Book Description

A unique visual encyclopedia for artists and illustrators

The representation of the human body in deep perspective (foreshortened) is one of the most challenging tasks for any artist or illustrator. This outstanding photographic reference–the only one of its kind–captures the male and female nude in eighty-four different groups of foreshortened poses. The new edition features over 650 new, high-quality photographs that include both detail shots and full-body photographs. Medical and surgical positions are also featured, making the Atlas an invaluable resource for those working in the medical field as well as in fine art, graphic design, or animation. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Very useful
There are lots of visual reference books out there. It would be easy to populate a bookshelf with them. After a while, though, they start to look the same.

Not this one. Heavily foreshortened poses are the hardest (for me at least), so this book devotes itself to genuinely distinctive views. It may sound like distorion to describe an arm or leg as being a third length of the other. In fact, it is distorion if they are the same length, when viewed from some angles.

This book gives an uncommon perspective - it has earned its place on my shelves.

[review of first edition]

Wonderful Reference Book
I have been using Mark Edward Smith's two excellent photographic references as a source for practicing figure drawing over the last year or so. I was a bit hesitant to buy this book - afraid that it might just be duplicating what I already have - but once it arrived in the mail I was really glad that I did. The quality of the photography is *fantastic* and it's printed on a glossy stock which preserves the halftones and detail which unfortunately sometimes get 'washed out' in Smith's books.

The range of poses is great too - from some very classical poses to some really "out-there" angles and poses which border on contortionism. Some of the most beautiful poses in this book are ones which a live model couldn't hold for more than 2-5 minutes, so having it captured on paper is a real bonus. All in all, I wuold say that the combination of poses and camera angles provides a fantastic reference work for studying the muscles of the body in various states of tension and compression.
I think I'm going to be spending lot of time drawing from this book.

Bad for Illustrators looking for reference!!
This book like It's title clearly indicates is not an illustration reference book.It's extremely useful to students and practitioners of the fine art of figure drawing ,it provides poses which are very diffrent from what we are used to seeing in normal life thus forcing us to see how many familiar shapes change when viewed at an unfamiliar angle,for a figure artist struggling with foreshortening a book like this one and Burne Hogarths Dynamic Figure Drawing used in tandem could work wonders.This is the only book of its kind and is in one word "BRILLIANT" .

interesting poses, bad position and poor quality photographs
The poses in this book are indeed very dynamic and interesting but the one MAJOR draw-back is that they are all with the models laying down on the ground. Definitely not a very practical figure reference book for an illustrator like myself. I mean lets be honest, how many times are you going to be drawing a figure contorted on the ground verses standing and engaged in some sort of action. It may, however, be possible too adapt some of the poses for a standing position and yet gravity affects the body completely differently when it is horizontal instead of vertical. The photographs themselves are very poor in terms of quality in that they are: muddy, bad resolution, slighty out of focus, badly lit etc. etc. etc. Basically this was a very disappointing purchase. The "Fairburn System" series is far better than this book for photographic figure reference material; however, very hard to find.

Excellent Book
If you are an artist looking for dynamic poses this is the book for you. It is a great guide to help you get some very interesting perspectives of humans. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Romanesque: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting
Excellent, a trully work of art. This book digs down into the core of the post-classic period of the plastic arts. A delightful and resourceful acquisition of any scholar artist or architect with interest in the origins of building forms, natural lighting, and a three-dimensional space.

great for the coffee table
As the holidays approach and you find yourself entertaining more at home, it's time to start thinking about a new book to add to your coffee table, or to toss under the tree of a fellow Italiaphile. "Romanesque" is not only a substantial book with beautiful pictures it's also a complete resource for understanding the building style most representative of the Middle Ages. As Romanesque architecture, art and sculpture is not restricted to Italy, this book also extends to show examples of this style from Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Great Britan, and even Scandinavia!

A must-have for fans of Romanesque architecture!
Although I am no great architectural authority, I love the Romanesque and have had the pleasure of visiting many churches while travelling in rural France. Like a 12th century pilgrim, I even made the journey to Compostela in Spain. This book, however, made me feel like I only scratched the surface -- what amazing (and uncelebrated) Romanesque buildings there are ALL OVER Europe! I am newly amazed at how diverse the Romanesque style can be. The author and photographer undertook a daunting project, documenting hundreds of structures (practically every building of note, it seems). The quality of this book is staggering -- you would think it should sell for a lot. But as detailed as some of the academic articles can be, the book is never dull or pedantic -- partly because the photography is so terrific and compelling. This book is magical. A GREAT bargain, a great gift, and highly recommended.

A must have Architecture book at a great price.
This is a large "coffee table" size book that covers the Romansque Period to an exhaustable amount. It covers architecture, scuplture, and paintings for the professional and the layperson. This book is a bargain at $39.98. Most books of this size and contents cost over $100.00. This book will make a wonderful gift or an great addition to any library. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

neither very big nor very useful
Pleasing to the eye but it surely fails to live up to the promise of its title. The instructions on constructing and throwing pots is adequate (though scanty).The sections on other aspects of the craft are more an outline than a guide. Disappointed, I searched our local community college library and found several comprehensive instructional texts on ceramics that were bigger and better than this book - though most were written 30 years ago.

Not a helpful resource for learning on the wheel
I was disappointed after receiving this book. While it gave a nice overview of different types of ceramics, it did not give the detailed information I was looking for. The summary on wheel throwing was relatively small and gave virtually no information regarding types of wheels or information on selecting one. The description of the book does seem a bit misleading...leading one to believe that this book would be an invaluable, detailed reference source. I found this not to be the case and would not recommend it for those looking for a reference document.

Very Broadly informative
This book covers all major types of clay and ceramic activities. If you are interested in only one type (for example, casting in a mold from clay slip)it may not give you as much information as you want. If you are curious about clay, generally, or want an overview to decide what you might like to try, this is a very useful book. The illustrations and directions are very clear.

The Big Book of Ceramics
I was so absolute beginner in ceramics and afraid of even touching a clay. In the same day I got the book I've made my first piece. And... was satisfied :=)
Guy is great, I've bought two more books by this author, and was thrilled even more, it's great book to begin with, but also to stick with all the time... full of good information, practical advices, things that you just can't find a person to ask and many many pictures that helps so much.
Anyway, you won't regret buying it.

Most complete ceramics book, must-have reference
This is the most complete all-in-one ceramics book I have seen. It is a must-have reference book for anyone involved in the craft as it is packed with information on all aspects of ceramic work with full-color photos and detailed step-by-step demonstrations.

The book starts out with a great history of ceramics throughout the world. Then materials and equipment are also covered including types of clay, clay mixtures and modeling tools. Hand-building techniques follow including pinch pots, coiling, hollowing out, slab-building and using clay strips. Using these techniques, you learn to make a box with a lid, a cylindrical pot, a cube-shaped box, a bowl and a vase.

Details on kilns and firing are next. This includes lots of helpful illustrations as well as advice on packing the kiln and measuring the temperature. Information is included on bonfire, pit, sawdust, wood, coal, oil, gas, electric and salt-glaze firing. Then glazing is covered including an overview of basic coloring oxides, other materials used in glazes, the Seger formula for glaze calculation, glaze preparation, and types of glazes. Several glazing methods are demonstrated including dipping, pouring, and using a brush or spray-gun.

A molding section follows with information on mold preparation, the drying process and creating waste and press molds. Projects include a hollow cast vase and a press mold plate. A great chapter on throwing is next. This includes basic techniques for making bowls, plates, cylinders, vases, and lids.

The final section offers complete step-by-step instructions for over 12 different projects. Some include a thrown teapot, an open vase with coils, an abstract sculpture with clay strips, a pinched bottle and a solid organic looking sculpture.

A helpful glossary and index are also included. Whether you are just starting out or have been creating ceramics for a while you will find much to enjoy and learn in this book. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Invaluable resource for all artists.
This book demystifies the way the art world works. It provides all the tools and info needed to build a career exhibiting and selling art. Great practical advice served up with humor and encouragement.

Inspiration!
After being in a creative slump for about a year this is the book that inspired me to pick up my brushes again! I had these horrible thoughts of how difficult it would be to even attempt to make it as an artist but "Taking the Leap" eased my mind. It takes you step by step through everything you need to know and what you need to have ready to start your career. I learned how to properly photograph my art (I can't afford a photographer!) and how to set up my portfolio. There are also inspiring quotes from artists or pertaining to art to help get you through. I credit this book for getting me back out there!

Good sense, good business
Thanks to Cay Lang, I am now selling my artwork in the triple digits. As she states in the beginning of her book,
artists would rather be making art than doing business.
This book helps you do both without sapping your creative juices. A new perspective, a simple remedy.

Cay Lang, thank you for this program ... and the book!
This is a fantastic book that outlines what you need to do to set up and follow through as a visual artist. Every chapter is like a checklist. You can always use it as reference material later, but the book is great whether you read it for the 1st time or 51st time. Bravo, Cay Lang!

In the beginning
Building a career as a visual artist can be a long tedious journey. This book gave encouragement and good advise. There are plenty of example forms for introducing, consigning, and selling art. The majority of the book focusses on a gallery setting and is a bit outdated for information on internet possibilities. I found the most helpful sections to be those dealing with what questions an artist should be asking and the appendix. ... Read more

Book Description

By offering practical ideas for revealing the meaning and relevance of art to humanity, this text helps art students become effective art teachers. Unlike most art pedagogy texts, Art for Life offers a holistic approach to the art curriculum, through classroom illustrations and comprehensive art content, engaging to art students today. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Entertaining but...
I bought this book since I was interested in creating my own comic book for my amusement.

I found the format quite engaging and entertaining, pretty much like Scott McClouds Understanding Comics (whom the author's format is inspired by). The explanations are pretty straightforward and user-friendly, especially for the general introduction and one point perspective.

Personally, I wish that it had more examples for implementing three point perspective (which is heavily used in the more dramatic/dynamic shots and scenes).

Overall, it's a pretty good book, although I'm now purchasing other perspective manuals to clarify some of the more difficult aspects of this.

Not your average Take on Perspective
I found this book extremely helpful, in more ways the one. Instead of your usual text with diagram format, it has a refreshing comic book format. This means that examples are almost always right there, WITH the text that discusses it - so you can absorb what's being talked about with out having the "break concentration" and look for the relevant connection between explanation and example. Also, rather than discuss only the "terminology" and the like, I found the explanations were geared so that anyone who can read could understand them - without a dictionary being close to hand! I'd highly recommend picking up this book - to the beginners and pros alike! The gains from it's knowledge are definately worth the price.

waste of time
Buy "How to draw comics the Marvel Way" instead, as Stan Lee and John Buscema cover all the necessary points in a few pages, as opposed to wasting your money on a book like this. Although kudos to this guy for padding a book this size. He must be close with Scott McCloud.

Art teachers buy this book!
David Chelsea recognized a great book that was easy to learn from when he read "Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud". His talents and knowledge as an artist are demonstrated with the formost understanding of illustrating in perspective with this great technique. I'm a better artist because of this book. He demonstrates his technique step by step to make accurate illustrated perspective and gives you what you need to know to break the rules and get away with it.

A great book for beginners and pros alike.
A tome about comic perspective in comics form, this book helped me discover new principles in perspective and the REASON for these principle. Not just for your scenery, human bodies in perspective are also covered... but you had better know anatomy before hand. The reason for the missing star is because Chelsea uses two forms of curvilinear perspective, but suspiciously absent is the chapter ON curvilinear. Even with this oversight, Chelsea has written an engaging and fairly complete perspective guide. Look closely at the icecubes on page 131 and try to find the hidden pictures! ... Read more

Book Description

This set includes the book How to Draw Manga: Getting Started - with sections on Basics, Characters, Tone, Storytelling, and Backgrounds. Also in the set is 5 sheets of double sided 8 1/2 x 11 3/4paper, black ink illustrations pen, 8" ruler, 2 pencils, eraser, and plastic curve template. The set is packaged in a hard plastic case, good for storage or travel.(****Additional Text****) A Previews Exclusive! Imported from Japan! You've read the books. You've got your ideas ready to run down your arm to the waiting paper... but how do you get started? Graphic Sha and Previews have the answer with the official How to Draw Manga "Getting Started" Illustration Kit! This indispensable kit is perfect for any budding manga-ka to launch their first project, and includes: a copy of the 128-page English-language book, How To Draw Manga: Getting Started featuring informative chapters on "the basics," Characters, Tone, Storytelling, and even backgrounds! PLUS: 10 sheets of 8 ½" x 11 ¾" (A4-size) authentic Deleter brand Manga Illustration Paper, One Deleter Black Ink Illustration Pen, One Deleter brand "Neo-Piko" Color Marker (one pen, TWO tips, thick and thin!), One Plastic Curve Template, an 8" Plastic Ruler, Two Pencils, and an Eraser... all packaged in a durable, hard plastic case, perfect for storage or travel! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Disappointingly scant content
I know I'm going to anger some of the folks who really believe in this book, but I was really disappointed with how slim and scant the educational content was. There are very many black and white illustrations of the students' work related to Itten's teachings. And his outlook is very pure and creative. I really enjoyed that aspect of this book, but expected more meat! I wanted to know more specifically about conflict. I wanted him to go deeper. As it is, he brings up a well ordered set of concepts, explains them clearly and then moves on. In my opinion this book is wildly overpriced. I probably would give it four stars had it only cost me between seven and fifteen dollars. At thirty and change it's not worth it.

lighting the creative spark in everyone
This book is not a step by step syllabus to follow blindly. Itten wrote this book to share the fundamental principles that he taught all his students (no matter how advanced) before allowing them to pursue higher classes and goals at his school.

The book is broken down into sections that (to anyone who's had art training) seem simple enough: chiaroscuro, form, color, rhythm, etc. but Itten teaches not so much the technical aspect of art as a new way of seeing the world, a way of creating from the whole body and mind, not just with a paintbrush (or computer graphics program).

The sections are all punctuated with many examples of student work that relate to the topic covered. Often, it is these examples that really drive his points home.

Just as Itten believed that everyone was capable of being creative and thought the basic course was valuable to all levels of art students and even teachers, this book is applicable for both those who are looking for an introduction into creating, and those who consider themselves expert artists already. I guarantee there will be at least one idea in the book to make you stop and ponder and suddenly challenge your way of thinking on the matter.

Itten is a god, bow down.
Itten made the world as we know it today. Without his guidence, none of the products you buy, art you look at, or anything else would be what it is today. If you are a designer or art monger, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It is a discription of his Basic Course (everyone had to take it...) at the Bauhaus in Weimar written by Itten himself. ... Read more

Book Description

With this latest addition to his popular Index series, Jim Krause covers all the basics--everything from typography and color to layout and business issues. Design Basics Index is packed with timeless content graphic designers will turn to again and again, including:

* A wealth of samples and exercises in a fun, flippable format

* Tools and techniques for creating dynamic layouts

* Inspiring ideas for successful idea brainstorming and concepting

* Tips and tricks for navigating the industry with ease

This book starts readers out with a look at the basic building blocks of design and takes them through the process of putting those elements together to create head-turning work. It's a desk reference no designer should be without! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

a beautiful design work itself
I Love this book, abundant information, clear structure and absolutely beautiful designed.

A very solid 5 stars
A beautiful, practical book--full of passion and inspriration. I love design, and have practiced and taught it for a long time. I have several books that cover parts of what I think is important about design, but this is the first that seems to cover everything under one roof--and in a way that is both elegant and up-to-date, far-reaching and concise. The author does not make many (if any) proclamations or "rules" about design--he seems more interested in describing parameters and then encouraging the reader to find their own visual voice. (He also seems more interested in teaching design than showing off--a rare thing amount current how-to books.)But the best thing about this book, the thing that really sets it apart, is the section on concepts near the end. Experienced designers all know that Concept is King, and yet how many basic design books even talk about the subtleties of theme and concept? Very few! In this book, concept is addressed quite elegantly, quite beautifully and in plain, approachable language. I wish that I could give every new designer a copy of this book (along with Idea Index and Color Index--I keep a copy of each on my desktop).

May be worthwhile for your library.
Experienced designer Jim Krause knows his stuff, and Basic Design Index is far and away the best of his 'Index' books for this publisher. This installment isn't a book that will win awards-- or second looks, even-- for flourishing a lot of trendy styling. There are some great books out there if that's what you are looking for, but this isn't one of them. As the name says, it's about basics, or a classic, professional, practical approach.

The book has many exploratory exercises or practice projects for the designer. Throughout it, Krause shows layouts produced using a basic set of photographic, header and body copy elements. He walks us through what works from these finished layouts, and what doesn't, and why. Design books usually show you the single way a piece saw print. This book's mock layouts suggest the multiplicity of ways components A, B, C and D could have been combined; there are, helpfully, more "don't" examples here than "do's". Krause also shows subtle ways to create flow in a layout, the creation of good relationships between objects on a page, and the things that can creep into work and sabotage it by working at cross purposes to clarity and unity.

Design Basics Index could function well as a supplemental book for those in a graphic design program. I have many years of design behind me, and I like to keep the book close by as a touchstone or a pocket source of friendly little reminders. As a resource, it manages to make some design bells go off for me most times I pick it up. That's the best endorsement I can give the book.

If you are a design master, or an avowed design martian, and feel convinced you can't learn anything from a book of this sort, you are probably right. To each his/her own. But for me, it fills a small niche very neatly. ... Read more

Book Description

Take the mystery out of color! Learn how to build a color scheme that works (or fix one that doesn’t) and find out why certain colors interact to create powerful--and sometimes surprising--visual effects.

• Make the leap from color theory to using color in quilts with nine step-by-step exercises, plus six projects

• Go beyond "safe" color combinations with simple strategies and tips for creating quilts that sing

• Color-splashed photos of fabrics, blocks, and quilts bring the color concepts to life, while a reader-friendly style makes the learning easy and fun ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Interesting but not especially useful
This book contains a lot of facts about hues, shades, tints, complements, split complements, triads, tetrads, luminosity, transparency, contrast, depth and intensity. If you really care about all these things, then this is just the book for you. The author explains this "color vocabulary" very well, using examples and exercises. But do we really need to know all that to make beautiful quilts? No, I don't think so. I used to think I had no color sense but this book made me realize that I choose my fabrics well without thinking about color theory.

An eye opener
This is a beautiful book. I have read it over and over again, studying the various blocks and quilts. It has inspired me to try my own color schemes and improved my confidence in choosing the right colors to go together in a quilt. A big thanks to the authors !

A fabric-based book on color
If you want to know why some of the color schemes in your quilts work or don't (!) this is a great book to read. Unlike many other general texts on color, this book relates to the color and texture of fabric, making it easier to apply color techniques to your own quilts.

I would have liked more examples of each of the types of color schemes and fabrics on the color wheel, but it has definitely changed the way I view fabrics and color in the world at large. I would definitely recommend it if you want to learn more about color interactions. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

A beautiful, effective, and inspiring book
Lee Hammond instructs the reader to use a graphing approach to get a likeness, as it seems she does in all her books. She then describes in detail how to draw each feature of a face and gives many examples and exercises in using the blended pencil technique. Finally the reader is encouraged to put it all together and do a full portrait.

The book is very well-organized and detail-oriented, not to mention visually appealing. At first I questioned the graphing technique--it seemed somehow "unnatural", plus you can't do it with a live model. However, after looking at my finished drawings, amazed, thinking to myself (as another reviewer said), "this is so good, I can't believe I did it", I can understand that however unnatural graphing may be, it certainly gives me faith in my abilities and inspires me to try more art. I think the visualization techniques I learned from this book will help me in whatever medium I choose, and I wouldn't be surprised if they helped me draw realistic portraits from life as well.

A note about Lee Hammond's books: I looked at the Discover Drawing Series, and it seems that a lot of the material in those books is covered in this book. They do deal with some different types of models, but if you are going to get just one of her books, I recommend this one.

I have just bought her "How to Draw Portraits in Colored Pencil from Photographs" and I am so excited to try it out!

100% effective techniques, 0% fluff. Excellent.
"WOW YOU DREW THAT?! hahaha, yeah right, no way. You did? Come on.. Really? You drew it yourself? Oh my god. I cant believe it. Youre like - a genius or something. Wow."

This is an actual real life reaction I had the other day from a friend after three months or so of practicing the lessons in this amazing book. She could not believe how quickly I had learned. Of course, once I showed her the book, she believed it right away. Why? because this book is all about achieving results. The BEST results for the most amazing realist drawings, period. There is no filling up space with needless extra pictures, no flaky artsy prose about something or other which doesnt help at all, like ive seen in other drawing books. From page 1 till the very last page you LEARN, and you learn FAST, so fast you will surprise yourself with every drawing.

Today I have come to Amazon to order How to Draw Color Portraits from Photographs and How To Draw Flowers and Nature from the same author, Lee Hammond, and I tell you, I cant wait. I used to be a computer nerd with no creative side whatsoever. Thank you a million times over Lee for transforming my life! I only wish you included some sort of email address with your book so I could tell you this directly.

EXCELLENT book for anyone!
I have tried several different methods of artistry from pencil to oil painting. I have found pencil to be my favorite but often became VERY frustrated because I couldnt get depth and realistic detail. After a few years of NOT drawing, I found I missed it and started back up. Still frustrated, I went online and found this book. After following it step by step, I drew a picture of my daughters that shocked ME! I couldnt believe how well they came out. Now, my confidence level is HIGH and alot of people I know are asking me to draw pictures of their kids too. This book is a MUST for everyone who wants to either learn to draw or is already an artist but brush up on their skills. I cant say enough good things about it. Dont wonder if you should buy this book...wonder why you didnt if you decide not to. THANK YOU LEE! You've written a real winner here, and the illustrations are SUPERB.

Great Book!
This is one of the best books on drawing portraits I have seen. There are several other fine books that go into more detail about the basics of drawing faces, proportion, etc., but most don't go into detail about shading and technique to make the portrait truly come alive. There are tons of illustrations. Ms. Hammond's own artwork is awesome! They are an inspiration in and of themselves even without the instructional steps. (I was surprised that a couple of other reviewers didn't find her artwork to be very good. We must be talking about two different books!). The illustrations and examples are very clearly presented, and the photos are of excellent quality. She goes into detail about making eyes, lips, noses, hair, and even eyeglasses and clothing! Ms Hammond's instructional style is warm and encouraging. I have several other books by Lee Hammond, and I've found all of them enjoyable and informative. Whether you are looking for a book just to do family and friends portraits or to do professional portraits, I would recommend this book. The hardbound cover and glossy-like feel to the pages are pleasing as well.

Bought his other book "Drawing Realistic Textures in Pencil"
Great book! If you have even mediocre talent as an artist GET THIS BOOK, too.

In one week of using this particular book, my skills as an artist have greatly improved. You'll be seeing my art for sale on Ebay soon all because of the lessons learned from this book. Thank you, J.D., for a really great selection of books. ... Read more

Book Description

To the standard material on bone and muscle has been added a section dealing with the types of human physique:a section on anatomy from birth to old age, and on death; an orientation on racial anatomy; and an analysis of facial expression. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

a hidden treasure
Copyright 1951? Wow, what a stimulating discovery, and what fun! Besides the skeletal and musculature illustrations, "Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist" is full of Peck's own drawings of basic anatomical features. These are not just the "final" drawings, but the beginning "rough sketches". I find this delightful because every beginner needs some inspirational guidance in drawing's first steps. A simple rough sketch of a nose, with shading; or bones drawn as a simple hinge joint. Peck's general reduction of the human figure to basic shapes is of inestimable help. The reader may just find himself saying, "Hey, I can do THAT!!!" And that is the wonderful thing about PECK's book.

Peck has impeccable credentials and must be compared to Robert Beverly Hale. Peck's is not merely an alternate duplication of the same material Hale covers. There is a 'personal' touch in Peck; but the problem with any/all anatomy books, for beginners, is that they are simply intimidating, in their detail, their precision, their absolute realism. PECK overcomes this anatomical intimidation. I would venture that PECK ought to be included in at least the first several "drawing" books that one acquires. Sometimes it seems that several pages offer more practical instruction to a new student than entire chapters in the books coming out in recent years with gimmicky titles.

"Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist," in combination with any beginning book on figure drawing is a must. With Famous Artist's school, Willy Pogany, Walt Reed, Jack Hamm and similar instruction, any book-buyer/beginning artist will find themselves on a solid footing. I rate this in the top 4 of figure drawing books for the beginner.

The chapter on "Distinctions of Age, Sex, And Race" is highly useful. PECK may be in danger of getting shoved aside with time and the publication of new pablum texts containing nothing vital; but PECK has written a timeless text that commands respect. I rate this book a very deserved 5 stars*

The best anatomy book I've seen
The photographs are too dark in this book, but honestly, who needs the photos? They are the least instructional part of this book. The magic of this book is in all of those little off the cuff-looking diagrams that compare the ribcage to a truncated egg, or the joint of a finger to a sideways spool. Study them well until you can reproduce them from any angle from memory. Those simple, blocky diagrams and the accompanying handwritten teacher's notes are like gold. If you seek a solid understanding of human anatomy as a foundation for figure drawing, then buy this book. If you are really just in the market for reference photos of a particular pose then go buy a book of reference photos.

the best anatomy book i've seen
I've never actually seen a five-star anatomy book; each is different and has its own strengths and weaknesses, but this is the best and most balanced book I've found.

The muscle and bone diagrams are good, but seem very stiff. Fortunately, he supplements them with his own soft pencil drawings on other pages, and he includes detailed (and surprisingly readable and relevant) descriptions of how different bones and muscles connect. He does give the proper names for muscles and bones, but he doesn't bore us with overly scientific discussion.

The few photographs don't illustrate much, but they serve as fair examples for differing body types and positions. Peck puts uncommon effort into facial features and expressions: he doesn't just draw the muscles on the face, but he indicates the directions they pull and how they work to express temperament.

A previous reviewer expressed dislike for the racial comparisons - but I liked them. I don't think Peck means to say "all white people look like this, all black people look like this, etc." but he gives the artist characteristics to watch for when drawing from life (to base your own drawings off of his descriptions, well, yes, that would be silly).

He also describes proportions and motion in good detail. If you're going to buy one anatomy book, make it this one.

An invaluable aid to beginners and professionals.
This book is neither a tome of detailed anatomical examination or an attempt to encompass a politically correct set of social photography so as not to offend female teachers. (two reviews pointed to these issues as detractors to the book)
What it is, is a superb tool to aid the artist in understanding the complexity of human anatomy in a visual, easy to grasp manner.
It portrays the human form in ways that allow the artist to understand the underlying mass, weight and structure of the human body and gives answers to many questions most artists don't even realize they had until studying this book.
True, it hasn't been updated since its original debut, but it hasn't needed to be. As far as human anatomy is concerned, it hasn't been updated since my original debut either.
Get this book if you are serious about understanding human anatomy and how to portray it convincingly in your drawings, paintings or sculptures.

Looking for a Reference book?
I bought this book for reference but when I wanted to look at the bones and muscles in detail, the pictures were too dark and not clear. I ended up buying "The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing : A Contemporary Perspective on the Classical Tradition" ... Read more

Reviews (38)

secrets of figure drawing from imagination revealed
This is a must buy book for artists,animators comic book artists,or enthusiasts of figure drawing,who have dreamed of drawing foreshortened human figuresand human figures in action from memory/imagination. This book doesnt contain realistic anatomy,the author uses his own verson of human anatomy toexplain his methods andprinciples,these have to be taken as tools only and not rules. But after you have practised from this book hard enough you will find that your life drawing speed and skill is miles further than when you started,i also recommend the other books by burne hogarth ,dynamic anatomy,drawing dynamic hands, dynamic heads,dynamic light and shade and dynamic wrinkles and drapery.Only one word of caution its very easy to get influenced by burne hogarths work,and your work might start looking like a clone of his.So the key is get inspired not influenced ,keep your own style and use this book to add to that.

Not an anatomy book for everyone
Subtlety is certainly not the strong point of this book. If you want realistic figures, look elsewhere like the Barcsay anatomy book. DYNAMIC FIGURE DRAWING doesn't explore the nuances of quiet poses or the beauty in overweight, underweight, or aged figures.

But if you aspire to draw or paint powerful, idealistic, and expressionistic figures, combine the lessons of this book with drawing from athletic models. If you're into Michelangelo with his use of larger-than-life figures that use exaggerated poses and anatomy to convey strong emotion, you'll like this book.

After practicing the lessons inside the book, you'll be able to spot and draw them better when you draw from a model. Your powerful figures will have more authority to them. And with enough figure drawing under your belt, plus what you've learned from this book, you'll be able to draw figures out of your head in any position you want them in.

The Disney animated feature "Tarzan" was obviously inspired by Burne Hogarth's version of the comic strip "Tarzan." The animators learned many lessons from Hogarth, including foreshortening and dynamic poses and anatomy. I'll bet this book was an important reference to whoever worked on that film.

Great great stuff, but definately NOT a medical anatomy book
This book , though I have only seen it for one night has shown e thigs I never would have thought of about drawing comic book-esq figures. Its definately a great book for people who aspire to professionally pencil comic books, like myself. But it is not medically accurate, so in that case, not meant for realist drawing.

I see that a few of the reviewers have been rather harsh with this book. Well in that affair, let me say that they are cases of people not looking at this book as a comic book referrence, but rather a realistic, fine arts way. So if that is what you are looking for, I do not suggest this book.

As to the explanations in the book, they are a bit tough to understand, but if you study carefully the illustrations, then the instructionsbecome much clearer.

Also, as a side note, as its been stated this is NOT a good book for beginners in the comic book field. In that regard, I suggest "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way," by Stan Lee, and John Buscema.

To sum it up, this book is for the small group of people who are not beginners to comics, but still need to refer or learn about the comic book style male body.

Gotta watch that foreshortening!
Superior to almost any human anatomy art book you care to name. Hogarth shows us that there are no shortcuts to any place worth going --the nuances of human musculature, skeletal structure, and basic laws of movement MUST be studied before anything approaching saleable results appear on paper. That said, this book is an immensely rewarding journey --it helped tremendously in getting my illustrative career off the ground and there frankly isn't enough praise I can heap upon Mr. Hogarth without sounding ridiculous. Forget "tips and tricks" from comic book artists --this book will propel your work to an entirely new level of kinetic realism. FOR SERIOUS ILLUSTRATORS ONLY.

Yech!
Since when does Dynamic = Preposterous, Awkward and Just Plain Silly? I would not recommend this to anyone who is serious about improving their drawing abilities...Maybe to the animators of Dragonball Z, though. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Art Appreciation
The author discusses the elements which make up a work of art from the Western world; from the Fifteeth century to Modern times. Even with her technical emphasis, giving less attention into movements and subject matter, she maintains an easy writing style. An interesting and serious instruction of art appreciation. There are some colour plates, but most of the reproductions are disappointingly in black and white. For the more casual reader, this focus might be a bit tedious.

Informative
I enjoyed this book on the principles and elements of design. I think she selected exemplary pictures to illustrate her point. I especially enjoyed the chapter on "subject matter". The only drawback of this book was having to flip back and forth from the reading to the painting. Also, she talked about some of the paintings color combinations that were printed in black and white. In the paperback version some of the details of the paintings were lost because they were reproduced on a small scale. Overall, though I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about design elements.

Fine introduction
Composition, space, form, tone, color, subject-matter, and other pictorial elements of the plastic arts are considered and their interrelationships explained in this handy introduction, with over ninety well-chosen illustrations, some in color.
The author, an experienced art teacher, has also included illuminating essays on drawing and its purposes, looking at prints, a handy glossary of art terms, and references for further reading.
Highly recommended as eminently suitable for an Introduction to Art course, and for anyone else interested in learning to see more in paintings.

(The "score" rating is an unfortunately ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.) ... Read more

Book Description

Watercolor School offers clear, visual explanations and easy exercises that build up skill and confidence. Eight specially devised demonstrations show how to deal with the most popular subjects from beginning to end. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Best Book For The Beginner
Being a beginning watercolorist I knew I needed some help, so I searched all over for a good book on the subject but was unsuccessful. Then I found this book and I'll have to say it is excellent. It covers many of the techenics that new watercolorist need to know like how to stretch paper, the use of masking fluid, how to set up a still life, and how the watercolors work. I recommend this book to everbody that's interested in becoming the serious watercolorist.

A useful guide on watercolour techniques
As a novice watercolour painter and devoted bibliophile, I have found a new way of spending my hard-earned money: Watercolour books. However, this one might be one of the last I buy, as it's really useful. bought the book yesterday and I am delighted with it. The advice on how to do things is sound, and this is a book that encourages you to find your own style and shows you how the same image may be rendered in such a different way by different people. Unlike other books I own, this one is not only a set of beautiful pictures. In fact, I didn't like some of the art displayed in it, but this is in fact a plus, as it shows the variety of styles and effects you can achieve with watercolour. I know that there are other techniques not displayed in this book, but as a beginning step it's definitely worth every penny. It's got a lot of demos (which are implicitly exercises) and it might end up being a classic on the subject.

Watercolor School by Hazel Harrison is an excellent resource
This book is an exceptional resource for the watercolorist. I highly recommend this book for both beginner and advanced artists. Terms are explained in plain English. Many watercolor techniques are reviewed and numerous artist's works are described in detail. Hazel Harrison has also written Acrylic School and Pastel School for Readers Digest, and they are all excellent reference sources. I recommend them to all my students.

Very useful for the beginning watercolor artist.
This book has good basics for the beginning watercolor painter. It discusses selection of brushes, paper, color mixing and other beginning basics. It covers landscape, still life, figures, and portraits. A plus to me was the fact that this book has no nude art. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning the art of watercolor. ... Read more

Book Description

Portraits from Life in 29 Steps presents an elegant, simple and direct procedure for painting a convincing portrait in 29 logical steps.John Howard Sanden has developed this method in more than three decades of painting, demonstrating and teaching.

At the heart of this book are two complete portrait-painting demonstrations; each of the 29 steps is descriptively titled, explained and illustrated to show the clear progression of the portrait.Sanden uses an exciting and appealing premier coup approach to painting, where the artist attempts to execute a finished painting from the very first stroke. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

GREAT BOOK ON PORTRAIT PAINTING
I gave this five stars because it is a wonderful step by step book on portrait painting, directing you where to put the shaded/highlighted areas. The authors promotion of his paints do not bother me one bit. When you get into portrait painting, it is fun to make your own colors (which will be learned with time). In my opinion, this is the best "how to" on painting portraits I have found so far, and I have many.

A good reference book on portrait painting in oil
Now this is a hard case when it comes to rating. The fact of the matter is this is a good book about portrait painting in oil; and the paintings presented in the book using Mr. Sanden's approach (plus his over 30 years of experience) are just beautiful. The book, however, does present a method to paint based essentially on products promoted by the author; and this may be too much for some readers.

I thought I'd point out a few points:

STRENGTHS:

- The book presents a step-by-step approach to render portraits in oil. Two demos are presented systematically in 29 steps, which may be easy for starters to follow. This perhaps is the strongest point of the book to be used as a reference.

- The book also introduces the Pro Mix oil paints and brush packages, both promoted by the author. This may be very good for readers who wish to become professional portrait artists, using the approach presented in the book.

WEAKNESSES: The aformentioned strengths, ironically, may also be the weaknesses of the book.

- In his approach, the author refers frequently to the choice of colors taken from the Pro Mix product. In all fairness, the author DOES describe (in the section "The Pro Mix Portrait Palette", pp38-39) the formulas of how to prepare these Pro Mix colors from commercially available basic colors. So the choice is for the readers to make. One could order the Pro Mix product or mix them oneself. Consequently, to maintain the flow of energy and interest while painting, the readers might as well get the product or pre-mix all the tonal colors before trying out these demos.

- The fact that some products are promoted in the book, apparently, has caused some negative responses from other reviewers (as we see here). In my opinion, if one would like to learn this approach and eventually make a living out of it, one might as well buy the ready-to-use Pro Mix colors for convenience.

In closing, I simply find this is a good reference book in portrait painting, whether one will follow the systematic approach presented in the book. Therefore, I'd give it a 4-star rating.

Value is the Key to Portrait painting
The key value of the book I think is the explanation of the importance of Value and color mixing. The simplified explanation of the use of the Value scale is clear and the examples clarifies this clearly. Furthermore the basic characteristics of color--hue, value, intensity and temperature are well demonstrated with a clear guide to learning how to change and reduce intensity, value and temperature in painting a portrait. Also Sanden gives a convincing demonstration on building a portrait fron the foundation ------great book!

OK, here's the deal...
...a guy who makes tens of thousands of dollars a pop on portrait commissions doesn't desperately need your $70 for his Pro Mix paint set (esp since he gives the reader the recipes right there in the book). Rather, this author offers this time-saving option as a convenience to artists, at the same time encouraging artists to learn to mix the colors themselves (also stated in the book).

And as to his lavish studio, would you want to bring CEOs, heads of state, foreign diplomats, etc., to some cramped, dusty little studio (like most of us work in), or would you re-invest your earnings from such a clientele to obtain a comfortable venue for them to pose in, for many hours at a time?

Look beyond reviews posted here with comments that obssess on these and other irrelevant details (success-envy). It's apparent that Sanden is a master teacher who has worked very hard to get to the level of achievement he now enjoys. It's also apparent he's got this giddy enthusiasm for sharing his secrets; he's got nothin' to lose.

So get and USE this book if you want superior, straightforward and very succinct instruction in portrait painting --indeed in any kind of painting you'll ever do (landscape, still life, abstract, what have you) where an astute understanding of color and value is a requirement. Take the instruction and personalize it, make it your own. You'll be glad you did when you see the big difference it makes in your artwork.

This guy is good- so is his book
Within the narrow scope of portraiture for the well-to-do, Sanden is the best, and he knows how to teach; the book is as methodical as he is. And his paintings look great- the epitome of a sort of smooth and buttery '50s illustrational style, like Haddon Sundblom, but tighter- very disciplined and technically acccomplished, yet lyrical. Any objections to Sanden's seeming promotion of his "Pro-Mix" brand of paints are unfounded (that's where you order a box of pre-mixed colors made by a company which has a deal with the author). He tells you exactly how to mix the colors yourself out of the usual tubes of paint you can buy in any art store, so you can either order them pre-mixed, or do it yourself, so where's the problem? The delight of this book is looking at the step by step demonstrations of all those juicy, painterly pictures of people with lots of personality. His two hour sketches are beauties (more "artistic" than his finished commissions). I got a lot out of the book, most of which is the wisdom of the ages anyway, but stated in a no-nonsense fashion (maybe a little dogmatic in a few instances, but the guy does a certain style and he has his game down pat, so just pick what you need). Sanden's work is aimed at the tastes of those who have become CEOs, Church leaders, and heads of State, and is frankly corny (unless, like me, you are so modern you get off on that) but his revealing demos really explain the dazzling virtuosity. If you're serious about painting heads, this belongs on your shelf. In and of itself, it won't teach you to paint, but what will? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Helpful for beginning muralists!
Easy to grasp book on the subject of murals. I was inspired to attempt some for our house and had success. Author's discussion of materials especially helpful.

A+ addition for Beginner and Pro Faux painter
Alot of inspiration for faux painters w/how-to introduction for beginners. Discusses composition, hightlights, shadows, perspective and how to transfer large scale drawings. Sets out several projects and gives you materials list, and instructions to complete projects. Also includes a multitude of pictures for ideas. I used this book when I began and still use it for inspiration. I also give to my clients to look through for ideas. Although it mainly discusses interior murals, it does have a chapter that takes you through execution of an exterior mural & several ext. mural ideas. The only fault: Doesn't talk about finishing or sealing, or whether it's needed, but still a keeper.

A great book
I found this to be a very inspiring and informative book. The former reviewer gave it 3 stars because it does not have enough info on exterior mural painting. That was a little harsh. It covers interior painting and general mural painting very well.

Okay for indoor work if you need ideas
My position - I'm looking for how-tos on exterior mural painting. This isn't it. It does have good advice for a novice thinking of brightening a room or nursery with art. There is a need for that - but the glowing review already posted made me hope it would serve my needs. I'm just providing a counterpoint. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Most Fun I've Ever Had With Rocks
I haven't painted since childhood and was shocked at the cost of canvas and "traditional" painting media. I happened upon this book, obtained some rocks from a friend's pasture and have been painting rocks ever since! We don't have the smooth river rocks in our local streams, so I go to a local rock yard to get them which yielded some excellent customers for my creations! I've had more fun painting in 3-D. The illustrations and directions are EXCELLENT! Anyone can do this with these great books!

Unbelievably easy and so much fun
I never painted before and this past month I've painted eight rocks with results just like the photos in the book. I always knew that I had a talent for art, but never nurtured it because quite frankly, drawing or painting on two dimensional paper was very boring to me. However, this method is more interesting and fun. You paint on a three dimensional surface, rocks, that are free for the taking, and you can produce colorful, interesting, fun, and permanent pieces of art so quickly and easily. The minute I saw this book, it clicked for me, and I knew I had to give it a try. If you ever had aspirations to make art, but never did, try painting rocks with the help of this book. You just might surprise yourself with the results.

The Need for More Lin Wellford Books!!!!!
I can't wait for more books from this author! Painting Flowers On Rocks is an awesome book! This book goes through different flowers, such as roses, tulips, primroses, petunias, etc. It demonstrates how steps are done to create the painting, with wonderful colored photos and simple instructions.

I was very surprised that it really is easy. I started out painting tulips on slate and they weren't looking like much of anything. When I finished I was astonished to see a great looking painting in front of me. The tulips looked REAL.

I really do like this book. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys flowers. If you are new to painting, this is the book to start with. The wording is so easy to understand! These rocks, and this book would make a great gift for anyone. Along with my real flowers, this summer I think I am going to have a section for a rock garden!

Painting flowers on rocks is fun!!
I got this book just before Christmas and was able to paint enough rocks to provide presents for my family and close friends. The author provides all the information you need, from how to choose the shape and size of rock for each project, how to prep it, how to layout the floral arrangement and then how to paint (step by step) realistic flowers and leaves. There are a variety of projects primroses, tulips, daisies, Hostas, petunias, daffodils, caladiums, pansies, mums, roses & flower baskets. I can't wait to start painting rocks for my own garden.

IT'S THE BEST EVER
I always like to come up with something new to do and paint and this is perfect. Some how to books are not always the best at showing you how to. This book goes in step by step and shows you great pictures of finished products. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Air Brush discovered
I bought an air brush to paint diecast models. I soon realized it could do much more than spray gray paint on toy tractors and also that I needed intruction if I was going use this tool effctively. I choose Ms. Shanteau's "Ultimate Airbrush Handbook" - a wise choice. Very clearly written, excellent illustrations and meaningful exercises. Many aspects of airbrush work covered in detail. This is an excellent instruction book.

Ultimate Airbrush Handbook
If I had to chose one book to learn about airbrushing, this is it! Every major aspect about airbrushing is explained clearly, from the most basic elements to very advanced techniques. Essential information concerning airbrush care and maintenance is included along with paint and accessory explanations. The step by step exercises to teach airbrush control were easy to follow and I had great results painting the beginner "Apple" project. Almost every chapter has a step by step how-to project.Pam Shanteau shares the spotlight with other great artists who are tops in their fields. It was neat to see how these pros paint. The fine art section was out of this world and the automotve airbrushing was some of the best work I have ever seen. Someday I want to paint that good! ... Read more