Alternative to bridgman?

[dylanj70]

Hey, i asked a while ago about which books to read on anatomy, and i got a lot of replies about Bridgman. I downloaded the PDF of his book and tried to learn from it but I just felt that the illustrations and examples he used were just too...loose...

Does anyone know of any alternatives that still teach well but have cleaner lines in the illustrations?

[Elwell]

Stephen Rogers Peck, Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist

[JeffX99]

There are dozens and dozens of books on anatomy and drawing - you'll find it best to study from a variety of them. You may find Giovani Civardi: Drawing Human Anatomy useful.

An excellent book for anatomy is one a lot of people aren't aware of because it isn't about drawing: Strength Training Anatomy. It has tons of illustrated cutaways and diagrams of what the muscles and skeleton are doing while working out.

[[email protected]]

Try Michael Hampton's Figure Drawing: Design and Invention, or buy a hardcopy of Bridgman. The drwings are really not that bad...

[Saraiva]

I don't know how useful Bridgman is when learning anatomy. I think its best if you look at other anatomy books, specially the ones that have pictures and not drawings at first. Eliot Goldfinger has an amazing anatomy book. The reason I say this is because drawings are other people's representations of masses and form. Bridgman can be very confusing if you do not know what you are looking at.

[Cider]

Parka81 has written brief reviews of a bunch of anatomy books: http://parkablogs.com/content/anatom...-books-artists

[Holydivered7]

I keep on coming accross many, MANY people who do not seem to understand what the Bridgeman guide to life drawing is for. It is ABSOLUTELY NOT suppossed to be an "anatomy" book. It is a guide for the artist to visualize how the outer shapes of the human body change, contort, expand or contract in relation to the specific poses illustrated in the book. The book is basically the Bible for understanding movement to everyone who's anyone in the comic book industry, and an invaluable source for any artist who intends to draw the human body in movement convincingly.
I second the advice above me, and encourage you to go to your local Barnes & Noble, and buy ANY anatomy book that has real photoes alongside drawings, and move on to bridgeman ONLY when you understand what you are looking at.

[snacks ex machina]

I second that Atlas of Human Anatomy that Elwell.

You should go to the library and take out as many as you can. Might find an unknown gem.

[Tukos]

Yeah, I've seen MANY folks complaining about the Bridgman as well. I always figured it was a great method of constructing the figure. Hell, one of the books is called "Constructive Anatomy" it's a clue. Not "Copy Bridgman."

[Alex Chow]

Andrew Loomis

[tobbA]

Avoid "complete guide" by Bridgeman. Check out his other books. They're a lot more helpful. And read it. That's where you'll find a lot of the juicy bits.

[Arshes Nei]

Well if anything start off with the Green Book first. I have seen people grab Constructive Anatomy first and get frustrated.

I also agree Bridgman by itself may be confusing to newer people, that's why it's ok to get a second book as well.

You can even start off with something like Jack Hamm

[dylanj70]

Woah! Thanks for all the recommendations guys! I'm gonna check out my local library but it's not very well known for decent books...