••• ‡‡‡‡‡‡ ••• The • Book • of • Bones ••• ‡‡‡‡‡‡ •••

[mentler]

I teach figure structure and artistic anatomy, I put on workshops worldwide.
I am currently developing DVD's and a manual to demonstrate my system of figure drawing without a model.

Although I will not be able to post the majority of the material here I will post some of my studies, theories and procedures relating to the human form.


check demos on my site--tell me what you think!
On my site click on galleries listed upper right

http://www.tsofa.com/?faculty

[Helzer]

Great work. Valuable site...got it bookmarked!

[N D Hill]

Wow. Great gallery. Definitely worth checking out.

[mentler]

Inside elevation---tomorrow the plan----(top view)
let me know if it works for you---make suggestions if you have some improvements!

[BlueMech]

All of this stuff is great so far. The writing is kinda hard to read, but not impossible or anything.

[Denart]

hey Mentler!

your technical skill is great! :jump2:

proportion wise, the foot works within the grid, but I personally don't like to use those grids, I find them too restrictive, its much more fun doing it freehand. Tho for learning the proportions, the grid is great!

[nmcleod]

...wow
these pages of hands are amazing. please post more.
-nate

[mentler]

I agree with you 100% everybody wants to think there is a system to doing everything--- proportional system, are really just a security blanket to help you get over fear of the human form!!! By the way it has helped me really understand all the pieces better---my freehand feet have gotten much better after working out this grid system.
By the way knowing this stuff is very helpful for constructing feet and all body parts in difficult positions from memory without reference or a model!!

[mentler]

Tre Grazie moves along--paintings this week!!!
These are all done without reference---I also included a few footnotes
from my upcoming book.

[Sinix]

I'm really enjoying this thread, can't get enough so keep it coming.

[mentler]

It is great to have talented people interested in what you do!
Will try to post on a regular basis---have paintings to post as well.
Hope to get them up next week.
Will post more ideas for book as well---would like feedback!!

[DaemonMagus]

This is definitely going into my favorites, all of this work is pretty inspiring.

[jook]

impressive amount of dedication, patience, and skill on these pages...

[mentler]

Thanx - for the positive momentum - I will put it to good use - the 3 views of the figure thing as daily deal is a great, great exercise - I am learning a great deal everyday - front view, side view, back view - usually also focus on certain things I am working on at the time.

If you do not feel comfortable doing this exercise from memory try it with reference - the old masters are always a great resource.

3 figures a day that's 1,095 figures a year - so you will be a lot better at figure drawing - I guarantee it - I have been doing it less than a month and it has really challenged me - and I have been drawing and painting for a while now.

Looking to cross some good links for my school:
So put me on yours - send me your stuff and I will have our webster put you on ours.

[mentler]

http//www.tsofa.com

[SamBrown36]

Right on, this is great stuff! I just started getting into some Bridgman..I've gotta learn figure. This is defenetly a good sourse of inspiration. You posted a reply to me about mechs, I think if you can draw the figure so well, and know all the connections, you should have no problem drawing mechanical things. Just as looking at refrence for figure, look at refrence for mechs, construction equipment, engines, industrial stuff. Let me see what you got.

[marin]

excuse me sir can I have o copy??

I`m looking forward for that book...hope you`ll finish it soon.

Signed,

marin.

[mentler]

Marin, thanx for looking --- thanx for liking --- thanx for responding
this three figure thing from memory is a great exercise --- been doing it now for about three weeks --- really stretching my gluts --- glad you like em' cause I am committed to doing them for a while

[mentler]

This is less figurative than most but I wanted to let you see the progression and get your feedback

[mentler]

Will post Tre Grazie project stuff here later today!!!

If you have nothing else to do --- or maybe, if I am lucky, you like my stuff visit my daily sketchbook thread or go to site and really go blind viewing the massive offerings available there!

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d=1#post272306

The Mother Ship
http://tsofa.com/?faculty

[ElvisMcVegas]

These look like diagrams out of my biology book, great work!

[liam.c]

beautiful, mentler ) man jsut went back over your grid study of the foot and agen .. beautiful man

[Darkside]

hey mentler, exellent drawings you made here. It is great to look at them, reminds me to do some anatomic-studies as well.
also, great discipline

ceep them coming

[Cyrus]

All of these are great, I especially like the way you did stages of muscles on the finger.

Just out of curiosity I'm wondering how much time you spend drawing everyday, outside of class and such.

[liam.c]

exelent ment the figures are looking fantastic man
me i been haveing problums more lately withthe hip to groin area and sholder/arm conection give a go at some will ya and let me see

[Judy Warner]

These are very helpful for me to draw from. Do you have a system like the foot system for other parts of the body?? would love to see that! Thanks, Judy

[mentler]

Yes Judy there is a Santa Claus --- Yes will understand when you see my pic. :::: I think my site might be of interest to you and others trying to learn how to figure out the human form.
Have a lot of my galleries there ::::: plus class demos ::::: I have a system for every part of the body ::::: just need to put it down on paper ::::: the is a skull formula on site now however is am getting ready to simplify it. We will be reworking the site a lot in the next few weeks shooting zillions of new things starting some forums for are members etc.
It certainly is not to compete with forums like this we are just providing it as a service to our members!


This Link Will take you directly to demos
http://www.tsofa.com/?faculty
Hope this is helpful will be much better organized in a weeks with better stuff :::: I will post all new stuff here as I develop the final versions of the figure formulas

[liam.c]

hahahah shit ment that one hahah damn soo nice man i hope you keep posting haha

[mogando25]

wow man, reminds me of da vinci!

[dr. brie]

Wow, you have some great stuff... Crazy, crazy..
I'm amazed at your ability to do the studies so well in ink. The sketchy style is really growing on me.

I'm gonna save a couple of these for reference.

[mentler]

About 7 or 8 years ago -- I decided to do some archival sketchbooks.
For a couple of years I did a few pencil lines to get them started then less and less pencil and for last 5 or so years just pen.
I really don't worry about mistakes in my work because I am working mostly from imagination now. So I really have no idea what it is supposed to look like anyway (so how can it be wrong) anyway I think this is a healthy attitude to have about your work.
I purchased the huge Da Vinci book a couple of months ago, and noticed on the detail blowups that he watered down the bistre (brown ink) to start his drawings then used it full strength to finish --- so I am beginning to play with that a little on some larger scale works on paper.

Thinks for looking --- keep coming back!

This twisted torso compositions are challenging to say the least, because you really have to let them create there own space.

[mentler]

This is a pastel painting 20" X 26" composites of 6 or 8 poses into a couple of torsos!

[mentler]

This is the hell that awaits those who surf around enjoying all the creative labors put forth in these forums and do not participate!!!!

[jca]

HAHAHA.. ok lemme just put something in here so i dont end up there.. keep it up sir!

[johanson]

Amazing drawings, and a great sense of humor… it doesn’t get any better than this.

You’re right, I did get a kick out of it. I’ve been a fan of both this thread, and this one for a while. Haven’t thrown in my two cents yet because I usually only post on work I have criticism for. I’ve got nothing on these. What you have, is another fan.

Looking forward to whatever comes next,

-Andrew

[mentler]

Love those kind of crits ___ keep em' comin'____I can take it____actually I crave it as we all do!! Here are some 30" x 40" demos I do in 8 to 10 minutes during model breaks.
The self-portrait is a 10 minute chiaroscuro (I like to use big Italian words) demo where I try to make the point that you can work very effective without line and you can alsoget a lot of information down quickly. (I added a few lines at the end because I am weak) The features are done one feature group per break.
This stuff is more for beginners___but I will post them if you like em' let me know.

[mentler]

This is Class Pastel Demo
Started with 3 poses of 5 minutes each (to work out composition)
then same 3 poses 10 minutes each ~ then 15 then repeat 15s until finished about 2 hours total ~ 20" by 26"

[mentler]

Rebuilding site so images are gone!!
If you really need to see some bones!!
Check out the galleries here!!
http://www.tsofa.com/?programme.text.course

[nmcleod]

woww.. that pastel demo is soo nice. great lighting and composition. i also checked out your website a while back, some really good work on there, hope to see more from your upcoming book soon.
-nate

[mentler]

Rebuilding Site/Threads The past few weeks I have been drawing figures from memory (no reference) in at lease 3 views (front, back and side) In the beginning I called this the Tre Grazie (Three Graces) project. It has evolved into the Carne Appendendo (Hanging Flesh) project.
I am reposting all the Hell Hangers ~ sorry for repeats ~ for those of you who like the Anatomy/body part stuff go the galleries in the Boneyard link below!

[mentler]

Muscles of Expression ~ More in the Boneyard ~ Self Portrait I did a few years ago when I was working on expressions

[mentler]

Feature Practice/noses and mouths

[mentler]

Old lower leg study stetckbook

[mentler]

Thanx Minions and Masters All!!!
As you know already ~ these are done without reference ~ I know they seem a little confusing ~ but this is how I stretch my knowledge of anatomy ~ the distortion and contortion is intentional and is an important part of my art.

[mentler]

I did several of these a few years ago!!
Recommend that everyone in the business of drawing heads should own a skull or two, it is a lot better than working from pics!

[mentler]

[mentler]

Recent model break demos for Faces & Features workshops

[Icey]

Great sketches! Great studys!

Post more!

[mentler]

Thanx Icey visit often ~ visit my other threads ~ different stuff
I will also post some more anatomical formulation demos.

[Cyrus]

Somebody give this guy professional staus.

[mentler]

[mentler]

It has come to my attention that some untalented s--t has posted a 4 star rating on my Domenico thread ~ they probably did not like the subject matter ~ which I will agree is not that pleasant ~ it is supposed to be a little naive because it is medieval dah! ~ this is about skill not subject matter ~ nobody gives a f--k what you like ~ if you don't like it, or don't understand it, just go away ~ I need my supporters to correct this issue by going to the Domenico thread below and posting 5 stars ~ otherwise I am going to take my works and go home ~ life is to short to deal with clueless Philistines!!!!!!

[mentler]

Icey ~ I am pretty sure you meant chaotic ~ I appreciate the critique ~ look at it in color on the hanging flesh thread and see if that works better
Also this has a lot cropped off because it is bigger than scanner.
However it probably is to chaotic ~ I appreciatle the crit.

[mentler]

We are just beginning to start building the figure drawing forums at
The Society of Figurative Arts site ~ this will dedicated totally to the human form and artistic anatomy. We hope to build this into the best figure drawing community in the world but we need your help.
Just have a few threads open but we have to start somewhere.
Visit us, join and post, and let know if you would like a critique or draw overs. Thanks in advance for your help in this effort.
Here are a couple of threads for hands and feet studies.
http://www.tsofa.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=7

[mentler]

A couple of recent thumbnail studies on this difficult subject.
The important thing here is to treat the ulna as articulating (belonging to)
the upper arm and the radius as articulating with the hand.
The ulna acts as a lever, only moving toward or away from the shoulder.
The radius moves with the hand. The position of the hand tells you the action of the radius. The radius is always where the thumb is.
(1) Outside Views ~ all three positions


(2) Outside and Inside views ~ all three positions

[mentler]

A few quick studies I did over the holiday!
The first page is build on my grid system from memory!
The other do pages were started from ref then finished without ref to put my mind to work a little.
My focus here is on the motion and emotive quality of hands.
We often as artist need to add to what is available in a pose to give it more life.
Let me know if these studies are of help!!!

[Icey]

YOU SHOULD RIGHT A BOOK! You could get this work all together and publish something like an artistic anatomy book! I know you have an other book in mind, but.. just saying this shit is great to see!

[maxetormer]

I agree for what is worth
I would buy your book too.
great stuff happenig here

bw that comment you wrote
about taking a skull everywere
to learn face structure really
cracked me up man LOL
plus I will take your advice and
I will make some serious studies
of the skull and his interacions
in expresion on the face.

[mentler]

THX: Maxetomer, we will try to make this thread as helpful as possible!
Starting to prepare lectures and demos for new workshops.
Will post some of the stuff here next couple of days

[JadeDragon]

Wow. Amazing thread here Mr. Mentler! I learned a lot just browsing through the images. Those Three Graces sketches are beautiful. I'll be coming back and studying more of your work.

I wish I had had a teacher like you back in my college days! Better late than never!

Thank you sir!~~~Patrick