily.

A huge benefit of this book is the fact that it’s presented in a workbook form, which fits the atelier learning tradition pretty well. It’s based on time-tested techniques and principles and adds the necessary context to every lesson. You’ll have enough knowledge to create superior still life paintings in the traditions of the best masters.

The book takes you step by step through the learning process, making you feel like you have a real atelier at home, and your master is the book author herself.

8. Oil & Acrylic: Still Lifes by Nathan Rohlander

If oils or acrylics are your art mediums of choice, this book will be great for you. Thick paints need a specific approach since they’re opaque and the techniques of layering them are different from other mediums.

The book author, Nathan Rohlander, is a well-known painter who lives in Los Angeles. His vibrant works were featured in numerous television shows, on the covers of famous magazines, and in MTV videos. So, there’s a chance you’ve already seen at least one of them.

The book contains step-by-step lessons on how to create still life paintings with opaque paints. You’ll be able to follow the instructions, layering the paints, and seeing how to create light and shade, and you will end up with charming paintings.

9. Daily Painting: Paint Small and Often to Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Artist by Carol Marine

They say that practice makes perfect. Do you have to create incredibly detailed works every day? No. But keeping your skills sharp and your creativity flowing, especially if you’re a beginner, will definitely be useful for you.

The idea is very simple: just do small art however often you can. This method, along with the book, will teach you how to master composition and value, use every possible medium, and choose great subjects to draw or paint. It’s ideal for both beginner artists and those who lost their creative spark and are stuck in the dreaded art block.

Carol Marine, the author, is also famous for her blog called A Painting a Day (or Almost). She is a member of the daily painters’ community and teaches daily painting at her workshops around the US.

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10. Bold Expressive Painting: Painting Techniques for Still Lifes, Florals and Landscapes in Mixed Media by Annie O’Brien Gonzales

Have you always wanted to try expressive painting? Worry not, this book’s got your back and it’ll teach you everything you’ll need to know to do it. You’ll paint still lifes, florals, and some landscapes, in mixed media using engaging step-by-step techniques.

The book will help you unleash your creativity and paint traditional things in a new whimsical way. You’ll learn how to handle vibrant colors, build a composition, and use various mixed media techniques. This won’t be realistic painting, but we all need a little expressive art from time to time.

Annie O’Brien Gonzales, the creator of this book, spent many years teaching at colleges and universities in the US. She currently works as a professional artist in her own studio in New Mexico, is active in the Santa Fe art community, and teaches workshops. Numerous galleries feature her paintings.

11. CP Florals: A Complete Guide to Drawing Florals in Colored Pencil by Cynthia Knox

Cynthia Knox, who is the author of this book among many other books that teach art, has a passion for teaching students how to draw with colored pencils and graphite. These mediums are easy to control and layer, making them a great medium for beginners.

The book will teach you in great detail how to draw stunning floral pictures with every possible colored pencil shade. It contains 11 easy and beginner-friendly step-by-step tutorials with warm and cool flower colors, as well as 4 still life floral demos.

You’ll also find a book section with basic information on drawing: paper and how to choose it, what pencils do you need, what other necessary or optional tools there can be, and more. With this book, you’ll start drawing florals right away, even if your previous drawing experience is equal to zero.

12. The 15-Minute Artist: The Quick and Easy Way to Draw Almost Anything by Catherine V. Holmes

A bestselling author Catherine V. Holmes, also known for the book series “How to Draw Cool Stuff”, is now helping you become an artist in just 15 minutes. You’ll get a good glimpse of how to build objects from basics and shade them realistically, not flat.

This book features over 60 step-by-step clear instructions on how to draw objects such as food, plants, household items – anything that can be included in still life composition. The tutorials break the process down into a few easy steps so that you can achieve a pleasing result quickly and with confidence.

It teaches you how to use a pen, charcoal, and colored pencils. Provides tips on color blending, shade, and basic perspective that is needed to build objects and create compositions. If you’re a beginner who doesn’t know where to start – you’ll build confidence and realize that you’re actually able to draw.

13. Oil Painting Essentials: Mastering Portraits, Figures, Still Lifes, Landscapes, and Interiors by Gregg Kreutz

If you’re interested in painting still lifes with oil paints, this book is here to tell you how. The author Gregg Kreutz has put his 40-year oil painting practice into this beginner-friendly book. Nothing is more valuable than tips from an experienced artist! Gregg Kreutz also teaches art at the Art Students League in New York and at various workshops around the US.

The book will show you how to improve your oil painting skills significantly, exploring it through different painting topics, including still lifes and interiors. The chapters are arranged by category, which makes the book easy to navigate and learn from.

Kreutz offers you step-by-step beginner-friendly lessons and takes examples from his own paintings. The coverage of these lessons is extensive, and you’ll have all the necessary knowledge to ace your still life oil paintings.

14. 50 Drawing Projects: A Creative Step-by-Step Workbook by Barrington Barber

This is another book by Barrington Barber, who’s well known for writing instructional books on drawing for beginners. This particular one isn’t just a book – it’s a creative workbook meant to awaken your imagination and make you confident about your drawing abilities. Even if you had no previous drawing experience, you’ll be able to follow Barber’s tutorials easily.

The book presents several drawing subjects, including flowers and still lifes. You’ll learn how to draw and shade everyday objects around you, how to make them look realistic, and then you’ll be able to build still life compositions from nothing. There are a lot of step-by-step instructions that, are really easy to follow.

This workbook also encourages the reader to make their own version of the object they’re drawing. You’ll let your creativity flow with confidence, and you’ll learn how to draw from your imagination.

15. The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Drawing by Walter Foster Creative Team

This book is published by Walter Foster Creative Team – a publisher that is well known for its art instruction books. They have developed an entire library of books that artists may need, from working with various art mediums to DIY crafts. And this particular book is no exception – it’s useful and will help you develop your creative skills.

It’s a comprehensive hardcover guide to drawing for the beginners, and it’ll teach you how to draw various subjects, including still lifes and flowers. It also has information about how to start drawing in general: what tools do you need, how to choose them, and more. You’ll also require some drawing theory, and the book is ready to help with that as well.

The drawing tutorials have the step-by-step format, easy to understand and follow, even if you have zero previous drawing experience. You’ll learn how to create textures, volume, perspective, and create realistic still life drawings, combining them into compositions.

16. The Joy of Botanical Drawing: A Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing and Painting Flowers, Leaves, Fruit, and More by Wendy Hollender

If you’re interested in drawing gorgeous realistic still lifes made of flowers and botanical objects, this book will be your ideal guide to doing that. It’s dedicated to botanical illustrations, from flowers to fruit and vegetables, with a lot of illustrations for inspirational and studying purposes.

You’ll learn how to use regular colored pencils and watercolor pencils to achieve vivid realistic drawings, and your learning process will happen through easy step-by-step guides. The plants that you’ll draw will be scientifically accurate and gorgeously looking and you’ll enjoy the drawing process a lot.

The author, Wendy Hollender, shows her own trusted techniques that she mastered throughout the years of her experience as a botanical artist and illustrator. Her works were featured in famous magazines and exhibitions, and she is an author and illustrator of several more award-winning books.

17. Botanical Portraits with Colored Pencils by Ann Swan

This book is an ideal choice for those who love botanical illustration and colored pencils, both water-soluble and oil-based. The author of the book, Ann Swan, is one of the leading botanical artists in the UK, who won several awards. She’s also a teacher and runs regular workshops all around the world.

The step-by-step demonstrations in this book, along with lots of vivid colorful illustrations, will serve as both learning material and inspiration for you. You’ll learn about materials, different pencil techniques, colors and mixing, how to apply finishing touches, and more. You’ll know what colored pencils are capable of and what stunning masterpieces you can create. And then you’ll create them!

The book will also let you know how to study every plant before you start drawing them, and will guide you through the process of creating botanical illustrations from start to finish.

18. How to Draw What You See by Rudy de Reyna

This is the anniversary edition of a famous book that was originally published in 1970 and has been popular ever since. Rudy de Reyna, the author of many well-known classical drawing instruction books is the author of this one as well.

The book includes useful information on how to draw things realistically. It also contains examples of how to apply that knowledge to still lifes. It teaches you how to capture the world around you, including the daily life objects, of course.

The basic method described in this book is how to draw simple figures and shapes and then build up complicated objects from these shapes. It’s a good reliable method that has worked for a very long time and taught generations of artists.

All of the books on this list are completely beginner-friendly, easy to use, and very informative. Depending on what materials you’d like to use and what kind of still lifes your heart desires to create, you can choose a book to your liking.

You won’t need any knowledge beforehand, the books will explain even what materials you need and how to choose them. So, still life drawing may seem too complicated at first sight, but you’ll be able to master them if you start from the basics with any of these books.