Constructive Anatomy
George B. Bridgman
Dover
Nonfiction, Art
****+
DESCRIPTION: With over 500 illustrations, this book describes the forms of the human body and how they fit together.
REVIEW: I've seen it recommended more times than I can recall in online art communities, so I decided it was worth a shot. At first blush, the drawings look a bit scribbly around the edges, but there's a method to the perceived messiness. Bridgman emphasizes shape and form over specific detail, with blocks and masses interconnecting to create a whole. Once in a while I found the text unhelpful, but working my way through this book image by image has certainly proven useful and educational. I'm sure more advanced or dedicated art students would get even more out of it.
You might also enjoy:
Cyclopedia Anatomicae (György Fehér, Art - A very thorough examination of human anatomy)
Anatomy for the Artist (Tom Flint and Peter Stanyer, Art - Drawing the human body)
Drawing the Head and Figure (Jack Hamm, Art - Methods for drawing people)
Dynamic Figure Drawing (Burne Hogarth, Art - Creating depth and motion in figure drawing)
Anatomy and Drawing (Victor Perard, Art - How to draw the human form)
Figure Drawing Without a Model (Ron Tiner, Art - How to draw convincing humans from imagination)
The Human Machine
George B. Bridgman
Dover
Nonfiction, Art
****
DESCRIPTION: The art of drawing the human figure is often taught as a series of bones and muscles to be memorized and replicated, without consideration of the dynamic kinetics that make a body truly live. Bridgman presents human anatomy in terms of its remarkable mechanical structure..
REVIEW: Yet another part of my ongoing efforts to improve my dubious artistic skills... With many illustrations, Bridgman demonstrates the hidden mechanics of joints, muscles, and bones. The text makes for occasionally interesting reading, as well. It is similar to the previous Bridgman book I've read (Constructive Anatomy, reviewed previously), but with a different angle of presentation to avoid being a complete retread. I'd like to believe I learned something from its pages, though this kind of book takes more than one pass-through to fully appreciate.
You might also enjoy:
Cyclopedia Anatomicae (György Fehér, Art - A very thorough examination of human anatomy)
Anatomy for the Artist (Tom Flint and Peter Stanyer, Art - Drawing the human body)
Drawing the Head and Figure (Jack Hamm, Art - Methods for drawing people)
Dynamic Figure Drawing (Burne Hogarth, Art - Creating depth and motion in figure drawing)
Anatomy and Drawing (Victor Perard, Art - How to draw the human form)
Figure Drawing Without a Model (Ron Tiner, Art - How to draw convincing humans from imagination)
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