Bought a new Anatomy book.

I decided to go out to the art shop today because 1. I needed some new pencils, 2. I wanted some 14x17 paper so that I can draw bigger and have less irritation to my arm, and 3. because it just opened and I had to go look.

While I was there, they had this massive section of art books. Now, normally I just glance at them because I still have my books from school and didn't think I needed anymore....until I noticed this.

Human Anatomy Made Amazingly Easy by Christopher Hart.

I will once in a while read the introduction, flip through the pages and put a book back because I dislike the way things are worded, or how lengthy they are or complicated. But this book caught me right away. The introduction is funny, the drawings inside are not so complex that you feel inadiquite immediately.

Anyways, with that being said, the book only cost me $25 Canadian (it goes for about $20 US) and I am reading it between posts. If you are looking for a book to help with form and anatomy, check it out. I'm having a ball reading it, and I usually dispise reading books.

Now we just have to see if it actually helps me improve hehe.

cool. hopefully it helps you out Hex, do you think this would help a talentless hack like myself?

I don't know. I have no idea where you sit for knowledge or resources.

i dont have much knowledge really. heck, maybe I'll try to draw from a screenshot or something when I get back later adn post it and see what everyone thinks. i did buy Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain cause I think it was you and Nymie on the WM forums who mentioned it was a good teacher.

I have that one. I actually have a bunch of Christopher Hart books. I've read some commentary from people who don't like his artistic style or don't like something about his books. I like them. They are written in a light style that's easy to read and follow.

I was actually looking for my copy last night, be ended up flipping through Burne Hogarth's Dynamic Figure Drawing instead.

I also have his Cutting Edge Anatomy book.

Cosmic

If this one works out for me, Cutting Edge Anatomy will be my next purchase.

Yeah I have a couple of the C.Hart books. They're not too bad. Even if most of the art inside is NOT by C.Hart himself :P
(it's true! Look at the artist credits in the back of the front page)

*shrug* I don't care who the art is by. It doesn't make me want to burn the book because my stuff is so much crappier then the stuff inside.

I still completely support 'Drawing From Real Life' though :P If you can find a good model (or yourself, in a mirror), it will help much more than already drawn pictures. Learn the way the REAL human body works, and then you can draw comic style or anime style pretty easily. Don't start with comic style or anime style first :P It'll handicap you later At least so I'm told. And there are exceptions to the rule.

Remember 100 bad drawings for every 1 good one!

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I still completely support 'Drawing From Real Life' though :P If you can find a good model (or yourself, in a mirror), it will help much more than already drawn pictures. Learn the way the REAL human body works, and then you can draw comic style or anime style pretty easily. Don't start with comic style or anime style first :P It'll handicap you later At least so I'm told. And there are exceptions to the rule.

Remember 100 bad drawings for every 1 good one!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's probably why I've been having problems with my drawings. I try using those books and they don't do [bleep] for me. I know it's different for every person. But I honestly never thought of just getting a friend to stand there for me.

*looks for roommate*

@Tax E - RIP CoH 2012

Well if you can't get a friend to stand there for you, at least take a picture with LOTS of diffuse lighting, outdoors preferably, don't use the flash. The flash will 'flatten' your subject, making it harder to draw an accurate picture.

I was told sometime that it's impossible to draw a 2d pic from a 2d pic of a 3d subject, it's better to draw a 2d pic from a 3d subject directly (i.e. Still Life and such).

But once you get 'the skills' then you should be able to draw from photographs and such. Just try to avoid drawing from other drawings, because just in the act of drawing it will take the 'life' from it and the accuracy, no matter if it looks extremely accurate already. You can't beat reality! :P

Definitely great tips that I never thought of before. Thanks. Especially for me, a noobishly nooblet noob stick drawer.

@Tax E - RIP CoH 2012

In a couple weeks, I'm starting up a class at one of the local community colleges called "So You Think You Can't Draw." Depending on how that goes, or how confident I'm feeling with my drawing after the course, I'm considering taking a figure drawing class over the summer term.

For now, I just need to get myself drawing and drawing and drawing. I guess even if it's bad, it's helping me to get better.

I've been trying to expand my collection of drawing books, to have as many references as possible. Now I just need to put them on an easy to get to bookshelf.

Cosmic

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I still completely support 'Drawing From Real Life' though :P If you can find a good model (or yourself, in a mirror), it will help much more than already drawn pictures. Learn the way the REAL human body works, and then you can draw comic style or anime style pretty easily. Don't start with comic style or anime style first :P It'll handicap you later At least so I'm told. And there are exceptions to the rule.

Remember 100 bad drawings for every 1 good one!

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn't work that way for everyone Rowr. It sure as hell doesn't work for me. I need printed knowledge on tips and such.

I had this book in my hands on Saturday, and I almost bought it. I may have to go back and pick it up after all.

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I still completely support 'Drawing From Real Life' though :P If you can find a good model (or yourself, in a mirror), it will help much more than already drawn pictures. Learn the way the REAL human body works, and then you can draw comic style or anime style pretty easily. Don't start with comic style or anime style first :P It'll handicap you later At least so I'm told. And there are exceptions to the rule.

Remember 100 bad drawings for every 1 good one!

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn't work that way for everyone Rowr. It sure as hell doesn't work for me. I need printed knowledge on tips and such.

[/ QUOTE ]Yeah, yknow--I just kept...doing it.

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And there are exceptions to the rule.

Remember 100 bad drawings for every 1 good one!

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn't work that way for everyone Rowr. It sure as hell doesn't work for me. I need printed knowledge on tips and such.

[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps you missed the bolded part. Just wanted to point that out. It wasn't a personal attack on how you work your art. Just a friendly discussion on what they've perceived as what works for some...

Cheers

@Tax E - RIP CoH 2012

[ QUOTE ]
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And there are exceptions to the rule.

Remember 100 bad drawings for every 1 good one!

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn't work that way for everyone Rowr. It sure as hell doesn't work for me. I need printed knowledge on tips and such.

[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps you missed the bolded part. Just wanted to point that out. It wasn't a personal attack on how you work your art. Just a friendly discussion on what they've perceived as what works for some...

Cheers

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No didn't miss it. Just emphasising that point.

I hope the books helps, you've already got a great start. Cute new avatar too.