The Beginner's Guide: Human Anatomy—An Artist's Step-by-Step Guide to Techniques and Materials

Arts & Activities, Sept, 2003

(2003; $15.95), by James Horton. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810.

Artists have long been fascinated with the human figure. The history of art is replete with drawings, paintings and sculptures depicting human forms. But the real emphasis of this book is in developing an understanding of how the body moves and the many media and techniques for rendering the human form: chalks, charcoal, pastel, fixative, watercolors and oil paints. The book would only be suitable for high school and college-level students. Younger students might easily become discouraged in not understanding the instructions given. For example, p. 55: "... deepen the shading to show the joint between the pectoralis major (the largest chest muscle) and the anterior deltoid (shoulder) muscle. Outline the rectus abdominis, which links the ribcage to the pelvis." The author has exhibited widely in the U.K. and teaches art in colleges across the country. Doubtless the text of this book draws heavily upon these teaching experiences.--J.J.H. For information about this publication, circle No. 390 on the Reader Service Card.