Amazon.com: Anatomy for the Artist is like having your own life-drawing studio in the privacy of your home. Carefully constructed photographs of the human form allow you to see the structure and function of the skeleton and main muscle groups. Six imaginative drawing lessons, each supported with photography, show how to portray the bones, head, rib cage, pelvis, hands, and feet in perspective, from different angles, both in still poses and in movement.
Book Description: In Anatomy for the Artist, acclaimed artist and teacher Sarah Simblet unveils the extraordinary construction of the human body, and celebrates its continual prominence in Western Art.
The transparent body. Using superb, specially commissioned photographs of male and female models, together with historical and contemporary works of art, and her own illustrations, Sarah shows us how to see inside the human frame, to map its muscle groups, skeletal strength, balance, poise, and grace. Selected drawing superimposed over photographs reveal fascinating relationships between external appearance and internal structure.
Drawing from life. Six drawing classes guide the reader to see the human body afresh, offering techniques and attitudes that imaginatively show how to view and draw the skeleton, head, ribcage, pelvis, hands, and feet.
Dissecting the Masters. By investigating ten Masterworks, the author demonstrates different artist's ideas and knowledge across time, ranging from Holbein's Christ Entombed, to Edward Hopper's Hotel Room. Each Masterclass presents a photographed model set in the same pose, so that anatomical comparisons can be made. Understanding anatomy is often the key to an artist's understanding and interpretation of the body. This imaginative modern reference book will enhance the drawing and painting techniques of artists at every level.
Great!! Great way to get familiar with the human body, different positions than the boring usual, a book for more advance artists looking to improve and to know those little details only a model or this book could reveal to you.
Anatomy for the Artist Excellent book for studying the human body! This book retails for $40.00 in a book store.
Excellent Resource I got this because since I am not in college anymore, there is a big shortage of nude models! :)
This is an excellent resource. The photography is incredible. The educational value exceptional. It has pictures and text with skeletal overlays for parts of the body - skull, spine, arms, torso, hip/thigh, feet and hands.
My ONLY complaint is that this - like almost all model books - does not provide various body types nor does it represent enough ethnic groups.
A beautiful and informative book It turns out, I own a lot of anatomy books. I find considerable beauty in the forms and structures of the body, internal as much as external. The interplay of muscle and bone is endlessly fascinating. So, it was natural for me to investigate this book.
At first, I was a little put off by the "beautiful people" aspect of the book, but the lean, long models work well for demonstrating the way underlying structures influence the surface anatomy. I also like the historical overview of anatomical drawing with Leonardo plates and Albinus plates along with other historical anatomical renderings.
Then, I really started looking at the author's drawings. They are lush, expressive line drawings. From what I can tell, the author works at a larger-than-life scale, so they may be seen out of context on the page; but that takes nothing away from their excellent quality. I would buy the book for the drawings alone, but this book has far more to offer.
As others have noted, the production values are outstanding. Several plates are set up with a full-color photo of the model and a transparent overlay printed with drawings of matching internal structures. The paper is heavy and coated. The printing is bright and clear with plenty of color photography throughout. It's a beautiful book.
In addition to an overview of human anatomy and the historical background described earlier, the author includes case studies of famous paintings such as "The Tub" by Edgar Degas and "A Combat of Nude Men" by Raphael. The author analyzes the figure in each pose, using a photo of an actual model as counterpoint for discussing the Old Master's handling of the figure in the work of art. Taken as a whole, the book is highly informative.
This book is an excellent resource that offers tremendous value for the money. I give it five stars.
Great pictures and illustrations. It's a really nice book. It has some amazing illustrations and photos in it and many of the illustrations are overlays that go right over the photo allowing you to further understand the relationship. It has been tremendously helpful in my figure drawing.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
