With over 500 illustrations, this book describes the forms of the human body and how they fit together.
Review
I've seen it recommended more times than I can recall in online art communities, so I decided it was worth a shot. At first blush, the drawings look a bit scribbly
around the edges, but there's a method to the perceived messiness. Bridgman emphasizes shape and form over specific detail, with blocks and masses interconnecting to
create a whole. Once in a while I found the text unhelpful, but working my way through this book image by image has certainly proven useful and educational. I'm sure
more advanced or dedicated art students would get even more out of it.
The art of drawing the human figure is often taught as a series of bones and muscles to be memorized and replicated, without consideration of the dynamic kinetics
that make a body truly live. Bridgman presents human anatomy in terms of its remarkable mechanical structure.
Review
Yet another part of my ongoing efforts to improve my dubious artistic skills... With many illustrations, Bridgman demonstrates the hidden mechanics of joints, muscles,
and bones. The text makes for occasionally interesting reading, as well. It is similar to the previous Bridgman book I've read (Constructive Anatomy, reviewed
just above), but with a different angle of presentation to avoid being a complete retread. I'd like to believe I learned something from its pages, though this kind of book
takes more than one pass-through to fully appreciate.
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