Drawing Dynamic Hands [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Burne Hogarth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1977

More than three hundred illustrations present a system for visualizing and drawing hands in virtually every conceivable position and gesture, proceeding from basic forms and structures to subtleties of attitude and action.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Burne Hogarth’s (1911–1996) remarkable career spanned over 60 years. He wore many hats in the worlds of fine art, art education, and art publishing. He is most famous for his internationally syndicated Sunday newspaper color page feature “Tarzan” (1937–1950) and for his illustrated adaptations of the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels Tarzan of the Apes and Jungle Tales of Tarzan. A co-founder of the School of Visual Arts in New York City, Hogarth remains one of the most influential figures in art education today.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications (March 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823013677
• ISBN-13: 978-0823013678
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #641,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't be put off by the illustration style., September 6, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been really struggling with learning to draw hands. The best help so far was Bridgeman's, but I was having serious problems nonetheless. However, this book by Hogarth kept coming up whenever I looked at reviews and recommendations.

I'd been avoiding the book -- I love Hogarth's illustration style, but I wondered whether it would be a serious art instruction book. Feeling a little bit guilty, I decided to look at it at a local bookstore before buying it at Amazon. I spent about five minutes reviewing some of the key concepts.

Bottom line: I made more progress on drawing hands in that one evening than I had in the previous week. I ordered the book that night. In order to qualify for super-saver shipping, I also ordered "Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery" also by Hogarth, and it was an excellent purchase as well!

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Master is Far from the Student., March 11, 2005

By 

Logan L. Masterson "the Agonyzer" (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

While I have learned much from this book, and the esteemed Mr. Hogarth's other instructional books, I do have one gripe that potential buyers should be aware of.

It seems that this fine artist does not write for beginners. His style is obviously advanced, but so are his instructions. A new artist might not be able to avoid the feeling that he or she just isn't "getting it."

Mr. Hogarth teaches through excellent sketches and explanatory paragraphs accompanying some of those. The text does not always lead from A to B. Sometimes, it leaves B, C, and D out entirely and leaps straight onward to E.

Mind you, I strongly reccomend this book. However, I suggest that new students of the drawing arts do not rely on it exclusively .

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my Top 3 Burne Hogarth books..., May 6, 2006

By 

"extreme_dig_cm" (Chicago, Il USA, Amazon.com Fan!) - See all my reviews

...Right along with his famous, best selling Dynamic Figure Drawing, and the 1990 printing *original* version Dynamic Anatomy.

While this is in my opinion an attractive, *amazingly* detailed effort, I personally find The Book of a Hundred Hands by George Bridgman to be an easier & more effective work in its entirety. Both books deal with drawing from memory- drawing hands completely without a model.

Common praises(+) & criticisms(_) here:

+ ...amazingly detailed- in pictures & anatomy.
+ ...*crystal clear*, small-to-large sized, black & white drawings.
+ ...best-ever coverage of proportions & measurements.
+ ...the most comprehensive book on this subject to date.
+ ...helps a person discover many hidden aspects of hand construction.
+ ...covers all main actions, angles & views involving foreshortening.
+ ...males, females, kids, occupations & the aging process are depicted and described.

_ ...maybe *too much information*, too overwhelming & not all of it necessary.
_ ...hands often look too overly detailed, exaggerated & stylized. Maybe best for illustrators- not fine artists.
_ ...barely any coverage of female hands (just a few pictures).
_ ...*might* inadvertently make drawing hands more complicated than it needs to be.

Commercial & comicbook artists in particular often *love* this book. It's not necessary for everyone though- definitely worth considering!