Art Models 3: Life Nude Photos for the Visual Arts (Art Models series) (No. 3) [Hardcover]

Maureen Johnson (Author), Douglas Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Art Models series | Publication Date: September 1, 2008

While no book can replace a live model, this photographic guide to the human form provides a diverse selection of figures for those who do not have access to live models. Posed in a variety of classical and modern modes, the models are set in a clear, clean environment that is void of distractions and enhances the figure. All of the high-resolution photographs were painstakingly edited and adjusted to yield all the nuances of the figures. The companion disc contains 24 photographs per pose that, in totality, comprises a full 360 degree view. Each angle of every pose can be enlarged, enabling artists to zoom in on specific body parts to discover their intricate detail or project the photos to life-like proportions. The disc also offers the flexibility of numerous viewing options—on a computer screen, printed out, projected for a group, or via a high-definition television when connected through a computer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As an instructor of painting and drawing and a model coordinator for open drawing sessions, this is also an excellent guide to share with new or experienced models in devising poses of short or long duration. Many of the models in Art Models 2 show a wonderful range of emotion, inviting further study in the face rather than merely the body. As an artist, this is a great visual aid, with large accessible photographs from which to work from the figure when an actual live model is not available. Thank you!"  —Rhiannon Mercer, MFA

"This is the best artist tool in this genre that I've seen to date. The larger size images, in full natural color, and especially the greater range of models (gender, age, and body types) all make this very close to the actual drawing lab experience."  —Robert Rhoades, professor of fine arts, College of the Redwoods

"The many poses allows one to choose any combination of limbs, torsos, heads, hands, and feet, to create any pose not presented in the book or CD. I especially appreciate the ethnic diversity of the chosen models that allows greater versatility in developing skin tones both in light and shade. A superb addition to any artist's library."  —Dr. David Haack, OFM, assistant professor of visual arts, St. Bonaventure University

--This text refers to the CD-ROM edition.

About the Author

Maureen Johnson is an art director and marketing analyst. Douglas Johnson is a photographer and engineer. They live in Salem, New Hampshire.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Live Model Books (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976457393
• ISBN-13: 978-0976457398
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing > Figure Drawing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern Art Reference Classics!, October 16, 2008

By 

B. Blakeslee (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Art Models 3: Life Nude Photos for the Visual Arts (Art Models series) (No. 3) (Hardcover)

This fantastic series of books continues!

The models (both male and female) strike elegant poses in the classical tradition. The model choices reflect diverse ages, ethnicity, and somatypes. Models are posed on a revolving platform, and the the interactive CD allows the user to position the model in the precise the angle desired. The user may also close in or push back to any desired vantage point.

Clearly a labor of love, the Art Models books proudly continue in modern spirit the pioneering work of photographer Eadweard Muybridge. Artists devoted to drawing the human form will find this invaluable and inspiring series of books (and particularly the companion CDs) modern "must-have "photo reference classics!

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding reference work for art students and art departments, November 18, 2008

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Art Models 3: Life Nude Photos for the Visual Arts (Art Models series) (No. 3) (Hardcover)

Several years ago, when I was teaching at the college level, my office was near the studios used by the art department. They occasionally hired nude models to pose for one of the classes and you always knew it when they put signs on the door. At one time I was approached (most likely in jest) about the possibility of being a model, so I learned that they paid over $10/hour for the models. I also knew some art majors and they made it clear that the opportunity to draw just one male and one female nude was not nearly enough practice. Furthermore, they often felt that they did not have enough time to complete their drawings while the model was in studio. One day I had a conversation with a member of the art department about this and she told me that the department simply could not afford to pay for any more model time.
This book would easily solve all of those problems; the authors have created a collection of photos of a wide variety of male and female models in many different poses. Nearly all are nude, but the book is only a small portion of the package. There is a companion CD containing the same images, but the big advantage to the CD is that each pose is presented in multiple images, each from a different angle. Using the Windows image viewer, you can zoom in or out and click to rotate the images. With 24 images per pose, this means that each change rotates the model 360/24 = 15 degrees.
Success in art, like in nearly every other human endeavor is based on practice, practice and more practice. With this book and all of the images available on the CD, any art student will never be without a model. The images are of superb quality, so good that you can even determine how recently the female models shaved their body hair. It is also an excellent book for art departments. In the era of tight budgets and the clear need for more variety in the subjects, using it can create the necessary variety without severely damaging the department budget.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best model reference - hands down, January 7, 2009

By 

S. Chai (elmira, ny United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Art Models 3: Life Nude Photos for the Visual Arts (Art Models series) (No. 3) (Hardcover)

Drawing the figure well takes time, patience, and models. The weak link in the chain is access to life models. Even when you have access it's usually in a group, thus the group has to agree on a pose, then you can/cannot get the view you want or need. That said, there's nothing like drawing from a live model. BUT the cd-rom enclosed in this book comes darn close. I pop it in my blu-ray and draw from the flat screen. The difference is there are no distractions in the background and the model on the cd incrementally gives a different angle with each jpg. Wonderful. The light doesn't change either. Can't wait till they come out with more books and yes, I've more than one. My only critiscism is the lighting is a bit flat. I'd like more darks.

This series' competitor is "Virtual Pose". For me the "Art Models" series wins hands down. In "Virtual Pose" the photos are opened using Quicktime or a media player. Be advised you can't (or I can't) play it on the blu-ray. I suppose "Virtual" is fine if you draw from the computer screen. For me I like the versatility of jpegs. With "Art Model" i can draw from the computer, flat screen TV or print it out. If you're looking for a great reference buy this series. (In all fairness with "Virtual" you can rotate the model with a pointer instead of paging to a different jpeg. Still like having the jpegs.)