Barnes & NobleBasic Human Anatomy - An Essential Visual Guide for Artists by Roberto Osti

A must-have for artistic anatomy students

What's best about this book is that it actually teaches. The study of artistic anatomy can be overwhelming and the order of study is important. For example, the student can not learn the location, origin and insertion of the muscles without first being familiar with the skeleton. But the skeleton is complex and organic. What is important for the artist to know, and what can be ignored? One great contribution of this book is that it gives step-by-step guidance on drawing front, back and side views of a simplified, schematized skeleton. It provides generalized proportions which are easily learned and memorized. Later on, it adds more detail to this simplified skeleton (but really, not much more is needed). Working through these pages gives the student a framework on which to layer the muscles. This is a huge help that can not be understated. The book also includes step-by-step progressions to work out the placement of the muscles of different parts of the body, always beginning with the general, overall effect before moving on to the specific details. Those parts of the book alone would make it worth purchasing for anyone who has been struggling with this subject (which number, I suspect, includes the vast majority of art students). Osti is a great teacher with a passion for his subject, and it shows. However, the book also contains all the detailed reference drawings of bones and muscles you would expect to find in a good reference on artistic anatomy. The drawings of the musculature, in particular, are beautifully done, and in full color, with an additional set of illustrations that use color to individuate the muscles. Furthermore, the book delves into drawing techniques, measuring and other related subjects. It is profusely illustrated, and is a very beautiful hardcover book. If you are trying to learn artistic anatomy, this is a book you should own.