So, you buy a book - then what

[Thunderfist]

I just bought "Anatomy for artists" by Sarah Simblet.

There's a lot of pictures of people, great transparent pages that u put on a picture and u can see bones and all that anatomy stuff.

But what now ? I dont want this book to go on shelf, i have started to just copy things in it, starting from skeleton, skull, some bones, rib cage. Everything that's there.

I don't really want to just buy an expensive book, flip thought it and it goes on a shelf, i need to know how to use it but till now i failed.

Tell me forum, how does one master a book like this ?!

P.S
Here's that book with few examples:
http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Artist.../dp/078948045X

[JeffX99]

Send it to me and I'll see if I can troubleshoot it for you.

[JJacks]

You're definitely over-thinking it. Just read it and do studies from it. If you don't want it on the shelf, don't put it there and forget about it.

[JFierce]

You read the book first and foremost, then it's not about copying it's about understanding and applying it in your own work.

[[email protected]]

It is a great book which celebrates the human body: enjoy!

As a reference, it is less useful, there are better books for less money. However, you can use it for active analysis of poses, by taking a model study, putting a sheet on top of it and drawing in the bones and/or muscles. Don't just stick to the book: it is only a starting point...

[JeffX99]

Actually, don't bother sending that one...I already have it. Along with 45 other books on figure and anatomy on my shelf. You're way behind.

I browsed through my copy to see WTF is wrong with it. Mine seems ok.

[Elwell]

"How do I use a book" threads make me weep for the future.

[ShroudStar]

"How do I use a book" threads make me weep for the future.

Elwell, that does depress me. All of that digital interfacing and soon you'd need a "How To Use A Book 101" classes. It also seems to fall in line with people not using their heads anymore and doing direct self-application to what's within the pages. Almost like you need to guide them by the hand, spoon-feed them on each and every step, or else they're afraid they'll fail some cosmic test.

[Arshes Nei]

Tell me forum, how does one master a book like this ?!

Language....

[dpaint]

why are there two of these threads exactly the same by two "different" users

[[email protected]]

Actually, don't bother sending that one...

Can I have it? My copy is out of reach...

[Arshes Nei]

why are there two of these threads exactly the same by two "different" users

Because people don't like to read apparently...

oh the ironing.....

[JeffX99]

"How do I use a book" threads make me weep for the future.

Not me. It makes me hope Soylent Green isn't just a warm, fuzzy possibility.

[rem92]

Anyone seen Underworld Awakening already?

[JFierce]

What is this book thing you speak of?
Is it some kind of nook?

[squidmonk3j]

Just look for tutorialz on youtube.

...

Eventually, looking will replace the act of reading, just as consumption will replace usage.

[Star Eater]

[dierat]

Try using is in conjunction with other studies. Keep the book open next to you while doing figurative studies and use it to help you analyze and understand the structure of the figure and how the anatomy underneath is affecting the surface. When drawing figures on your own from imagination/memory, use the book to help you improve the definition of the figure by suggesting the muscular and skeletal forms underneath. You can also use it in conjunction with other anatomy books (like Loomis) to help you further understand the forms they're teaching you to simplify.

[dcorc]

That book, like most books, has words in it (as well as the pictures). If all else fails, you could always try reading the words, its possible they might turn out to have something to do with the name on the front of the book and the pictures inside it.

[manlybrian]

I ate all the books I bought.

[kev ferrara]

I am interested in reading what has been written here... But the paper you all have written on is strangely smooth and seems to be attached to the front of the flat glass box on the desk, and I can't seem to turn to the next piece of paper even if I use the wet finger technique. Possibly I am reading a scroll that is kept behind glass?

I am going to open up the box and retrieve the scroll from behind the glass. And once I have read the rest of the scroll I will write a response out and place it in the same location in the box from which I removed the scroll. (My assumption is that the glass box is a P.O. address of some sort.) I hope you all will retrieve what I have written in due course so we may continue with our correspondence.

I thank you for your time.

Montgomery J. Habiscus
Valley Forge

[[email protected]]

That book, like most books, has words in it (as well as the pictures). If all else fails, you could always try reading the words, its possible they might turn out to have something to do with the name on the front of the book and the pictures inside it.

Don't be so cruel: the kid wants to learn how to draw, instead of learning how to read...

[SoufMeng]

Don't be so cruel: the kid wants to learn how to draw, instead of learning how to read...

If you want to learn how to draw by buying a book about drawing you READ it!

Also when you write, titles count; it should be no surprise that "So, you buy a book - then what" is getting due sarcasm.

(Great book btw, it radiates with love for the subject.)

[dcorc]

Don't be so cruel: the kid wants to learn how to draw, instead of learning how to read...

I'm not being cruel.

If he wants to understand anatomy, he/she needs to READ the anatomy book, as well as looking at/drawing the pictures. And that goes for all of you copying the pictures in Bridgman, Loomis, Vanderpoel etc without reading the text.

[Andrew B]

I get what the OP is asking: how do you get the most out of the book? I agree with what has been mentioned about READING the book. Sometimes an art book has such good visuals that you want to glean something from that alone. But really taking the time to understand what the artist is trying to convey is much more rewarding. Another thing you can do is make yourself do an art project that forces you to draw upon some skill or diagram in the book; thus bringing you back to gain more insight from it.

[JFierce]

Andrew Shhhh.... your supposed to troll more because he's being lazy asking a question on how to use a book without even mentioning 'reading' the book.

[Slothboy3000]

My college course never organised any guest speakers or meaningful trips, but in my final year they finally organised Sarah Simblet to come and give a presentation/ guest lecture. But by then my lecturer said I wasn't allowed to attend it downstairs because....I had to stay put, apparently. Then she asked me, sincerely, why I thought life drawing would be beneficial.

[dcorc]

My college course never organised any guest speakers or meaningful trips, but in my final year they finally organised Sarah Simblet to come and give a presentation/ guest lecture. But by then my lecturer said I wasn't allowed to attend it downstairs because....I had to stay put, apparently. Then she asked me, sincerely, why I thought life drawing would be beneficial.

O...K....

So, who still wants to go to art school here in the UK?

[ShroudStar]

My college course never organised any guest speakers or meaningful trips, but in my final year they finally organised Sarah Simblet to come and give a presentation/ guest lecture. But by then my lecturer said I wasn't allowed to attend it downstairs because....I had to stay put, apparently. Then she asked me, sincerely, why I thought life drawing would be beneficial.

That's...there's no words to describe that kind of ignorance. I take it modern, more "abstract" work with a thesis paper to explain your work is big over there while representative work is shunned?

[Kamber Parrk]

My college course never organised any guest speakers or meaningful trips, but in my final year they finally organised Sarah Simblet to come and give a presentation/ guest lecture. But by then my lecturer said I wasn't allowed to attend it downstairs because....I had to stay put, apparently. Then she asked me, sincerely, why I thought life drawing would be beneficial.

You just need to get yourself some sorta educational Visa to study in the good ol' U.S. of A.

(Yeah, I know, we're a bunch of overweight, heavily armed bumpkins drivin' around in fuel-inefficient truck-like vehicles-- but, hey, CA and NY are full of schools of thought that appreciate life drawin' 'n stuff. . . )