I’ve read a lot of drawing books over the years—some inspiring, some repetitive, and a few that truly shifted how I approach my sketchbook. Keys to Drawing by Bert Dodson is firmly in that last category. I picked it up expecting yet another beginner drawing book, but what I found instead was a highly practical, refreshingly direct guide that actually helped me see and draw better.
I’ve had this book by my side for over 15 years. I’ve also bought it three times—each copy eventually worn down from constant flipping, annotations, and referencing. It’s not just a drawing book to me—it’s a book I revisit when I need to reconnect with the basics, get unstuck, or remind myself what drawing really is at its core.
There’s also a personal connection that deepens its significance for me. My drawing teacher at CalArts, E. Michael Mitchell, was a colleague of Bert Dodson. Dodson even dedicated a section to Mitchell in his follow-up book, Keys to Drawing with Imagination. Knowing that, I read Dodson’s words with even more trust. There’s something grounding about that lineage—teachers passing down wisdom in print and in person.
The book isn’t flashy. In fact, the drawings inside might seem underwhelming at first glance. But if you give it a real shot, you’ll find that Keys to Drawing is one of the best books out there for learning how to draw what you see, not what you think you know. Whether you're exploring nature journaling or just trying to build a consistent sketching habit, this book helps you break through those early barriers that stop most people.
Keys to Drawing: What Makes It Stand Out
What I love about this book is that it focuses more on how to see than how to draw “correctly.” There are 55 “keys” Bert Dodson shares, each one a kind of mindset or technique to practice. You won’t find fancy polished drawings here; instead, you'll find exercises that teach you to really observe. That’s where the magic is.
Before we dive deeper, here are a few key takeaways that helped me the most:
Key Points
- Draw what you see, not what you know: Dodson drills this into you in multiple ways, helping rewire that automatic impulse to draw symbolic or “known” forms.
- Restating is encouraged: He teaches you to draw over mistakes instead of erasing them. This built my confidence more than I expected.
- Focus on observation, not perfection: The exercises are forgiving and practical, especially for folks trying to improve their daily sketching habits.
Learning to See: The Core Message of Keys to Drawing
Dodson's biggest strength is helping you unlearn what you think you know. One of the earliest exercises has you draw your non-dominant hand without looking at the paper. It sounds simple, but it was eye-opening. You start to trust your eye instead of your inner critic.
This approach reminded me a lot of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, but I found Dodson’s tone friendlier and more flexible. Where other books feel rigid, Keys to Drawing feels like a conversation with a mentor.
If you’re just starting out, this book pairs well with beginner-friendly resources like drawing prompts for beginners or even something more exploratory like drawing animals.
Exercises That Actually Work
Each chapter is full of exercises that get you drawing right away. And they aren’t overly complicated. Some of my favorites:
- Draw your shoe: You focus on mapping and proportion, using sight-measuring techniques that make sense immediately.
- Continuous line drawing: Keeps your hand moving and stops you from obsessing over perfection.
- The squint test: Learning how to squint to flatten values and simplify complex scenes helped me a lot in nature sketching.
These aren’t just throwaway drills. They’re tools you can come back to anytime you feel stuck. And I do, often. I’ve found myself flipping to random pages during nature journaling excursions just to refocus.
A Book That Grew With Me
When I first read Keys to Drawing, I was still figuring out what kind of artist I wanted to be. Now that I do more field sketching, nature journaling adventures, and plein air work, I find myself returning to Dodson’s lessons often. Especially the bits on light and texture—they’ve made my drawings more grounded.
There are entire passages in the book that feel like personal reminders. Lines I’ve underlined. Ideas that once seemed basic, but now hit with more weight because of how experience changes your perspective. That’s the mark of a great art book—it ages with you.
The mindset Dodson teaches also helps when I’m teaching others how to begin their own nature journaling practice. It’s not about flashy results. It’s about attention, observation, and showing up with curiosity.
Who This Book Is For
If you’re someone who:
- Feels stuck drawing from imagination
- Overthinks every sketch
- Wants to feel more confident drawing real life subjects
- Needs structure without being overwhelmed
…then this book will help.
It fits well with other practical books I love, like The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling or Dare to Sketch. But I think Keys to Drawing is the most down-to-earth and immediately usable.
Is Keys to Drawing Enough to Learn Drawing?
Honestly, no single book is enough to carry you through every phase of your drawing journey. But Keys to Drawing is probably the most useful foundational tool I’ve ever used. It gets you moving in the right direction, helps build essential habits, and encourages the kind of observation-based drawing that’s useful no matter your style or subject matter.
What’s made it so invaluable to me is how often I’ve come back to it—not for inspiration, but for clarification. When I feel stuck or off-track, I’ll open to one of the exercises or skim a section on proportion or gesture. It's like having a reliable drawing coach on my shelf.
If you’re combining this book with regular sketching sessions, maybe some prompts from my drawing ideas for beginners or even sketchbook challenge ideas, you’ll absolutely see growth. The trick is to use the book actively—not just read it. Keep a sketchbook open while you go through it, and revisit the exercises as often as you need.
You can also deepen the journey by exploring creative drawing concepts, playing with expressive mark-making, or incorporating watercolor in nature to add depth to your pages.
Is Keys to Drawing good for beginners?
Yes, it’s one of the most beginner-friendly books I’ve read. It doesn’t assume you know anything. It starts with basic exercises and slowly builds your confidence.
Does Keys to Drawing include step-by-step tutorials?
Not in the way you might expect. It doesn’t say “draw a circle, now a square.” Instead, it teaches you how to think and see like an artist. If you prefer literal step-by-step guides, try pairing it with simple daily drawing prompts.
Can I use this book for nature journaling?
Absolutely. In fact, I often recommend it as a foundational resource before diving into nature journaling basics or planning a creative journaling excursion. The lessons on observation and light are directly applicable.
How is it different from Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain?
Keys to Drawing is more direct and less theoretical. It feels more like a workshop, while Drawing on the Right Side is a deep dive into perception science. Both are great, but I found Dodson’s approach more motivating.