Recommend me some books/guides

[Darkstalker90]

Basically, something at a beginner - intermediate level of skill that covers anatomy, muscle/bone structure and other areas such as faces in particular.

I'm just emerging from a half-year slump of zero production and trying to get going again. I'm not terrible at the things I want to learn about but I'm definitely rusty and could do with brushing up on the fundamentals once again plus improving considerably overall.

Not fussed whether it's a physical book or an online thing but I do prefer to have something that I can use away from the computer so if there are any online tutorials, they can't really be a bazillion pages because I'll be printing them.

Anything people can suggest is greatly appreciated.

[David]

I assume this is for realistic anatomy and not comical?

I can't think of anything off-hand at a beginner or intermediate level, so your search is probably as good as mine. Most online resources are going to be video. You may be able to find books at your local library though.

[-firefox-]

I recommend books from Andrew Loomis or George Brandt Bridgman.

I hope this helps.

[Darkstalker90]

I assume this is for realistic anatomy and not comical?

I can't think of anything off-hand at a beginner or intermediate level, so your search is probably as good as mine. Most online resources are going to be video. You may be able to find books at your local library though.

Realistic yes. I just need to get some basics/fundamentals nailed so I can bear them in mind when drawing characters. I mentioned it here before but I'm trying to move away from a blatantly comical/anime style and into something that's closer to being realistic. Not looking for anything heavy (at least not to begin with).

If you look at the galleries for Soul Calibur or Capcom Vs SNK 2, you'll see what I'm aiming for - realistic proportionally/anatomically but not too realistic. I think this is sounding gibberish by now

firefox: thanks, I'll look into those names, see what comes up.

[David]

If you look at the galleries for Soul Calibur or Capcom Vs SNK 2, you'll see what I'm aiming for - realistic proportionally/anatomically but not too realistic.

So basically, realistic except for those completely unproportionate chests in Soul Calibur.

[Darkstalker90]

If you look at the galleries for Soul Calibur or Capcom Vs SNK 2, you'll see what I'm aiming for - realistic proportionally/anatomically but not too realistic.

So basically, realistic except for those completely unproportionate chests in Soul Calibur.

Saw that coming but still walked into it!

Obviously a decent book/guide would lay that out properly for me though I couldn't promise that I wouldn't get carried away occasionally

You see what I mean though? Proportions are more or less realistic (ignore the massive boobs) but the overall art doesn't come across as realistic.

[SilenTGianT]

I was gonna recomend a book but I can't remember what its called and can't seem to find any hint of it on the web. My only advice is to reference something. This really helps when you don't know what to draw.

[Darkstalker90]

Referencing is good. I do that but I think you also need a basic knowledge of anatomy so that your not constantly using pictures of real people all the time.

I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without referencing though. It would just be nice to put a basic figure together without using any references for once.

[thoraxglycerin]

if you know german or know that there's a translation of it, take/lend this:
http://www.amazon.de/Die-Gestalt-Mensch ... 476&sr=8-1
this is a hell of an anatomic book, bones, muscles, their functions and that all in an artistic way.
i've improved a lot with it.

[Jessi]

How To Draw What You See and Drawing on The Right Side of The Brain are both excellent books that improved me as an artist. They don't really go over anatomy as much, but more or less go over harnessing the artistic ability that is in all of us. They improved my art ten fold. I would swear by them.

For blunt anatomy, if you're doing comics or anime Christopher Hearts Cutting Edge Comic Anatomy guide does a great job. It's all in american comic style, though but it actually does go over bones, muscles, tendons, etc. and explains them thoroughly.

That's about all I can recommend.

[Darkstalker90]

How To Draw What You See and Drawing on The Right Side of The Brain are both excellent books that improved me as an artist. They don't really go over anatomy as much, but more or less go over harnessing the artistic ability that is in all of us. They improved my art ten fold. I would swear by them.

For blunt anatomy, if you're doing comics or anime Christopher Hearts Cutting Edge Comic Anatomy guide does a great job. It's all in american comic style, though but it actually does go over bones, muscles, tendons, etc. and explains them thoroughly.

That's about all I can recommend.

Those sound great. Also can't go wrong with books that inspire/teach us to use our talent better.

Thanks.