Drawing from Life

Book excerpt: Along with working from the model, the figure-drawing student needs instruction in anatomy, history, and conceptual approaches; such instruction is often missing from life drawing classes due to time constraints. This text offers these elements, along with a visual reminder of studio practice. The chapters follow the natural development of a student's growth, from gesture drawing to personal exploration. An entire chapter on drawing the figure in perspective offers information unavailable in comparable texts. Asking the student to begin with quick sketches and gesture drawings establishes their significance in professional work, while giving students a non-threatening introduction on a level they can understand and master. Cohesive presentation of anatomy, including a chapter on the human head, helps students understand underlying structure of bones, muscle, and body fat. Larger images throughout promote clearer understanding of concepts. A completely new section on color media provides up-to-date valuable information. Anatomy of the limbs has been reorganized for clarity.