Anatomy for the Artist: A Comprehensive Guide to Drawing the Human Body, a Complete Guide

by Daniel Carter

This first title in Barron's brand-new, instructive, and profusely illustrated series can be used as a self-teaching manual for ambitious amateur artists or as a textbook in art classrooms. After a brief introduction on the history of anatomy in art, it offers a detailed analysis of the human skeleton, muscles, bones, joints, and body proportions of human figures in standing, sitting, reclining, and action poses. The book's exercises are focused to improve and refine students' proficiency in drawing all parts of the human body. Artists' tools and accessories are recommended, and techniques are shown to help students render the human form in both wet and dry media.

Genres: Art, Reference, Nonfiction, How To, Collections

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book teaches Anatomy more than art. However, it's insufficient when one is looking for anatomical details.

The best part of this book is how the bones and muscles of each part of the body are well illustrated and labeled.

It makes a v.good reference for those who are interested in drawing realistic human figures.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Credo, ma è solo la mia opinione, che una lettura come questa abbia senso se il testo viene "praticato" (ok, tremendo, ma spero vorrete passarmi il termine! XD): non può essere consultato come fosse una enciclopedia, le informazioni sono minime (ma chiare) ed, essendo un "manuale", le indicazioni riportate dovrebbero essere tradotte in pratica nell'esercizio del disegno.

[Apryl Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice large, clear photos of body parts and basic, basic, basic 'how to draw' tips. The details are rendered with a photographic realism... and the more I drew my way deeper into the book, the more I was troubled by the characters. Finally, it dawned on me that these are not people, they're androids! I don't want to learn anatomy of perfect, spotless bodies--I need to be observing real people.

Fortunately, I picked this up off the sale table on a visit to the USA, so it's not a great loss. For the rest of you--if it's not too late--head for the Dover editions. They're classics for good reason!

[PJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very informative.