A few question about anatomy.

[Empuska]

I know there is various kind of questiong of anatomy, but I didn't find any sort of this:

When the person knows anatomy?

I have pondering this for a while, and it just seems that it's an endless swamp to go through. Does anyone gone throught it yet? :B

Then another one, considering the practical studies of anatomy. I'm an old school student and my teachers whipped me well to study from real models. Then, when I look here, many of you are practically studying anatomy also from the books. I know this might be a silly question, but is it really allowed? I mean, in long run, is there any differences between studying from real life and studying about fifty fifty in real life and proper books by copying those pictures yourself?

[Flake]

When the person knows anatomy?

I have pondering this for a while, and it just seems that it's an endless swamp to go through. Does anyone gone throught it yet? :B

You're right. It's a practically endless journey, not a destination.
I suppose you "know it" when you know enough to do the stuff you want to do..
Kinda like perspective I suppose, once you know enough to make things look right, that's enough for most people but there's always more to learn.

There is a reason most of the great anatomy teachers are old dudes though, I expect to still be studying it in 40 years time.

/2p worth

[tandy1000]

I know there is various kind of questiong of anatomy, but I didn't find any sort of this:

When the person knows anatomy?

I have pondering this for a while, and it just seems that it's an endless swamp to go through. Does anyone gone throught it yet? :B

Then another one, considering the practical studies of anatomy. I'm an old school student and my teachers whipped me well to study from real models. Then, when I look here, many of you are practically studying anatomy also from the books. I know this might be a silly question, but is it really allowed? I mean, in long run, is there any differences between studying from real life and studying about fifty fifty in real life and proper books by copying those pictures yourself?

If I'm reading this correctly you're wondering if there is a difference between studying straight from life without any aid from anatomy books.

or

Studying from anatomy books while attending figure classes, 50/50.

Well, imo there are no right ways to learn but there are quicker ways. If you were to use anatomy books with your figure drawing classes then it would make sense that you'd learn at a considerably faster pace.

Are you asking if it's faster to learn from anatomy books when you say "is it really allowed"? If so then yes, imo.

[JJacks]

I think there is a difference between knowing anatomy and knowing how to depict it properly. I kind of "knew" anatomy from being a nursing student. I had to know a ridiculous number of muscles and their origins and insertions. I was a terrible artist though.

So from my experience, to properly learn anatomy you have to study and draw an equal amount of time. Studying muscles and important bone structures helps you process the information easier when you are drawing from life. And drawing from life eases up stiffness and you can gradually see more life in the people you draw, with or without a model. Also models vary so much in size and I think the most proper way to learn about color is to paint from life. So I prefer both. :)

[Raceme]

I find, if you break it into easily remembered sections it helps. For example (and don't be in a hurry), learn the arm, then leg, then torso, etc. Any order you wish. Learn the skeleton first because of all the landmarks and structure. The good news is you only need to learn half, because the other half is just the same! Make this fun for yourself or you'll get discouraged.

Break down the anatomy into sections, and be as general as possible starting out. Learn 4 to no more than six bones at a time. You'll remember them better. Here's a big help: find them and identify them on your OWN body. Yes, you do need to draw from a model. It's like looking at pictures of the Grand Canyon and thinking you've been there.

Do the same process with the muscles. Do a section at a time. The muscles of the arm, etc. Give yourself a year or so to do this as self study. One of the most important thing is to be patient with yourself. It takes time. There's no short cut.

[zenkislider]

So is knowing anatomy, being able to draw the human figure anatomically correct from knowledge, or is knowing anatomy being able to draw a model standing in front of you perfectly?When drawing models in class..I always question if this is really making me learn anatomy, or do i need to know how to draw it from my head to know it? and not just copy what I see..

[Jie Kageshinzo]

So is knowing anatomy, being able to draw the human figure anatomically correct from knowledge, or is knowing anatomy being able to draw a model standing in front of you perfectly?When drawing models in class..I always question if this is really making me learn anatomy, or do i need to know how to draw it from my head to know it? and not just copy what I see..

You will find that as you go along copying or drawing models in front of you, you will retain the basic information that makes up the human anatomy, subconsciously. You will just realize one day that you'll be able to draw any part of the body at different angles, with ease, even from memory.

[the_jos]

Then another one, considering the practical studies of anatomy. I'm an old school student and my teachers whipped me well to study from real models. Then, when I look here, many of you are practically studying anatomy also from the books. I know this might be a silly question, but is it really allowed? I mean, in long run, is there any differences between studying from real life and studying about fifty fifty in real life and proper books by copying those pictures yourself?

While I don't have that much experience with life models in my experience there is a lot of difference.
Learning from the books is more about what's there and how it functions for me, learning from life is more about learning what things look like.
When you want to draw a convincing person you should draw from life as much as possible I'd say.

[JJacks]

You will find that as you go along copying or drawing models in front of you, you will retain the basic information that makes up the human anatomy, subconsciously. You will just realize one day that you'll be able to draw any part of the body at different angles, with ease, even from memory.

Yup, that's how it is. It can also make you a faster sketcher. And....books don't tell you about things like body fat. What if you want to draw a chubby boy and all you've seen are muscle diagrams? Then you have more stuff to look up right? Also if you have a model or object in front of you, you can manipulate the lighting all sorts of ways, so you are learning about value as well and how light falls on the body.

If you can't notice it now, you will notice it later. I draw so much better having done so from life all of my college years.

[hitnrun]

I find, if you break it into easily remembered sections it helps. For example (and don't be in a hurry), learn the arm, then leg, then torso, etc. Any order you wish. Learn the skeleton first because of all the landmarks and structure. The good news is you only need to learn half, because the other half is just the same! Make this fun for yourself or you'll get discouraged.

Break down the anatomy into sections, and be as general as possible starting out. Learn 4 to no more than six bones at a time. You'll remember them better. Here's a big help: find them and identify them on your OWN body. Yes, you do need to draw from a model. It's like looking at pictures of the Grand Canyon and thinking you've been there.

Do the same process with the muscles. Do a section at a time. The muscles of the arm, etc. Give yourself a year or so to do this as self study. One of the most important thing is to be patient with yourself. It takes time. There's no short cut.


Quoted for truth, because this is how my anatomy teacher taught us. 5 hour long class, one day a week- we studied the bones first, then went into muscles. Worked like a charm.