Drawing the Head and Figure
Jack Hamm
Perigee
Nonfiction, Art
*****
DESCRIPTION: Hamm tackles what many consider the most challenging subject of all: drawing humans. From basic anatomy and proportions to details of male and female faces, hands, feet, movement, and clothing, this book addresses most everything necessary to effectively draw people.
REVIEW: Only recently did I start attempting to represent humans and humanoids in my artwork. I guess I've always been more interested in animals and other things than my own species, at least for artistic purposes. Now that I've started toying with the subject, I find books like this invaluable. He doesn't just used one method of doing things, he uses several. Confusing? Not at all! It's extremely helpful - to me at least - not to get stuck in a rut (i.e., the face is always an oval, you draw human bodies starting with X and going on to add shape Y...) In truth, there is no magic formula of shapes to draw perfect people - or perfect anything. Each situation requires a slightly different approach, so the more ways you know of tackling a subject, the better. Now that I've thoroughly confused you, I'll just suggest that you pick up this book and read what I'm talking about for yourself.
You might also enjoy:
Anatomy of Movement (Blandine Calais-Germaine, Nonfiction - The motion of human joints and muscles)
Anatomy for Fantasy Artists (Glenn Fabry, Art - The rules of anatomy, as adapted for fantasy art)
Cyclopedia Anatomicae (György Fehér, Art - An exceptionally in-depth anatomy book, covering humans and some animals)
Anatomy for the Artist (Tom Flint and Peter Stanyer, Art - Anatomy book for artists)
Human Anatomy Made Amazingly Easy (Christopher Hart, YA Art - A simplified course in human anatomy)
Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery (Burne Hogarth, Art - Drawing folds, drapes, creases and more in clothing and other materials)
How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way (Stan Lee and John Buscema, YA? Art - Not just anatomy, but a good book on getting more energy into drawings)
Atlas of Anatomy (Giovanni Iazzetti, Enrico Rigutti, and Giunti Editorial Group, Anatomy - A basic look at human anatomy, from bone to skin and cell to body)
Anatomy and Drawing (Victor Perard, Art - Anatomy for artists)
Figure Drawing Without a Model (Ron Tiner, Art - How to draw convincing humans from the imagination)
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Drawing Scenery - Landscapes and Seascapes
Jack Hamm
Perigee
Nonfiction, Art
*****
DESCRIPTION: Drawing animals and people is well and good, but they need some manner of background to go into. Landscapes and seascapes themselves can make interesting subjects in their own right, but how does one go about creating them? Hamm offers a thorough discussion of landscapes and scenery, starting with basic composition notes and tricks to creating perspective before moving on to trees, rocks, waves, reflections, and other subjects.
REVIEW: Similar in format to Hamm's animal book, I find it just as informative. His emphasis is always on composition and "flow," rather than photographic accuracy; since the artist is rarely duty-bound to give a precise rendition of a real place, he is willing to move tons of rock around if it improves the composition. Like the previous Hamm books, it's inspiring just to open it randomly to a section and start reading. Again, I can honestly say that reading this has helped rather than hindered my questionable artistic skills.
You might also enjoy:
Drawing & Painting Fantasy Landscapes & Cityscapes (Rob Alexander, Art - Drawing imaginary worlds)
The Fundamentals of Drawing Landscapes (Barrington Barber, Art - How to draw a variety of landscapes)
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How to Draw Animals
Jack Hamm
Perigee
Nonfiction, Art
*****
DESCRIPTION: Most working artists will be asked to draw animals, specifically mammals, at some point in their careers. Many pros and amateurs are also attracted to them for their own sake. Using numerous illustrations and informative text, Hamm offers instructions and pointers to artists seeking to portray mammals accurately.
REVIEW: When I first saw this book many years ago, I was scared off by the large amount of text. Now that I've progressed beyond the basic I Can Draw... and Draw 50... drawing level, I came back to it. I'm glad I did. This is the best book on animal drawing I own. Hamm starts by pointing out universal similarities, such as the direction of joints, the spine curvature, and the three "sections" of a mammalian body. After some general exercises, he moves on to each specific group, with a certain amount of progression; lessons learned drawing lions, for instance, help later on in building dogs and bears. I don't read it straight through, but rather pick and choose, going back often to what I've already read and finding something new and useful each time. This is a great book, which any aspiring artist is advised to get!
You might also enjoy:
Illustrating Nature: How to Paint and Draw Plants and Animals (Dorothea and Sy Barlowe, Art - Drawing all manner of animals realistically, plus how to draw their environments)
Eyewitness Books: Cat (Juliet Clutton-Brock, YA Nonfiction - A guide to cats, with excellent pictures)
Big Cats - An Artistic Approach (Desiree Hajny, Art - How to carve various big cats)
Animal Drawing - Anatomy and Action for Artists (Charles R. Knight, Art - Drawing animals)
Artist's Photo Reference: Wildlife (Bart Rulon, Art - Photo references of various mammals, from squirrels to elephants)
How to Draw and Paint: Cats in Action (Walter J. Wilwerding, Art - Painting cats)
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