What is the best figure drawing book? [Archive]

jt4470

October 30th, 2005, 01:19 AM

Sorry if this has been asked, but what is the best figure drawing book to get. I currently have Life Drawing by Bridgman, Drawing the Head and Figure by Jack Hamm, and Dynamic Figure Drawing by Burne Hogarth. Are those good?

WhizBang

October 30th, 2005, 01:29 AM

Sounds as though you've got all the good ones. All of them have stood the test of time and everyone I know has them. But even beyond the books is the time you've got do spend drawing... and then drawing some more and more and more and more...

Get the idea?

Books are great but use them wisely.

jt4470

October 30th, 2005, 01:38 AM

ah yea, I gotcha.
Oh, is there any tutorials outthere that teaches perspective and drawing backgrounds and buildings? Thanks.

Elwell

October 30th, 2005, 11:31 AM

Sounds as though you've got all the good ones.
Hardly.
How about Figure Drawing For All It's Worth (Loomis)
and The Science and Practice of Drawing (Speed)

Dan.v.D.

October 30th, 2005, 01:20 PM

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0486436411.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

it´s only 144 pages but in english. there´s some way bigger books in german of the same author.

Mirana

October 30th, 2005, 07:53 PM

Bah. I know everyone here adores Loomis, but I can't get into him (other than his usually correct method of measurement--was that his invention, or based on someone else?)

I have MANY anatomy books, but my favorite is Anatomy for the Artist (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/078948045X/qid=1130719711/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-3030811-7027943?v=glance&s=books) by Simblet. It's all photographs to allow you to be subjective in your drawing (instead of copying someone else's style or interruptation). It's also done by DK Publishing, the company responsible for all of those amazing Eyewitness (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0756607078/qid=1130719855/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-3030811-7027943?v=glance&s=books) books. If you've seen those, then you know how thorough they are. Each bodypart is covered for male, female, different races, angles, and movements. There is also in depth analysis of several famous works and the anatomical correctness of their figures.

jt4470

October 31st, 2005, 12:33 AM

ah, thanks for all the replys everyone...
Another note..is a wooden manniken useful?

Mirana

October 31st, 2005, 05:33 PM

I don't think so...it doesn't really move as the human body does. It's a bit helpful for foreshortening, I guess.

ruzkin

October 31st, 2005, 08:34 PM

Wooden mannequins are almost useless, they have a very limited range of movement. What I'd rather recommend is to buy a stickfa (I got mine at the local comic store, but http://www.kidrobot.com/search.php?keyword=stikfas sell some). They're small poseable models that aren't really anatomically accurate, but they have 360 degree movement in all their joints and are thus incredibly useful for setting up dynamic poses, checking angles and foreshortening.

Poohgee

October 31st, 2005, 08:49 PM

Many THX for this thread - very useful ... some of these threads really need IMO be stickied .

Dizon

October 31st, 2005, 11:21 PM

Anthony Ryder (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0823003035/qid=1130818808/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-5410337-5190419?v=glance&s=books)

John Vanderpoel (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0486204324/ref=cm_bg_f_1/002-5410337-5190419?v=glance&s=books)

jt4470

November 1st, 2005, 12:48 AM

wow, those stickfas are really expensive!
I bought an ultra poseable spider-man figure, but it's so huge and heavy, and the joints are pretty stiff, but it has 64 points of articulation and great for dynamic poses.
Thanks for the posts everyone.

armando

November 1st, 2005, 12:51 AM

armando

November 1st, 2005, 01:09 AM

But even beyond the books is the time you've got do spend drawing... and then drawing some more and more and more and more...

Get the idea?

This pops up a lot so I felt like responding. This isn't totally true, from my own experience I've spent a lot of time playing the guitar but have not learned to really play, and a lot of people go to the gym 3 times a week and don't get results. The important thing is that each time you practice you address a specific issue. You need to have a goal, you need to be aware that there is something you don't understand, and that there is something specific you must learn/do in order to understand. The important thing is the question.(There's a good quote of Einstein's that says this better, but I can't remember it)

jt4470

November 2nd, 2005, 01:48 AM

A really good one is "Figure Drawing" by Richard G. Hatton(Thank you Briggsy@Ashtons for informing me about this book). It's a good idea to check out several books, which everyone probably already knows. I think a better idea than a mannikin would be a model of the skeleton, because after you have some understanding of the bones you can imagine the muscles connected to that skeleton: the skeleton model saves you the trouble of having to imagine the bones along with the muscles.

Ah, I went out and bought that book (only book my parents allowed me to buy without saying "Stop wasting your money!").

They think I spend too much time drawing and not enough time with my studies.
Actually, it's more or less the other way around.
:(

Storyboard Dave

November 2nd, 2005, 02:34 AM

Ah, I went out and bought that book (only book my parents allowed me to buy without saying "Stop wasting your money!").

They think I spend too much time drawing and not enough time with my studies.
Actually, it's more or less the other way around.
:(

Sigh... I never understand why parents lament their kids wanting to buy books. Considering there are about a thousand and one other horrible things that you could be doing other than opening up a book I don't see how they can complain. Granted they do want what's best for you. You just might be at a time that your priorities require you to be a little more studious too.

It's a tough road to hoe for illustrators at times but if it's something you're passionate about... keep looking, keep studying and keep drawing!

Pixeldragoon

November 2nd, 2005, 07:56 AM

"is there any tutorials outthere "

Please tell me I didn't hear that.

Unless by tutorial you mean something in a book, then stop.

Tutorials only show you one way of doing something, which is usually not even by an experienced pro. (By expereinced I mean maybe more than 5 years as a pro). It's usually by an amateur at DevArt or somewhere else who has been so brought to think that his art is great, that he creates a guide for others to create art EXACTLY LIKE THEIR OWN.
GO out to the nearest city, where there are buildings. Draw.
Go look anywhere outside. Draw.
Perspective is Easy. You can find it on www.saveloomis.org. How does this differ from a tutorial? Instead of saying "This is how I DO MY ART", It's saying "This is how you USE THE METHOD IN QUESTION."

BlackGuy

November 2nd, 2005, 12:18 PM

i wouldn't say perspective is easy, but it'll get easier as you keep doing it. practice practice practice.

moopuff

November 7th, 2005, 08:59 PM

Hm, I have been using Drawing Human Anatomy by Giovanni Civardi for a while. And some other books I see lying around.~=/

jt4470

November 10th, 2005, 04:21 PM

well, I have been using the Jack Hamm book more and more. I seem to like that one the best...

mybutterflyiris

November 13th, 2005, 02:08 PM

Well, I must say, I do find loomis helpful...and for those of you who don't know, his book on heads and hands (like all the pages and such) can be found on line at: http://saveloomis.org/headhands/1.htm. So it's free! *note this book is no longer in publication

Rascar Capac

November 13th, 2005, 05:37 PM

the Charles Bargue drawing book...I didn't know about this book till I started my sight-size drawing classes - it seems to be the Bible for attelier programs..you'll learn tons just by looking at the darwings...let alone copying them..Harold's speed book on drawing covers the same method

http://www.daheshmuseum.org/ you can buy the cheaper softcover book
or on amazon for the more expensive hardcover

Gerald M. Ackerman, Charles Bargue with the collaboration of Jean-Léon Gérôme: Drawing Course. France: ACR Edition, 2003. 336pp., 196 plates of the Drawing Course, numerous other color and black-and-white illustrations.

MattGamer

November 28th, 2005, 05:46 AM

I've used "Dynamic Figure Drawing by Burne Hogarth" as well for the past year or so and I'm still learning new stuff each day out of that thing. I've taken it everywhere I go and now wish I didn't, because now my arm, leg, and hand pages are falling out feathers to a soon-to-be-eaten turkey. Oh, how I wish that they made a pocketbook for anatomy. Then I could take it anywhere I pleased without it getting wet (from snow or rain) or ripped (from cramming it into my backpack).

I've also seen that "Anatomy for the Artist by Simblet", Mirana, around the local bookstores, but never got around to purchasing it. I did like the transparencies. I wish more books had those.

Great ideas for my money to be invested into my future. All those books sound so great, and yet it all comes down to practice on my behalf.

Hybridstar

November 28th, 2005, 07:00 AM

Avoid Hogarth at all costs, Loomis and Bridgman are your best bet. Speed is very good but as everyone has mentioned, visualise the figure as a collective group of geometric shapes, always draw through, study anatomy and most importantly draw, draw, draw. Daily.:P

MattGamer

November 28th, 2005, 05:41 PM

Hybridstar: avoid Hogart? i like his concepts.... but if you say so. i almost always try too keep the geometric shapes in mind and thanks for the tips! drawing daily is key. how am i going to go pro otherwise? haha.

BlackGuy

November 28th, 2005, 06:02 PM

don't avoid any of them, learn from as many as possible.

Mirana

November 28th, 2005, 11:29 PM

MattGamer: I prefer the Simblet book because it allows you to draw the figure as you see it in the book--not some other artist's interpretation of it. Take Loomis for example, (because you can see my point clearly) he draws some of his female figures naked, but in high heels. This is subjective and stylistic and not the rule.

Other anatomy books are good, but they are often used as reference for a pose, instead of as a method for drawing.

Dpendleton

November 29th, 2005, 10:12 AM

I use hogarth and bridgeman in conjunction with each other, it works out well for me.

Unregistered User

December 9th, 2005, 12:40 PM

I'll just toss in one opinion.

My favorite figure drawing book is Tony Ryder's. My drawings immediately improved after reading it, and applying the lessons.

That said, it's not the best for concept art. It relies on observation of a model, not in knowlege of anatomy. It will teach you nothing about creating a figure without a model or photo reference to work from.

I don't mean to sound negative about the book. It is truly a great book, but more for gallery artists than for anyone who wants to draw made-up figures.

Get the book if you can afford it, but if you're on a budget, get one that meets your needs.

blankslatejoe

December 9th, 2005, 02:42 PM

I've also seen that "Anatomy for the Artist by Simblet", Mirana, around the local bookstores, but never got around to purchasing it. I did like the transparencies. I wish more books had those.
.

simblets book is a GREAT reference. it's not really a teaching tool though, so don't expect to learn your raw figure drawing skills from that book. But, as a reference tool, I found it to be great.

MattGamer

January 5th, 2006, 07:41 PM

Gauge: you are right! i won't any of them! thanks!

I prefer the Simblet book...
...he draws some of his female figures naked, but in high heels. This is subjective and stylistic and not the rule.
Simblet, hmm, i'll have to look into him sometime. thanks. and that is so true about Loomis' nude girls. i noticed that too... but i guess that's what turns(ed) him on. haha

blankslatejoe: cool, i'll look into Simblet. i checked out Loomis because of this thread and i guess i will check out this other awesome artist.

i'm learning the Loomis' manakin (check sketchbook) and many things have gotten easier. also, i've drawn one hand each day as Loomis stated and it does help you draw hands in the long run. i dont have to stare at the paper for 5 minutes before i sketch down the hand now. haha

mentler

February 21st, 2006, 12:26 PM

Actually the best books are available almost everywhere. They come in all shapes and sizes and most are not very expensive. However once you have filled the pages with your figure drawings they become priceless.

ashashsin

February 21st, 2006, 06:15 PM

Liked this book alot by Anthony Ryder The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0823003035/sr=8-1/qid=1140563634/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-7334048-5247865?%5Fencoding=UTF8)

Storyboard Dave

February 24th, 2006, 02:36 AM

don't avoid any of them, learn from as many as possible.

I'm a huge advocate for any & all books that'll help. Heck, I had a few years' worth of old Rolling Stone magazines around for the longest time JUST because it had a Phillip Roth painting on the table of contents each month.

Sometimes inspiration is as good as an educational book.

WhizBang

March 12th, 2006, 03:53 PM

I use hogarth and bridgeman in conjunction with each other, it works out well for me.

Take what you can from each. Both of these books came in handy for me.

jt4470

October 9th, 2009, 03:28 AM

Reviving this topic if no one minds. It might be helpful.

burning_chrome

October 9th, 2009, 04:18 AM

These are the following books currently occupying my time between classes:

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention (http://figuredrawing.info/) by Michael Hampton
Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators(2nd Ed.) (http://www.amazon.com/Force-Dynamic-Drawing-Animators-Second/dp/0240808452) by Mike Mattesi
Vilppu Drawing Manual (http://www.vilppustore.com/manuals.htm)

pipermints

October 9th, 2009, 04:20 AM

glen vilppu is really great. karl gnass is good too i think he has a book. harry carmean google their names

lowercase

October 9th, 2009, 11:49 AM

I didn't see it mentioned anywhere, but I recently bought Henry Yan's Figure Drawing Techniques and Tips and it is excellent.
It's got a 5 star rating at Amazon and I can attest to it's quality.

http://www.amazon.com/Henry-Yans-Figure-Drawing-Techniques/dp/1427610231

jt4470

October 13th, 2009, 02:52 PM

Metalclay

October 14th, 2009, 03:37 PM

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2466654&postcount=13

jt4470

October 16th, 2009, 02:29 AM

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2466654&postcount=13

Many thanks.

nicehighs

November 2nd, 2009, 10:09 PM