[higalack]

Hey, guys looking to improve overall as an artist and was wondering

if any of you have found good anatomy books to recommend.

So far in terms of general art ive been referencing bodybuilder photos and practicing with the occasional target ads, for faces, clothing and such. 🙄

Also would be helpful if you’d give a brief answer of why the books good and the prices. As im a dirt-poor college student a good general book would be nice, which also means big book of how to draw eyes the anthology collection is out.

[Matthew Lim]

My solutions for anatomy books aren’t cheap but they are probably the best on the market (at least in my opinion).

For anatomy in general you need two books:

Anatomy for the Artist by Sarah Simblet and John Davis

Anatomy for the Artist is a nice reference book that you can have at your side while drawing. It has very handy vellum overlays that show how the muscles correspond to what they look like on the outside.

Dynamic Anatomy by Burne Hogarth

Dynamic Anatomy is basically anatomy bootcamp. When reading this book, it will kick your ass as far as anatomy knowledge. This is a book you’ll want to read through every now and then to make sure you have anatomy down.

Then there are several other books that are nice to have but aren’t really necessary to up your anatomy know-how. Some of these I don’t have but know the content are extremely valuble.

Drawing Dynamic Hands by Burne Hogarth

Drawing the Human Head by Burne Hogarth

Dynamic Figure Drawing by Burne Hogarth

Because the human figure is the most difficult thing in art to draw (followed by a horse and a slice of bread ) Burne Hogarth shows you in the most complex way possible, how to draw it right.

Bridgeman’s Complete Guide to Drawing from Life

Bridgeman is the complete opposite from Hogarth. He approaches life drawing in the most simplistic way possible. Bridgeman also outlines how the human musculature opreates with odd looking diagrams.

All these books are the best and most useful in my opinion. But reading really doesn’t compare to hands on experience. A good way to up your anatomy skills by several points is to find a community college that has a figure drawing program and take the introduction course. You don’t have to believe me, but it does help out a lot to take a drawing class. In my college career I’ve taken six figure drawing classes and jeez, look how crappy my art is. 😛

[David C. Matthews]

I second your recommendation for the Hogarth books, although I’d count Dynamic Figure Drawing as at least as "essential" as Dynamic Anatomy. Hogarth is especially useful because he was the illustrator for many years (many years ago) of the Tarzan Sunday comic strips; thus his knowledge is especially applicable to comics illustration.

[higalack]

Thanx, Maniac that was more then informative

O ye forgot to put on my resume that I took an introductory art course in college that had a figure study component and a painting class. So I do understand what you mean by hands on experience and I had an amazing teacher to boot. A long winded lecturer at times and very blunt critiquer as well. But his teachings and technique has helped me immensely.

Maybe later on when i have the time and a bit of cash ill take some more advanced classes. So a good book should hold me over for now.

[Matthew Lim]

One more important thing to remember is that good drawing doesn’t come from books or classes, it really comes down to time. Good drawing skills aren’t something that develops overnight, it takes a lot of trial and error to get to a point where you’re producing great art. For myself I’ve been drawing for at least 16 years, and only about three or four years ago have I really found my niche in drawing. And I’m willing to bet guys like DCM and Wreck have been drawing way before I was even a twinkle in my father’s eye. I can in fact recall that one of my LH-Art books which features Wreck’s work was printed in a year when I was still in middle school (for time reference I’m almost ready to graduate college). So you really have to be patient with it and constantly experiment with what you feel comfortable with and always have an open ear on what you need to work on.

[refaal]

I can't believe you didn't include Andrew Loomis!  😀

hes a good influence for realist and comic book artists.

good luck in your studies Higalack!

[David C. Matthews]

I can't believe you didn't include Andrew Loomis!  😀

hes a good influence for realist and comic book artists.

good luck in your studies Higalack!

Speaking only for myself, I didn't include Loomis because his books are mostly out of print, and hard to get (whereas the Bridgman and Hogarth books can be found in almost any good bookstore). But that link you provided is very helpful; I've already bookmarked it! Thanks!!

[btx]

Hey Higalack, just thought I'd throw in my two cents…

I highly recommend two books by the Brit artist Glenn Fabry:

1. Muscles In Motion: figure drawing for the comic book artist

2. Anatomy for Fantasy Artists

The first book contains hundreds of renditons of female muscle taken from video clips of bodybuilding shows and excercise videos. Very useful. This guy isn't afraid of drawing very buff women.

The second book contains several pages of a character called "Sonia The Adventurer" a buff mohawked chick ( I'm going to use her for a reference in drawing Rampage or She Hulk) Again, his renditions of female buffitude is very useful for the artist who wants to draw powerful women but not always rely on male photo references (which often leads to a "manly" drawing).

Both books can ordered from Amazon.com

Good Drawing!

BTX

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