How do you study anatomy?

[Luke25]

I am looking at starting to progress in some atatomy study but I don't know where to start. I got a book out from the library about anatomy for artists but I am unsire how to approach it. Do you guys just look at the pictures and copy them or do you go about it another way?

Could someone please give me a guide. (like do I look at the body as a whoel first or somthing)

So how do you study anatomy?

Thanks for your time.

Luke

[RogerAdams]

Hi Luke,

I love this quote:


..." I really didn't understand what he meant by 'anatomy.' So Ralph handed me an anatomy book and when I went home that night I had decided to learn anatomy. I started with page one and copied the entire book–everything, in one night, from the skeleton up. I came back the next day like a dumb kid and said, "Thank you very much, I just learned my anatomy ..." - Frank Frazetta

There's no right or wrong way to do it. You have to practice -- a lot. One way is to copy the diagrams from books. Which one(s) do you have, btw? I'm still studying myself and I'll work on one area at a time. Like I'll draw out the bone and muscles of the upper arm, label the most important parts, then draw how it connects to the lower arm and shoulder area. Then draw the back, sides etc. Supplement your anatomy book with pictures, ones where the models are in really good shape and master plates, like Vesalius (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/historicalanatomies/vesalius_home.html).

Working from life is one of the best was to study anatomy, if the model is properly lit. It helps if there is a single dominant light source. But don't just try and copy the model -- analyze it. Use the knowledge you've studied from books and apply it to the model. See if you can find any life drawing sessions in your area. Try art museums or universities.

Also, I have to mention Glen Vilppu's anatomy series. I learned more from his videos than from all the books I've bought over the years. Keep at it and don't get discouraged. It takes time. I think I will have it mastered in about another 30 years or so :).

Good luck!

Roger

PS. Ahh, I forgot to mention sculpture, don't be hesitant to try different mediums, digital sculpture with Mudbox or Zbrush or real clay or Super Sculpey will help nail down where muscles connect to.

[Luke25]

Thanks for taking time out to give me some pointers

Really appriciate it.

Luke

[Pezzle]

Studying anatomy and structure in 3-D is probably the best thing you can do.. that is sculpting it from life. This is because you get a true grip on how everything looks from every angle possible. Unless it's a relief, a sculpture is meant to look good from all viewable angles. You learn the ways muscles interract with each other in all parts of the body.

Memorizing diagrams used to not be as important. Now it is -- and knowing muscle placement is definately a huge step in the battle for great anatomical drawings.

The best advice I can give? Draw from life life life, if you can. The best thing I ever did for my drawing advancement was enrolling in a life drawing class at Comm. College for my associates degree. For a while it should be the only thing you want to do, and if you can get someone to model for you personally (say for your fantasy pieces) all the better. I, for instance, still need a model to reference for certain perspectives, as I've learned the hard way. It is best to study it in this fashion because you get the real deal on your plate. Photos can be viewed distorted, life is sitting right in front of you..

ahh but i digress. Hope your art career goes smoothly!
:D

[Rblackmore]

I find Bridgman's books very useful as he simplifies the body and shows attachment points very clearly. You can find Constructive Anatomy and The Human Machine for free online(forget what the site is, but found the link on CA).

[Coinpurse]

imho, I believe the reason artists study Anatomy, or from life for that matter, is to familiarized themselves with "how" things work and how or what goes where and when. If I didn't just confuse the hell out of you (lol sorry about that), basically studying anatomy helps you determine what looks and feels right when drawing a humanoid from scratch with no references. The more you study, the more comfortable you will become when it comes down to "proportions" in your own work. It's one of the most important things because A) many artists suffer from anatomy flaws, and B) it keeps you drawing, keeps you motivated, and you get to draw naked chicks (yes, thats a good thing..... sometimes). All in all, it just comes down to understanding things better. I used to sit down in front of my computer looking at images of people posing nude (Excluding the use of pornography, thats still done from time to time ;) ) and just sketch over and over again. Nothing compares to taking a life study class though, when its all live and in person, theres an entirely different vibe. Thats something a lot of people including myself would recommend... Figure drawing classes.

Dunno if your in school, or planning on going for that matter. But before I registered at any campus, I would visit the nearby art institute and literally walk in to figure drawing classes without even being a student. It's funny because no one ever told me anything, but I just found an empty seat and started sketching. After that I'd just go home lol, but that was about 4-5 years ago :nohope:

Anyway, keep studying from life. It's something I should get back into.
Peace
~