Review: Classic Human Anatomy in Motion: The Artist’s Guide
to the Dynamics of Figure Drawing
Valerie L. Winslow
2015
Watson-Guptill
I only wish I had this volume when I studied anatomy in
college. The basics are presented here so
clearly they seem natural. Knowledge of
this sort helps to see what exists before you from the surface through to skeletal
structure beneath.
The author examines the human body form by region and
structure in order to facilitate the discussion of motion later for her reader. An arm can move in a particular fashion and
all the surface contours develop from that.
Visualizing the hip structure helps place joints and proportions
appropriately. A facial expression
requires particular muscle groups contracting and jaw movements that involve
other associated structures.
Intuitively, all this is obvious, but making the transition to the art
surface can lose much of the intent of the artist, and the information
contained in this book can raise awareness of form and function. Does the more abstract form need this? I think so just to know how to bend the
reality without losing the identifying marks of motion and form.
This book contains numerous drawings and sketches with the
mediums used for each within the narrative. I found them quite helpful. The author suggests several different
exercises in the last chapter for those that wish to work on action poses. She also includes a list of suggested
readings that cover a variety of specialized information.
An accomplished artist may not need this book, but the rest
of us that are either on the way to that status or just wanting to improve our
hobby skill could definitely benefit from this book.
I received this book form the publisher in exchange for a
review.
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