Product Description

Eliot Goldfinger, a realistic sculptor and instructor of human and animal anatomy, has designed and written a reference work for artists and art students on the visual and descriptive components of human anatomy. The format is simple and accessible; all information about one aspect of a topic is set forth on facing pages. For example, the anterior leg muscle is illustrated in a series of precise anatomical drawings and well-lit photos, with text on origin, insertion, action, structure, and how it relates to creating surface form directly opposite the pictures. Unique to this book are photographs of a series of sculptures which show the basic volumes of the figure, revealing the basic principle of the dynamic between the form units of the body. No other artistic anatomy book is so well organized, detailed, and clearly rendered, and its illustrations are of exceptional quality.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #276299 in Books
• Published on: 1992-01-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 368 pages

Customer Reviews

More full body illustrations would be nice
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1MV7SPYI5RSHR This book is a reference guide to the human anatomy for artists.

The approach here is a part-by-part look at the different section of the body. Each area focused has illustrated muscles and bones with accompanying photo of a model by the side. We can clearly see where different layers of muscles are attached to the bones The photo reference is very useful and provides clarity than using illustrations alone.

The downside is the author isolates the parts too much. If the topic is on the arm, only the arm is shown with very little of the shoulder. Amazingly, there are no full body illustration showing the muscles. The only full body illustrations show the schematic form, e.g. muscle boundaries. So while every part is explained and illustrated well, it's still a bit difficult to get the whole picture.

Most of the examples are static. The body is not doing anything. Again, it's hard to see how the body really works when place in different positions like walking, sitting or twisting. Well, this is a reference book, for bodies in different positions, it's better to get a figure drawing book that focuses on poses and gesture drawing.

Also, a great bulk of the examples are for male bodies. It would have been perfect if more female bodies were included for comparison.

The accompanying text is comprehensive in explaining the structure and how the parts work.

Ultimately, this is a very useful reference guide for any artists who wish to look up any part of the body. It's recommended for beginner to advanced artists.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)