 | Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com | The power of the image of the nude--the expressivity of the flesh--has inspired artists from the beginning. An understanding of human form is essential for artists to be able to express themselves with the figure. Anatomy makes the figure. Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form is the definitive analytical work on the anatomy of the human figure. No longer will working artists have to search high and low to find the information they need. In this, the most up-to-date and fully illustrated guide available, Eliot Goldfinger--sculptor, illustrator, scientific model-maker, and lecturer on anatomy--presents a single, all-inclusive reference to human form, capturing everything artists need in one convenient volume. Five years in the making, and featuring hundreds of photos and illustrations, this guide offers more views of each bone and muscle than any other book ever published: every structure that creates or influences surface form is individually illustrated in clear, carefully lit photographs and meticulous drawings. Informed by the detailed study of both live models and cadavers, it includes numerous unique presentations of surface structures--such as fat pads, veins, and genitalia--and of some muscles never before photographed. In addition, numerous cross sections, made with reference to CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging, and cut cadavers, trace the forms of all body regions and individual muscles. Information on each structure is placed on facing pages for ease of reference, and the attractive two-color format uses red ink to direct readers rapidly to important points and areas. Finally, an invaluable chapter on the artistic development of basic forms shows in a series of sculptures the evolution of the figure, head, and hands from basic axes and volumes to more complex organic shapes. This feature helps place the details of anatomy within the overall context of the figure. Certain to become the standard reference in the field, Human Anatomy for Artists will be indispensable to artists and art students, as well as art historians. It will also be a useful aid for physical and dance therapists, athletes and their trainers, bodybuilders, and anyone concerned with the external form of the human body. With the renewed interest in figurative art today, this will be an especially welcome volume. |
Average Customer Rating:   good book, SLOW TRANSACTION took longer to get than any other book I 've ever purchased online. Wasn't sent out in a timely fashion. book is in good condition and I am satisfied with that part of the transaction. More full body illustrations would be nice Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2N1VEDXCD7S2O This book is a reference guide to the human anatomy for artists.
The approach here is a part-by-part look at the different section of the body. Each area focused has illustrated muscles and bones with accompanying photo of a model by the side. We can clearly see where different layers of muscles are attached to the bones The photo reference is very useful and provides clarity than using illustrations alone.
The downside is the author isolates the parts too much. If the topic is on the arm, only the arm is shown with very little of the shoulder. Amazingly, there are no full body illustration showing the muscles. The only full body illustrations show the schematic form, e.g. muscle boundaries. So while every part is explained and illustrated well, it's still a bit difficult to get the whole picture.
Most of the examples are static. The body is not doing anything. Again, it's hard to see how the body really works when place in different positions like walking, sitting or twisting. Well, this is a reference book, for bodies in different positions, it's better to get a figure drawing book that focuses on poses and gesture drawing.
Also, a great bulk of the examples are for male bodies. It would have been perfect if more female bodies were included for comparison.
The accompanying text is comprehensive in explaining the structure and how the parts work.
Ultimately, this is a very useful reference guide for any artists who wish to look up any part of the body. It's recommended for beginner to advanced artists.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.) 5 stars is not enough for this indespensible book This is an unspeakably useful text for any artist studying Human anatomy. It was invaluable in several courses I have taken as a graduate student in the NY Academy of Art's Graduate School of Figurative Art, where the author taught for some time. It is visually clear, beautiful and esteemed for its accuracy in presenting anatomy in a multidimensional format with multiple views including cross sections for every element. The comprehensiveness is extraordinary and its contemporariness a wonderful compliment to more historic tomes, like Richet. Human Anatomy for Artists The book is very informative. I'm using it for a figure sculpture class and we have studied the bones and the muscles. Very pleased with the service of Amazon. anatomy reference This book is invaluable for reference. At 1st I was 'so so' about the illustrations but as I started to require detailed information for the sculpture I was doing showing the muscles - i discovered the exact information I needed was contained in this book and the more anatomy I do the more it is this book i use. |  |
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