Anatomy for the Artist

Peter Stanyer, Tom Flint

• Publisher: Arcturus
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781841933221
• eBook ISBN: 9781788880251
• Topic: Art
• Subtopic: Art Techniques

Anatomy for the Artist is a book by artists for artists, and presents a dynamic visual record of the fundamental characteristics and creative possibilities of the human form. For hundreds of years' artists have developed their skills by drawing the human body. Bones and muscles, although largely hidden from view, reveal a great deal about us and are key components of expression. All artists need to understand how these structures affect movement and posture, creating character and making what are general physical attributes entirely personal. No unnecessary medical jargon is included, only visually stunning yet accurate artworks, showing the artist what he needs to know in order to bring the human form to life.

POSTURE

Posture is the way we hold ourselves. It is controlled by the muscles, which in turn are programmed by the impulses they receive from the brain. Like the skin, posture can tell much about a subject. When we talk of ‘body language’, we mean the communication of fundamental information about an individual at a particular moment.

Posture can be used to express and symbolize any number of attitudes and attributes: generosity or meanness, hope or despair, bravery or cowardice; the list is endless. Before setting up a pose the artist must have a clear idea of what he wants to communicate or express. The position the model is then placed in must reflect the nature of the drawing. Rodin’s Thinker and Michelangelo’s David are famous examples of artists using posture and gesture to give conscious meaning to their work. In the David, for example, we read the virtues of nobility, leadership, youth and compassion. Goya’s The Nude Maja embodies passion and eroticism.

Thinking thr...

Table of contents

• INTRODUCTION
• THE SKELETON
• THE MUSCLES
• THE SKIN
• PROPORTION
• POSTURE
• FUNDAMENTAL FORM
• WORKING DRAWINGS