Art Anatomy

Bibliography

The Bibliography contains a list of excellent books that the author recommends for further investigation into human anatomy and figure drawing. But the nature of our art demands more than study. Our goal is the sacred communion of eye, hand, and mind.

As such, there is no end to the refinement of our craft. It is therefore important that our studies be undertaken along with our art-making and not instead of it. We could liken art to a car. We might go around the block and say that the car is working more or less well, or we can drive somewhere, which is what the car is for. We're better off fixing a sputtering breakdown on our way to somewhere interesting than maintaining a pristine vehicle that never leaves the garage.

That said, one glad fact of visual art is that study and practice can take the same form: drawing. There is nothing more salutary for one's drawing skills than drawing great drawings. One can disregard media and scale, working with whatever materials are handy, or one can attempt a real reproduction, working to match the size, materials, and technique of the original. Either way, we come into contact with the language of greatness, and slowly learn to speak it ourselves.

Dates listed refer to the author's edition of book. Original publishing dates are listed in parenthesis where different and available.

Bammes, Gottfried. The Artist's Guide to Human Anatomy. Chartwell Books, Edison, New Jersey, 1994 (1990).

Bridgman, George Brant. The Book of a Hundred Hands. Dover Publications, Mineola, New York, 1971 (1920).

Bridgman, George Brant. Bridgman's Life Drawing. Dover Publications, Mineola, New York, 1971 (1924).

Bridgman, George Brant. Constructive Anatomy. Dover Publications, Mineola, New York, 1973 (1921).

Dunstan, Bernard. Painting Methods of the Impressionists. Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, New York, 1983.

Franck, Frederick. Life Drawing Life. Great Ocean Publishers, Arlington, Virginia, 1989.

Goldfinger, Eliot. Human Anatomy for Artists: the Elements of Form. Oxford University Press, USA, New York City, New York, 1991.

Hale, Robert Beverly. Albinus on Anatomy. Dover Publications, Mineola, New York, 1988 (1979).

Hale, Robert Beverly. Anatomy Lessons from the Great Masters. Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, New York, 1977.

Hale, Robert Beverly. Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters. Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, New York, 1989 (1964).

Hale, Robert Beverly. Master Class in Figure Drawing. Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, New York, 1991 (1985).

Leonardo. The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci. Dover Publications, Mineola, New York, 1970 (1883).

Netter, Frank Henry. Atlas of Human Anatomy. Novartis, Summit, New Jersey, 1997 (1989).

Peck, Stephen Rogers. Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist. Oxford University Press, Oxford, , 1951.

Perard, Victor. Anatomy and Drawing. Barnes & Noble Books, New York City, New York, 1995.

Richer, Paul. Artitic Anatomy. Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, New York, 1986 (1971).

Schider, Fritz. An Atlas of Anatomy for Artists. Dover Publications, Mineola, New York, 1957 (1929).

Sheppard, Joseph. Anatomy: A Complete Guide for Artists. Dover Publications, Mineola, New York, 1992 (1975).

Vanderpoel, John. The Human Figure: Life Drawing for Artists. Dover Publications, New York City, New York, 1958 (1935).