Figure Drawing for Fashion Design (Pepin Press Design Books)

Book Description

FIGURE DRAWING FOR FASHION DESIGN offers a concise, topic by topic guide to acquiring and perfecting these skills, concentrating on the female form. The coverage provided means that this book is ideal both for those who want to apply themselves professionally to fashion design, and for all enthusiasts of drawing the human body. Fashion plates are the primary means of visualizing ideas and concepts in costume and fashion design. To give an accurate impression of what is in a designer's mind it is vital to have complete mastery of the rules of figure drawing. Here, realism and anatomical precision are the chief values, whereas for costume and fashion, stylization and exaggeration are ways of adding individuality and verve to a plate, and of focusing attention on specific elements.

Customer Reviews:

Okay........2007-05-15

This book did help me with my drawings. I needed to know proper proportions and how to draw fabric, etc., but I agree with everyone else: the figures are very "superwoman"ish and, in my opinion, showing way too much skin! I had to put a paper cover over the book so my children wouldn't see the back cover! I was disappointed to find out that the typical design drawing has it's proportions exagerated to make the figure look very tall and thin, but I guess I should have seen that coming with the way today's fashions are. Fortunately the book also provided a scale for real-life proportions.

Figure Drawing for Fashion Design Review.......2007-05-09

I was abit disappointed in this book, I found the illustrations quite old fashioned with an 80's vibe, not what I was expecting. Even the clothes in the illustrations had Dallas style shoulder pads. I'm studying fashion design in college, so I was expecting to be inspired, through the use of different media and rendering techniques, which unfortunately didn't happen. But some of the templates for poses are useful and it would be ok as a starting point.

5 stars for fashion artists-- maybe 4 for everyone else.......2007-04-26

This is the kind of book that deserves 5 stars simply based on the current competition: many other fashion books are either too expensive, or are just not done well enough, to justify a click on the "Add to Shopping Cart" button.

It's illustrations are about 89% black & white (in number), and 100% detail the basics of female fashion figures- no men! It's true that many of these women look a little on the stiff or masculine side; they actually sometimes look like Mick Jagger(!). Still, they generally look reasonably good, and nearly all are done in a very clean & consistent pencil style, which contributes to an overall professional look here. In 216 pages, about 26 pages include partial or full color. There are no photos or backgrounds, just figure drawings on white paper. About a quarter of the figures are nude; the rest having at least a little bit of clothing. The beginning of the book details basic close-up views of the head & figure, but most illustrations detail entire figures on the page. I really like the application of simple, 3-dimensional basic shapes to fashion figures here. It's a *highly* streamlined look at the basics. If you're a fashion artist I can't see why you wouldn't want this book, but if you're mainly interested in figure drawing in general, this is probably just a 4-star effort. People interested in developing more detailed figure drawing skills might also want to check out: The Figure: The Classic Approach to Drawing and Construction by Walt Reed, Drawing the Head and Figure by Jack Hamm, and then How To Draw Manga Volume 22: Bishoujo Around The World (How to Draw Manga) by Hikaru Hayashi. Check 'em out!

Pretty darn good.......2007-03-22

Well, the other reviews are right on. This book lays an incredible ground work for drawing fashion figures. It is definitely worth buying.

However, I highly reccomend to alter the figures a little unless you are illustrating women from "American Gladiator". The figures are very muscular, sometimes a little thick, and their lips are gigantic. Frankly, they are a little terrifying.

Enjoy the book!

Fashion made easy.......2007-03-14

This was a great book with fabulous sketches and ideas for upcoming fashion designers. The book presents sketches for all the different styles and cuts of clothing. Highly recommend!!

Average customer rating:

An Excellent Reference for the Novice or Intermediate Artist
Amazing art book
Good reference book
Best book ever!
If you draw figures you must have this book!

Anatomy for the Artist
Sarah Simblet , and John Davis
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Figure Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Atlas of Foreshortening: The Human Figure in Deep Perspective (Second Edition)
The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing: A Contemporary Perspective on the Classical Tradition
Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form
Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist (Galaxy Books)
The Figure in Motion

ASIN: 078948045X

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.

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Reference for the Novice or Intermediate Artist.......2007-09-30

"Anatomy for the Artist" is an impressive reference guide for those artists looking for a helpful leap into the world of anatomy. This book is full of high-quality, tasteful nude photographs (most in black and white, some in color) of a variety of models that will provide great insight into how best to acurately portray the human body as a whole, as well as parts of the body in particular.

"Anatomy for the Artist" is, helpfully, divided into segments - upper torseo, lower torso, upper arms, lower arms, thighs, legs, etc. - and focuses on each part in particular in an unhurried, elegant manner. Many sections of photographs are accompanied by translucent overlays that illustrate the muscular/skeletal structure beneath the skin of the models (there are pencil sketches, largely). Additionally, classic paintings of note are presented next to models taking the pose of the subjects in the painting and deconstructing how the artist extrapolated their models' positions into their finished pieces; this I found especially enlightening. It appears that no expense was spared in the production of this book. I found its section of the upper torso, the forearm, and the legs most helpful to me, and I don't doubt that many artists will find much of this book illuminating and revealing.

However, this book is certainly not perfect. There are some poses and angles that I would have liked to have seen (for instance, more examples of the back of the upper torso; more three-quarters views, as the book seems to focus on side and full views mostly). Also, while the compartmentaliztion of different body parts into different chapters is helpful in most ways, the segregation of the upper and lower portions of the arms and legs will force you to flip back and forth in the book whem trying to make an accurate rendering, which may get tiresome. Overall, however, this is a superb book to learn and sketch from. Recommended.

Amazing art book.......2007-09-14

Finally, an anatomy book for artists that's not too technical in nature. It's more about art, just with the basic structures you need to be aware of to create more lifelike work.

There are tons of photos to work from, since most of us don't have live models around.

The best feature of the book is the overlay pages. There are pages in the book of clear plastic with the underlying structures of the body printed on them. You turn these pages over photos of the body and see how the underlying structures affect the shading, lines, and movement of the figure. It's fantastic.

Good reference book.......2007-05-14

Great photographic reference for any artist, especially for those working in digital medium. It will not substitute for a traditional anatomy book with drawings, but great as a supplement for realistic depiction of human body.

Best book ever!.......2007-04-11

This book is amazing, I love it, so worth the money. if you are into art, then this is a book to have in your collection!

If you draw figures you must have this book!.......2007-03-26

This book is an absolute must for anyone who does figure drawing. The photographs are wonderful and offer a range of figures in various types of poses and lighting. I have a friend in drawing class who purchsed this book so I was able to look at it first hand before I bought it. I came home and ordered it that very day. It is that good.

The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing: A Contemporary Perspective on the Classical Tradition

Average customer rating:

Really nice book
Good for drawing "live"
Thank God for an excellent figurative painter!
Excellent, but...
Figure Drawing

The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing: A Contemporary Perspective on the Classical Tradition
Anthony Ryder
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Study & Teaching | Reference | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Figure Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Artist's Complete Guide to Drawing the Head
Classical Drawing Atelier: A Contemporary Guide to Traditional Studio Practice
The Human Figure
Life Drawing in Charcoal
Master Class in Figure Drawing

ASIN: 0823003035

Customer Reviews:

Really nice book.......2007-07-31

I got this book for my life drawing class and I really like this book. It does not teach anatomy or proportion. It shows the classical way of doing figure drawing and how to do finish rendering. It's more traditional approach and really helpful. I have learned a lot from it.

Good for drawing "live".......2006-07-17

Very usefull, very pleasant to read. I was expecting more explanations about the relationship between anatomy and the human pose, but it's more about how to look at the model to draw it well.

Thank God for an excellent figurative painter!.......2006-03-04

Ryder's book is a delight to leaf through, looking at the excellent life drawings in red earth, done with the same accuracy and passion as the masters of the past.
He gives a very clear account of how to tackle the drawing in phases, until it is finished.
I would have rated the book a solid 5, were it not that in my opinion Ryder spends too little time giving advice on how to measure proportions, which are the basis of a successful life drawing or portrait. He is undoubtedly a masterful draftsman, but the less experienced artist reading his book would expect to be led step by step on such an important aspect of drawing from life.

Excellent, but..........2005-11-05

The general consensus of the reviews I've read is that this is a fine book, but not for beginners. My take is somewhat different.

First of all, I think this is a fine book for a beginner if she or he is not (unlike most beginners it seems) indignant at the idea of having to have exercise patience and concentration.

Anthony Ryder is a fine draftsman and, to judge from this book, a fine teacher as well. He explains his method quite admirably. How others can think otherwise is a mystery to me. As far as I'm concerned, he does an excellent job of combining instruction in mechanical technique with broader insights into the process of drawing. While I have never met him, I find he comes across in this book as quite a likeable person.

I do, however, have a reservation. The author seems to have little understanding of, or at least does not convey, the limitations of the method he teaches.

For accurately conveying the appearance of still subjects in controlled lighting, I think this method is without better.

Many subjects, however, cannot be portrayed accurately using this method. You simply cannot make a good drawing of a living deer or chickadee, for instance, using this framework. Nor can you portray human subjects that are impractical for studio sessions, for instance a battle scene with many people (try paying just one model for 8 hours of posing) and in positions that no model can hold for very long or at all. All the work of A.R. that I have seen is either of inanimate objects or of human models in relatively leisurely poses, and his method reflects that.

Nonetheless, learning to draw accurately from still life is an essential skill for those who want to do realistic work, and this book is an excellent foundation. However, if you want to work with subjects other than lounging models and objects on table tops, you will need to go beyond it.

Figure Drawing.......2005-08-12

Mr. Ryder has compiled wonderful book for the figure drawing beginer that includes many types of drawings and drawing media, from pencil to charcoal to pastels. It is extremely well ilustrated with many great tips for the beginers. This is a book that I highly recomend for those just starting to those are already on their way.

Average customer rating:

Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces
Drawing Techniques Analyzed and Simplified
This book really helped!
Drawing Realistic Faces
Great Book for Learning to Draw Realistic Faces

Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces
Carrie Stuart Parks
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Figure Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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How to Draw Lifelike Portraits from Photographs
Secrets To Realistic Drawing
Drawing Realistic Textures in Pencil
How to Draw What You See (Practical Art Books)
Pencil Drawing Techniques

ASIN: 1581802161

Book Description

This book will have beginning artists of all ages drawing faces that are strikingly realistic and detailed. Artist Carrie Stuart Parks honed her fast and effective drawing skills as a professional forensic artist. Here she makes drawing fun and easy, showing beginners how to render vivid self portraits and portraits of others, all in a matter of hours.

Artists will successfully learn how to master proportions and map facial features accurately. They will then study shapes within a composition and learn to draw them realistically. Lastly, artists will study the subject's values and use them to bring life and accuracy to each portrait. A final "checking" step helps artists capture heightened realism and accuracy.

This book features clear step-by-step instructions, before-and-after examples from students, and proven drawing exercises used to train artists throughout the country.

Customer Reviews:

Secrets to Drawing Realistic Faces.......2007-04-11

This book was recommended to me by someone who is an artists for crime victims. It was used in the classes she went to. I am practicing drawing eyes at the moment. I have to say that I am now drawing the best eyes ever. This book explains more that where to put the features. It explains how to make the features come to life.

Drawing Techniques Analyzed and Simplified .......2007-03-23

Again, I checked this one out from the library before purchasing. I did not want another book that just told me to sit down and 'draw what you see'. When it comes to faces, the proportions are the hardest part for me. This book goes into great detail explaining how to 'measure' the features of a real person, not the imaginary kind we see in fashion layouts. I have actually seen great improvement after only a few drawings. The best way to improve is to do separate studies of each facial feature until we get them right, and this book explains how. Practice is what brings the progress. Finding time is the problem. This book makes it very clear that anyone with good eyesight can learn to draw peoples' faces. It's just like learning any other skill. This woman teaches this course to police artists, ordinary people with no previous artistic training. It works!

This book really helped!.......2007-02-08

I love this book, I got it from the library, but I had to have my own copy. I was able to actually capture a likeness for the first time! Her technique of measuring can be applied to more than just faces. I bought her second book, but this one is better.

Drawing Realistic Faces.......2007-02-07

I am very happy with this book, gives you a step by step insight on portraits. This book was also shipped to me within two days, fast and efficient!!

Great Book for Learning to Draw Realistic Faces.......2007-01-10

I love to draw, and most know the Hardest thing to draw is the face. Drawing a Face Realisticly can make or break a Masterpiece, before i was ok my sketchs were nice. I got this book and Practiced, every step, very easy to follow, and understand. Within weeks, i was creating some Portrait Quality Sketches, Now all my friends and Family are asking me to Draw them. I would Recomend this Book to anyone that loves to draw, especially Realistic Drawing.

Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters: 100 Great Drawings Analyzed, Figure Drawing Fundamentals Defined

Average customer rating:

Analysis is great
Definative
Not written by an artist...
This is one of the best books ever!
Must have book for all fine art students!

Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters: 100 Great Drawings Analyzed, Figure Drawing Fundamentals Defined
Robert Hale
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Study & Teaching | Reference | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Figure Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Master Class in Figure Drawing
Anatomy Lessons from the Great Masters
The Natural Way to Draw: A Working Plan for Art Study
The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing: A Contemporary Perspective on the Classical Tradition
Sargent Portrait Drawings: 42 Works by John Singer Sargent (Dover Art Library)

ASIN: 0823014010

Customer Reviews:

Analysis is great.......2007-10-03

I like that he has a full page to show the drawing and on the facing page he has a smaller version with commentary. He places capital letters on the drawing so you can see exactly which line or shape he is discussing.

Definative.......2007-07-13

Robert Beverly Hale was one of the masters in teaching figure drawing. A must for serious students of figure painting.

Not written by an artist..........2007-05-08

Although this is one of the best compilation books of old master drawings
available on the common market, I would not put too much stock in what
the author says. The author is correct in saying that many of these
great artists had to learn and understand anatomy in order to "make it up"
(e.g., a figure of a rearing horse drawn by Titian, impossible to be
taken from life), but he goes overboard in trying to get the student to
learn about anatomy. For example, he says "Please buy some bones". That's right--the way to paint like Rubens is to...buy some bones. I don't think so. Even if you learned how to draw the figure well, after perhaps 10 years, you'd still have to tackle drapery and then learn how to compose your figures in a painting and, well, be an artist. I have learned after much figure drawing study that after a while, "studies are
useless" (Rubens said that also). It is better for the true artist to simply plan painting after painting, and ignore all this wasteful "study effort" as if art is a science. This is not to say any knowledge of anatomy is bad. But you need to know only as much as it takes to know that
a head looks too big, or a shoulder "doesn't look right", esp. if you are already working from life. I have studied anatomy and tried to draw from my memory, and although my drawings have all the attendant parts, you cannot "guess" at how the aspect of a vastus medialis changes when it is in 10 different positions. It's much easier and quicker simply to draw a model from life--it will look more correct, even WITHOUT a knowledge of anatomy. And if you are a figurative artist, you may even want to "clothe" your figures at some point (Watteau made a name for himself for knowing how to do just that) so knowledge of anatomy, although not to be entirely discounted, should run second to drawing from life, having artistic vision, and working on a plan to make a nice painting instead of engaging in hours of fruitless "studies." After you die, do you want to have a bunch of academic drawings with correct anatomy laying around?
Only the art matters. This book, although much better than those awful books which use hack artists as models of excellence, still falls short
of what you really need to do to become a strong figurative painter. And that is, "draw from life". Pose your friends and family and draw them.
That's what the masters did.

This is one of the best books ever!.......2007-01-25

This is a must have book. No matter what your subject matter you can benefit from reading and doing the exercises in this book. I read it with a highlighter and a pen. I don't usually write in my drawing books, but this one was too good to simply read I had to study it. I will be using this in my current class to help me draw people better. Lots of excellent examples. It doesn't matter what you are trying to learn to draw this book helps you think in terms of mass and shape, not legs, arms, faces, etc.

Must have book for all fine art students!.......2007-01-05

Robert Beverly Hale is the undisputed master of not only artistic anatomy, methods of drawing and the masters' techniques; but he is also a master at conveying ideas in clear concise language. He was the best lecturer on artistic anatomy. I attended his 10 session lectures twice before he died. The book reflects much of what he taught in his lectures, so it's the next best thing to having him in the room.

Dot Dot Dash: Designer Toys, Action Figures And Character Art

Average customer rating:

Wonderful.
Yes!
Great Coffee Table Book
Great book!

Dot Dot Dash: Designer Toys, Action Figures And Character Art

Manufacturer: Dgv
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

I Am Plastic: The Designer Toy Explosion
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Pictoplasma: The Character Encyclopaedia

ASIN: 3899551613

Book Description

Dot Dot Dash! is brought to you by the editors of Pictoplasma and Pictoplasma 2. Expanding on the widely popular subject of contemporary character design, this definitive volume showcases an up-to-date survey of the personalities and characters that have entered the third dimension.

Vinyl figures, plush dolls, designer toys and action figures can be seen as a new movement in contemporary design, art and popular culture. Interest in these three-dimensional toys have surged, drawing on pop culture, graffiti and visual art. The new-generation-characters appear cute, cuddly and innocuous at first, but are often elicit, subversive and politically incorrect. Not intended for child's play, they are highly esteemed by teens and adults alike. Each is a work of art, often created by world-famous artists and many of them are produced independently in limited editions and become highly sought after collectibles.

A recent trend of character applications aspiring from inherent crossovers of the character and art worlds is also taking form in sculptures and objects, creating a new art market where artists are progressively moving beyond the boundaries of the gallery and extending their work to a disparate audience.

This voluptuous volume exhibits the expansive scope of designs and objects in the ultimate compilation of contemporary character design.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful........2007-08-24

The book is comprehensive and inspiring to me as an artist.
Not, however, suitable for children under age 13, as
some of the toys are quite gruesome, and some are sexually oriented.

Yes!.......2007-03-26

This book it's what I expected and more, great compilation of pictures, hundred of toys, very visual and complet.

Great Coffee Table Book.......2007-03-09

I'm telling you this really gets the conversation started. Anyone who has never seen these designer toys really get a kick out of it. This was a great purchase to hold off my addiction from buying all of the figures. The one complaint is they could have off-centered the really well done photographs so they don't get cut off in the binding. Very pleased with the amount of artwork in there. Definitely would recommend it to anyone, a collector or any other person who appreciates a fun piece of art.

Great book!.......2006-11-14

I just got a copy of this book in the mail today. I love it. I have been looking thru it and showing it to my friends(I have three toys in this book)since I opened it this morning. I only have one issue with it and that's that one of my toys is listed as being an 8" Dunny when it's actually a 3"...Not a big deal.
If you like designer toys even a little you will dig this book. If you are a toy customizer or toy designer, I hope you find this book as inspiring as I do.
This book even has an entire section devoted to plush toys! I've looked thru several designer toy books and I've never seen one as complete as this one.

Visual eye candy yum!

Average customer rating:

Comic book, manga, fine artists - LISTEN UP!
A Slim Volume, But Densely Packed with Knowledge
Easy to follow step-by-step guide
I'm not an artist, but.....my daughter is.
Packed full of information and illustrations

Drawing the Head and Figure
Jack Hamm
Manufacturer: Perigee Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Figure Drawing | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Perspective Made Easy

ASIN: 0399507914

Customer Reviews:

Comic book, manga, fine artists - LISTEN UP!.......2007-08-08

If Amazon had a 6 star rating, I'd give it.

I had initially dismissed Mr. Hamm's book on drawing the human figure because of its small size. I had assumed a book with about 100 pages would only cover the basics and ignore the finer aspects of figure drawing.

Imagine my shock (not to mention shame) when I finally sat down and went through it to discover how much the book really covers. No space is wasted in the layout, as every available inch is filled with information.

The illustrations are very clear(unlike Bridgman)and the text supplements them perfectly (unlike Hogarth). Bones, tendons, and ligaments are not overshadowed in importance by muscles - something I see in a lot of other books. Surface anatomy is stressed in this book. Knowing how every muscle looks by itself is useless unless you can also render the bones and other anatomical aspects that are present on the body surface(i.e. kneecaps, ribs, collarbones, elbows, etc. Many anatomy books just give you generic heads as examples. Mr. Hamm's book has TONS of variations of both male and female heads. Those of you who want a little variety in your people, this is for you!

This book will become a permanent desktop fixture(as is mine) for the fine artist or comic book artist. Even you, manga fans! I've flipped through much of the horrendously overpriced "How to draw manga" books pertaining to anatomy and let me tell you, they don't even compare. Any artist can use the raw information in this book and twist it to meet his or her own style. If you want to really know the body's features this book will help you learn it from the inside out.

I've got a challenge for you - sit down with this book and count how many times you hear yourself say "Oh, so THAT'S how it works!" You'll be surprised (not to mention humbled) at just how much you don't know. Because honestly, who DOESN'T want to know just how many bone projections there are on the human elbow?

In short? Buy this book. If you don't have enough money, then sell a kidney. Pick bottles. DO SOMETHING!

A Slim Volume, But Densely Packed with Knowledge.......2007-08-08

Don't be fooled into thinking that this book is just "another" book for the beginning artist - there is plently here for novice and veteran alike. In Drawing the Head and Figure, Jack Hamm has produced an essential, encyclopedic volume that will show you how to accurately draw the anatomical details that will take your drawings from ordinary to insightful. Hamm proves himself to be an expert of anatomy in this work, ably showing how to draw and detail some of the most difficult body parts to get right. I am continuously impressed by the depth of this book and how helpful it is. It does have its off points - Hamm's section on drawing clothing is less than impressive, and his section on drawing hands isn't particularly helpful; additionally, the clothing and hairstyles that Hamm uses as examples demonstrates the age of this book (although this is more of a superficial point). All in all, a superb resource that the artist will find himself or herself returning to again and again. Highly recommended.

Easy to follow step-by-step guide.......2007-06-26

.
Jack Hamm's book is a revelation for both accomplished and novice artists. The first section of the book is the face. These are the dominant parts of the face, and you need to practice each of them. Imagine learning to draw the head - perfectly - in 6 steps. This section includes construction through double circles, the front view - even accents through a flattened pencil. Practice, practice, practice -- that is the biggest key to improving your art.

Once you have mastered just the head, Hamm guides you through shaping the eyes to fit the face you have sketched. Create dimensions with shading. Next, you can learn to draw the parts of the female mouth, which are similar to, but different from, the male mouth. Why? Study the faces of the men and women around you - you can see that some lips are full, some wide, some pressed tight, some open and warm. In the 40's the valentine mouth was popular, now we look to beauties like Angelina Jolie who would look silly with a perky little valentine lips. Study your characters.

However, noses are the same, on the female they tend to be smaller, and fewer have sustained breaks in the growing up years. You can build the nose with very few lines; the more lines, the more prominent the nose will be. Do not forget the ears. Some are shells while others are wings, or so it seems.

Hair has texture and natural fall to it. Is it curly, does it stick out all over, is the head bald or with a comb over? Hamm's book helps you see hair so that you can then draw it. Remember it has many strands or lines.

This is just a quick summation of the book; filled with interesting writing and incredible images. If you want to draw figures, this is a must.

I'm not an artist, but.....my daughter is........2007-06-06

I bought this book for my daughter (a tattoo artist), and her drawings of people improved so dramatically (overnight)that even I noticed.
In her opinion, this book is excellent for learning to draw human figures.

Packed full of information and illustrations.......2007-01-13

Though maybe packed a little too much with stuff; it's up to the reader to find some order among all the arrows, side-bars, comments, etc. It would probably have been better, also, to save the hyper-detail on drawing eyes and ears until after the discussion on drawing basic figures and sketches.

Nevertheless, an excellent book for beginners, as are all of Hamm's books. Contrary to what some self-proclaimed experts may tell you ("Don't bother with how-to-draw books; just go out there and draw. If you can't seem to get the hang of it, it means you're not an artist,"), instructional books on drawing ARE necessary for the beginner. Many of the best-known illustrators out there praise the works of Jack Hamm and Andrew Loomis, and have testified to their necessity when they were first learning to draw.)

Character Costume Figure Drawing: Step-by-Step Drawing Methods for Theatre Costume Designers

Average customer rating:

Great book!
Pleased but not overwhelmed
Amazingly helpful!
Everything You Need to Know
Character Costume Figure Drawing: Step-by-Step Drawing Methods for Theatre Costume Designers

Character Costume Figure Drawing: Step-by-Step Drawing Methods for Theatre Costume Designers
Tan Huaixiang
Manufacturer: Focal Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Costume Design: Techniques of Modern Masters
The Magic Garment: Principles of Costume Design
Costume Design 101: The Business and Art of Creating Costumes for Film and Television
Costume Design
Patterns for Theatrical Costumes: Garments, Trims, and Accessories from Ancient Egypt to 1915

ASIN: 0240805348

Book Description

This text presents drawing instruction with detailed break downs of various types of characters. Maternal? Elderly? Sassy? Sexy? It all starts with body proportion, bone structure, body masses, the facial expressions, the hands, and the feet. Hats, props, fabrics, and choice of medium are all thoroughly covered to ensure your ability to develop convincing life-like characters.

* Includes unique three-step drawing guides that develop the sketch from stick figure to full-blown character
* Detailed examples of how to draw faces, hands, and feet
* Learn to draw realistic fabrics in a multitude of colors and textures

Customer Reviews:

Great book!.......2007-05-07

This book is very interesting. It has taken a very difficult concept (figure drawing) and broken it down into easy to understand step by step directions. The author's costume sketches were very helpful as well.

Pleased but not overwhelmed.......2006-03-24

I am not sure what I had expected for a teaching format but my initial reaction to the book was that it was too cartoony for the structure I was looking for in the human body and expression.
As an artist's model for the last 24 years and as a costume designer for the last 21 who's drawing skills have not kept pace, I was looking for a more direct and perhaps, academic approach.
What I have discovered in reading and studying the text is that the author is a very gifted costume designer and teacher.This is not a book for a quick-fix. The book requires time and attention in each section if you are a beginner.
While the book did not address the design style I was hoping for,it more than met the criteria for a strong teaching text.

Amazingly helpful!.......2006-03-20

I had to do a full costume presentation with renderings for 6 characters for my class and I was so lost! I am not an artist at all, so I got this book and it helped me so much. It explained everything in detail and my renderings came out great! I would definitely recommend this book for beginners and experienced alike!

Everything You Need to Know.......2005-12-25

I bought this book because I had a project to do on costume rendering, and I know very little about it. Now, thanks to Tan Huaixiang, I know so much.

He makes drawing the figure bearable, shows how the body should look under the clothes, and provides many, many detailed examples. It shows how to beautifully draw different textures and the different methods of painting the rendering.

The chapter about the face could show better how to draw the eyes, nose, and mouth. Other than this, I believe everything is well written and explained.

This book is definetly worth the money!

Character Costume Figure Drawing: Step-by-Step Drawing Methods for Theatre Costume Designers.......2005-10-04

Not only are there body types, movement and mediums. It covers fabrics and works in a way my students can understand as well as use. The artwork is lush! A must for any design teacher.

Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form

Average customer rating:

Great guide with one flaw
A little heavy on the text, but a very thorough anatomy book.
Last anatomy book you'll ever buy
SUPERB ANATOMY BOOK
talk talk

Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form
Eliot Goldfinger
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Animal Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form
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Modelling and Sculpting the Human Figure

ASIN: 0195052064

Book Description

The power of the image of the nude--the expressivity of the flesh--has inspired artists from the beginning. An understanding of human form is essential for artists to be able to express themselves with the figure. Anatomy makes the figure. Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form is the definitive analytical work on the anatomy of the human figure. No longer will working artists have to search high and low to find the information they need. In this, the most up-to-date and fully illustrated guide available, Eliot Goldfinger--sculptor, illustrator, scientific model-maker, and lecturer on anatomy--presents a single, all-inclusive reference to human form, capturing everything artists need in one convenient volume. Five years in the making, and featuring hundreds of photos and illustrations, this guide offers more views of each bone and muscle than any other book ever published: every structure that creates or influences surface form is individually illustrated in clear, carefully lit photographs and meticulous drawings. Informed by the detailed study of both live models and cadavers, it includes numerous unique presentations of surface structures--such as fat pads, veins, and genitalia--and of some muscles never before photographed. In addition, numerous cross sections, made with reference to CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging, and cut cadavers, trace the forms of all body regions and individual muscles. Information on each structure is placed on facing pages for ease of reference, and the attractive two-color format uses red ink to direct readers rapidly to important points and areas. Finally, an invaluable chapter on the artistic development of basic forms shows in a series of sculptures the evolution of the figure, head, and hands from basic axes and volumes to more complex organic shapes. This feature helps place the details of anatomy within the overall context of the figure. Certain to become the standard reference in the field, Human Anatomy for Artists will be indispensable to artists and art students, as well as art historians. It will also be a useful aid for physical and dance therapists, athletes and their trainers, bodybuilders, and anyone concerned with the external form of the human body. With the renewed interest in figurative art today, this will be an especially welcome volume.

Customer Reviews:

Great guide with one flaw.......2007-07-11

I had this book recommended to me by a friend years ago when we were all trying to get into the comic book industry. I bought it and loved it. You can learn anything you want to know about how the musculature and skeleton are put together and how they work. Each different part of the anatomy is given almost too much attention. Each angle is given a photo of the body part, and drawings of the arm with muscles or just the skeleton.

The biggest problem is there isn't too much tying the parts together. You may get a very good idea how the arm works, where the muscles put to and from, how the skeleton moves when you move your arm, but you won't get much information on how the arm connects and moves with the rest of the body. Your aren't a collection of individual parts (2 arms, 2 legs, etc) but one unified body and all your parts move together. You need a good concept of that before this book will be used to its utmost.

A little heavy on the text, but a very thorough anatomy book........2007-07-03

This book covers from the skeletal system to muscles, from head to toe, very thoroughly. Pictures are nice and clear. All important muscles feature full explanation on its origin, insert, function etc in text, and frontal and side view as well as in context of the whole muscle group along with a photograph of the real body part flexing with the related muscles. I find this book a little heavy a the text part, but images and photographs make up for it and make this book the most complete, and thorough anatomy book.

Last anatomy book you'll ever buy.......2007-06-26

This book is the best anatomy book I have come upon. I purchased every book I could find on this subject until I found this one. I am a sculptor and painter so this book provides everything I need to understand all the surface structure of the human body. It explains origin and insertion of each muscle and their function. (important to know when deciding in a pose which muscles would be flexed and which would be relaxed) There are cross-section drawings of the muscles so that you can see the size comparison of muscles around them. There are photographs of the muscles flexed using a thin model, the surface can be distinguished. I have taught Artistic Anatomy and this is a the cherished book of many of my students.

SUPERB ANATOMY BOOK.......2007-05-20

This book is exactly what I was looking for in an anatomy reference book. The cross-sectional drawings are great to help visualize the muscle forms in different positions. Not only does it deliver on accuracy of the muscles but it also depicts how the muscles are placed on the human skeleton from different angles, this helps me to understand the "wedging" of the muscles. I've seen this same title in other book stores for the retail price and I must say AMAZON has a great price for this book.

talk talk .......2007-02-19

May as well buy a grays anatomy. Pictures minimal and loads and loads of words and more words.

Average customer rating:

Review on "Drawing from Life"
A book to Keep
Figure drawing books don't get any better than this one.

Drawing from Life
Clint Brown , and Cheryl McLean
Manufacturer: Wadsworth Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Figure Drawing: The Structure, Anatomy and Expressive Design of the Human Form, 6th Edition
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ASIN: 0534613535

Book Description

The leading textbook for college figure-drawing classes, DRAWING FROM LIFE provides a clear, comprehensive, and thought-provoking guide to drawing the human form for anyone interested in exploring this time-honored artistic tradition. For centuries, drawing the human figure has given artists the tools and vocabulary for creating paintings, sculpture, drawings, or prints-from Renaissance classical to contemporary expression. In addition to working from the model, the figure-drawing student needs instruction in anatomy, history, and conceptual approaches to drawing the human form; such instruction is often missing from life drawing classes due to time constraints. DRAWING FROM LIFE offers these elements, along with a tremendous selection of drawings that represent the broad range of approaches, techniques, and media for drawing from life. The chapters follow the natural development of a student's growth, from fundamental sketching and gesture drawing to creative expression and exploration. An entire chapter on drawing the figure in perspective offers information that is not available in comparable textbooks. Students begin with quick sketches and gesture drawings, giving them a non-threatening introduction on a level they can readily understand and master. The cohesive presentation of anatomy, including a chapter on the human head, helps students understand the human structure and its impact on visible form. The final section brings the concepts, vocabulary, and history presented in the earlier chapters to bear on contemporary use of the figure in art.

Customer Reviews:

Review on "Drawing from Life".......2007-02-26

Excellent book for anyone interested in drawing the human figure. Deals well and extensively with proportion, anatomy and nuances of figure drawing. Required by my art teacher and worth the money as an on-going reference source.

A book to Keep.......2006-12-29

This book gives you the bones to enrich your experience with figure drawing. Professor Brown draws from varied sources and presents helpful images along with text that is intelligent and imformative. It is filled with sketches from masters such as Da Vinci as well as descriptive sketches from Clint addressing the figure as a subject filled with motion. I have continued to refer back to the book and appreciate its portable size. This is a book to take with you and keep even if you are moving around!

Figure drawing books don't get any better than this one........1997-02-03

"Drawing from Life" is a treasure an artist, teacher, and drawing lover finds once in awhile. It is very logically layed out. I enjoyed variety of illustrations, the learning exercises, and glossary. Alas... some negatives: the price, the quality and detail of the reproductions, especially the anatomy ones. The book needs to be bigger in size and make use of detail enlargements to show the beauty of the drawings

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