[LemmingClone]

Lately I've been trying to develop a better understanding than the diagrammatic style drawings of anatomy books and get a bit closer to its uses in the real world arena where an understanding is essential especially when plowing through other obstacles like foreshortening, differing body types, etc. So I've started to do these. The bottom two are a bit unfinished yet.



Photos are out of Sarah Simblet's Anatomy For the Artist.

How do you guys deal with understanding anatomy?

[RJHarte]

These look really good, and what a great way to really get into the anatomy. I want to give something like this a shot now. hehe

So far I have just been looking at really muscular women and men in various photographs and sketching in my little sketchbook. I love looking at really built individuals to see the distinct muscular lines and curves.

[LemmingClone]

Thanks! Finding some photos of people doing something active works pretty well too. All their muscles are sticking out then! Haha

[RJHarte]

Ahh yes! that is a serious challenge for me actually. It's always nice seeing examples of the muscles actually doing what they are there to do. haha

[Norke]

Oh, I remember me trying to draw anatomy with muscles. In my class we had a statue of a muscle man and when we were drawing nude model, I tried combining those a bit. Gunther Von Hagens (Kurperwelten) is also exhibitioning in Brussels, so I'm going there with my sketchbook.

[LemmingClone]

Oh nice! Best of luck at Body Worlds, too.

[MeTaL-mike]

hey that's a pretty cool way to learn more behind a pose and the anatomy of it. Have to give it a shot. Need the practice

thanks for sharing man.

[kizer180]

Good that your practicing the underlying structure without materials to guide you all of the time. I did the samething as a teenager....I was sort of a geek though.... Anyways...don't forgot to add the soul to the character when doing these life studies. Some get so into getting the anatomical structure just rite that they forgot bout all the other important things when drawing or painting from life. if your old enough watch porno's aswell. Yeah I know what your thinking but it's actually some of the best reference when drawing from life.

[maculate]

The porn suggestion is a good one. Often, if I'm having trouble getting something to seem natural, I just get a mirror and stick it next to my drafting table. Since I'm generally just trying to get things to 'look right' the mirror provides enough reference for more stylized pieces. As far as literal anatomy goes I enjoy referencing Grey's, the plastinized bodies of Gunther von Hagens, and a weight training book of my mother's which has highly detailed anatomy sketches of people as they go through various exercises.