Top 10 best Digital Art Books Review: Best Easy-to-Understand Drawing Guides products

Last weekend I was chillin’ at a little café near the Pearl, trying to look productive with my iPad and an iced horchata latte (yes ma’am 💅). I’ve been fixin’ to get better at sketching—nothing fancy, just something to balance out all the BBQ and bachata in my life.

Problem is… every time I tried learning from random YouTube videos, I’d get lost halfway through. So I thought, “Alright Anna, let’s do this the old-school way.”

I ordered a couple of Digital Art Books off Amazon—one of them being from Alphonso Dunn (y’all probably seen him if you’ve ever dipped your toes into pen and ink).

And let me tell you… not all art books are created equal.

🎨 The Vibe Check

First thing I noticed?

These didn’t feel like cheap, print-it-yourself PDFs slapped into a book.

• Binding: Solid—lay-flat enough to actually draw while reading

• Page Quality: Thick, smooth paper (no weird ink bleed-through)

• Design: Clean layouts, not cluttered

Some digital art books feel like textbooks that put you to sleep. These? Way more easy to read and easy to understand.

👉 Especially Alphonso Dunn’s style—super structured, step-by-step without talking down to you.

🔥 Real-Life Stress Test (Beginner Artist in Texas Heat 😅)

So I gave myself a challenge:
Follow one lesson per day for a full week.

Day 1–2: Basic Lines & Shading

I sat at my kitchen island (granite, of course) with the AC blasting because it was 102°F outside.

• Practiced straight lines and cross-hatching

• Took about 25 minutes per session

Result:
Way clearer than YouTube chaos. I actually improved control in just 2 days.

Day 3–5: Objects & Depth

Tried drawing:

• Coffee mugs

• Shoes

• Random stuff around the house

Quantifiable moment:
I went from a wonky-looking mug to a recognizable 3D shape in about 4 days. That’s progress, y’all.

Day 6–7: Full Sketch

I attempted a small portrait sketch (bold move, I know 😭)

👉 Not perfect—but WAY better than anything I’ve done before.

😅 The “Oops” Moment

Okay, so I thought I could just skim the book and jump to the “cool drawings” section…

Yeah… no.

My sketch looked like a haunted potato.

Went back, followed the steps properly, and boom—major difference.

👉 Lesson learned: these books work… if you actually follow them.

🌶️ The “Spicy” Truth

Let’s not act like everything’s perfect:

1. Not super “digital-first”
   Even though we’re talking digital art books, a lot of the techniques are rooted in traditional drawing. You’ll need to translate some stuff to iPad or tablet yourself.

2. Some books are better than others
   Alphonso Dunn? Solid.
   Random off-brand books? Kinda hit or miss.

🛒 What the Amazon “Neighbors” Say

After digging through reviews (I’m talkin’ hundreds), here’s the real vibe:

What people love:

• Clear step-by-step guidance

• Great for beginners and intermediate artists

• High-quality printing and binding

What people complain about:

• Some expected more “digital software tutorials”

• A few books feel repetitive

👉 Overall consensus:
Legit helpful if you’re serious about learning—not just flipping pages.

🤠 Who Should Skip This?

I’m gonna be real with y’all:

• If you want Procreate shortcuts and tech tutorials → this ain’t it

• If you hate practicing basics → you’re gonna get bored real quick

• If you expect instant Picasso-level skills → baby… no

🏁 The Final Verdict

Heck Yes.

These Digital Art Books—especially ones like Alphonso Dunn’s Pen and Ink Drawing guide—are a hidden gem if you actually wanna improve your skills.

👉 Compared to YouTube?
Less flashy—but way more structured and effective.

👉 Compared to expensive art courses?
You’re getting serious value for the price.