Which Anatomy Book Should I Buy?

#21

I’ve a couple of anatomy books reviewed on my blog complete with some pictures and a page flipping video. I’m also still learning drawing as well.

Hope they will be helpful.

#22

Die Gestalt des Menschen
Bammes, Gottfried
ISBN#9783838830414

It’s expensive but the greatest anatomy book I’ve ever owned (and I’ve got at least 15 in my bookshelf). It’s in German but that doesn’t matter. Amazon is out of stock, so you’ll probably have to order it through Abebooks or someplace. Really an amazing book. Avoid Bamme’s softcover abridged/english version, “The Artist’s Guide to Human Anatomy” because it’s mostly student drawings and doesn’t go into the depth of “Die Gestalt des Menschen”.

#23

2 and a half years later, this thread hits me back on my inbox ! incredible ! :))

I`ve bought all of bridgeman books, drew them out, and have also studied from loomis and bammes and hogarth and a few others.

As far as I can tell … Gottfried Bammes is the absolute divine gift … a bit hard at 1st, but after a while it’s absolutely stunning. Buy it, download it, find it,borrow it, do anything in your power to get a hold of it and draw it twice :))

#24 
I've a [couple of anatomy books reviewed](http://parkablogs.com/content/anatomy-and-figure-drawing-books-artists) on my blog  complete with some pictures and a page flipping video. I'm also still  learning drawing as well..

thanks for the book reviews, i have seen a few of them on your blog (not just the anatomy books). I just picked up An atlas of anatomy for artists which seems pretty good as a start. I am trying to become better at drawing.

#25

I have been studiing Anatomy for several years and my favorite books are Dynamic Anatomy by Burne Hogarth which I believe is great for learning idealized and simplified anatomy and than Human Anatomy by Eliot Goldfinger which is the most detailed artistic anatomy I have seen to this date. I don’t really like Bridgman that much, it seems to me that his drawings are too sketchy, hard to read and lack detail. I am comparing Hogarth, Bridgman and Goldfinger in my review of Goldfinger’s anatomy here: (be sure to check out the comparison picture)

http://www.artist-reference.com/human-anatomy-for-artists-the-elements-of-form-by-eliot-goldfinger.html

As for the videos I am really enthusiastic about David Finch’s dynamic anatomy DVD from gnomon: http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/store/product/823/Dynamic-Figure-Drawing:-The-Body

#26

human anatomy for the artist -eliot goldfinger
already have all you need.

#27

hello friends, well! i want to be a 3d character modeler and i was suggested to learn to draw anatomy first even before i start learning modeling… so i bought two books 1). andrew loomis’s drawing head and hands, 2). jack hamm’s drawing the head and figure… now i am in a bit of a dilemma of which one to follow coz one hand i found andrew loomis method more accurate and technically correct but a little bit hard to understand and one the other i found jack hamm’s instructions are really easy to follow however if any body has read his book then u must have noticed that his first two methods seemed flawed coz he talks about the equilateral traingle rule (from the corner of the eyes crossing at the lower lips) which i just can’t draw from his first methods at all… i dont know may be its just me …please guys help me out…and sorry if i do any english mistake i am not very good at it :sad:

#28

I have been working as an 3D character modeler for several years and I never felt the need to be able to draw anatomy. Every person is different so basically all you need is good modeling reference of various people. Get the free samples at www.3d.sk As for the books, Goldfinger is the best in my opinion :slight_smile:

#29

Stephen Rogers Peck’s book, “Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist”, is an excellent resource…

And then there are the anatomical books of Robert Beverly Hale.

Hale is like an alien sent from Planet Anatomica to teach us mere mortals how to draw the human figure… ;^) You have to experience it yourself to believe it.

There are a couple of other anatomists (from further back in the past) whose books were re-published recently with introductions by Hale: One is by the famed Dutch anatomist Albinus (with unbelievably accurate illustrations by the artist Wandelaar) and the other is by French anatomist/artist Paul Richer.

You can check out some of the amazing Albinus/Wandelaar images at this link:
Dream Anatomy

If you’re not familiar with Peck, Hale, Richer, or Wandelaar, this article has quite a bit of information about them:
Mastering Artistic Anatomy: Some Wonderful Books

#30

The 1982 print called “Der nackte mensch” is considered the best and the most complete of Bammes books.

#31

Hello everyone!

I’ve just started learning the anatomy. The other day I ordered these two books, Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators - Mike Mattesi and, The Artist’s Complete Guide to Figure Drawing - Anthony Ryder. I’ll probably start with the Anthony Ryder book first as I’ve heard the Mattesi book is intermediate level. I’m hoping they will arrive today.

Also has anybody got the ImagineFX Anatomy - Vol 1 (of 4) of the Drawing & Painting series? As a beginner I’ve found it very helpful. Let me know what your thoughts are on this.

#32

I personally recommend the books of prof. Gottfried Bammes:

  1. “Der nakte mensch” and “Wir Zeichmen Den Menschen” - for human anatomy
  2. “Tiere zeichnen” - for animal anatomy

In my opinion thy are the best references out there. Little bit old, very hard to find and written in german language, but not one or two generation artists have learned from them.

p.s. I got a “Der nakte mensch” for under a 10 euro in a almost new condition.

#33

Are there any video tutorials available that will help me with the technique.