The Artist's Guide to Animal Anatomy (Dover Anatomy for Artists) [Unabridged] [Paperback]

Gottfried Bammes (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Anatomy for Artists | Publication Date: September 17, 2004

Easy-to-follow guide by a renowned artist and teacher offers a systematic approach to learning proportion, rules of repose and motion, and basic forms. Using the anatomic details of the horse and cow, the student learns how to modify these drawings to portray a dog, lion, and other animals. 71 black-and-white illustrations; 78 figures in color.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Unabridged edition (September 17, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486436403
• ISBN-13: 978-0486436401
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #440,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Should be named "Artist's Guide to Mammal Anatomy", December 10, 2007

By 

S. Jenkins "Arshes Nei" (Torrance CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Artist's Guide to Animal Anatomy (Dover Anatomy for Artists) (Paperback)

Again, I find Gottfried Bammes really good at finding ways to explore the form of figure, in this case it's animals. There are many diagrams of geometric illustrations for horses and carnivores such as the big cats. The problem with this book is that it's somewhat unbalanced. While I find what Bammes covered helpful, there are no pages on avians or reptiles. I'm not expecting Bammes to cover every animal in existence, because that is a huge undertaking. (You might have respect at how many animals Veterinarians need to understand) I do expect at least a small section on birds and reptiles at least. Besides that, I like his diagrams on comparisons between the lower mammal and human form.

Bammes is still worth the purchase overall, but I do have to admit that the book needs a title change.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Artist's Guide to Animal Anatomy, April 19, 2008

By 

Berkeley alumna "Berkeley alumna" (Richmond, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Artist's Guide to Animal Anatomy (Dover Anatomy for Artists) (Paperback)

This is the best guide for artists I have found. It is not like a scientist's manual, which is far too detailed to get the visual sense of an animal. And it is not like so many artist's manuals, which are far too superficial. Instead it shows several levels of detail, from the skeleton to muscle on up to the outside appearaance. It also shows how a specific animal moves, which alone reveals so much about its anatomy. And it shows some lovely brush and other drawings for inspiration and perusal.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful training and reference, August 27, 2006

By 

J. Kalkhof (Culver City, Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Artist's Guide to Animal Anatomy (Dover Anatomy for Artists) (Paperback)

I was quite pleased with this book. I found that Bammes can be a difficult read, but the illustrations are well worth the investment for the artist studying animal anatomy. He presents a systematic approach of understanding the bones, muscles and surface planes of the torso, front legs, rear legs and head of some iconic animals. Animal anatomy understanding wouldn't be complete without the gestural freedom of Hultgren as well. I recommend Hultrgren for your right brain and Bammes for your left brain.