[Bugscratch]

OK, I know the best way to learn drawing figures from your mind is practice, practice and again practice. Still I wonder whether there are any good books out there, that would guide you into the right direction when practicing.
We had a discussion about a book by Ron Tiner some time ago, and I ordered it, but since it's currently not available, I didn't get it.
So I wonder whether there's any other good books on the subject of drawing figures from your mind out there. I did a search for "figure drawing" at amazon.com and that gave me several hundred results.... So which books on the subject have you read, and do you think they're good ?

-bugscratch

[jzero]

My advice is, don't worry about 'drawing from your mind'. You sound like you're trying to learn it like you'd learn the multiplication tables, but that's not how it works. It's the 'practice' that works, you got it. I'm seeing a lot of that 'I did it without reference' stuff in the forums, and I don't agree with it at all. Use Reference.

Here are two books that I recommend, and I'm not alone:
(clipped from 'head drawing' topic)
The old-school classic is 'Constructive Anatomy' by George Bridgman, and the new school classic is 'Atlas of Anatomy for the Artist' by Stephen Rogers Peck. Both of these books do what medical anatomy texts do not, which is break down the human form into its basic shapes and the relationships of the shapes. Bridgman is much more classical (he taught figure drawing to Norman Rockwell), but Peck actually illustrates the body with skeletal details and 'flayed' muscles. Also, look for books by Burne Hogarth for some really 'mannerist' stuff.

If you start drawing using good reference like this, eventually you'll learn the basic forms and patterns that the body follows, and then you'll know what to do when you try and do it 'cold'.

The other thing is, figure drawing from life is invaluable. You can get people to pose for you, or even take a class where they have (gasp) naked people (!!!).

After all that, you will learn to draw the figure 'from memory' because you will know from habit how the forms should look. But don't ever underestimate the power of reference, because it always makes my stuff _that_ much better when I know exactly where the muscles are supposed to go...

/jzero

[Bradford]

quote

Quote:

OK, I know the best way to learn drawing figures from your mind is practice, practice and again practice.

it is that simple. the reason you do not find many books on this subject is because it is really something you simply learn on your own. time, patience, and a lot of drawing



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[Ecki]

Hi
the best book I know which teaches you that is : The Natural Way to draw by Kimon Nicolaides. This is the absolut best book on drawing if you work throu it you will be able to draw easy from you mind.

cheers
/Eckhardt

[Bugscratch]

Yeah I guess I know that the only way to do it is practice. I think I'm just so lazy that I always seek for an easier way, even though in this case it probably doesn't exist.
Thanks anyways guys, and never stop drawing

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"Every intelectual has two countries of origin: His own and Syria."
---Syrian Pavillon @ EXPO 2000 ---