Customer Reviews

The Female Nude I: A Pose Book For Artists

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

All of the photos are black and white. Several are out of focus or suffer some motion blurring where either the model or photographer moved. Edges are poorly defined, the model often fades into the background on the edges. Detail is lacking, for example, it is impossible to distinguish the iris from the pupil in the eye. The lighting can sometimes be poor- throwing important features into deep shadow.

There's only one model. And, while she is a good choice for a representative of the female form, the photography and printing do not do her justice. Generally, all you get are basic shapes and outlines- made me think of stick figures or those basic shapes people sketch before adding details to a figure. An exception to this is the small handful of photos toward the end with close-ups of face and shoulder detail. Those are quite nice but there are not enough.

On the positive side the book has many different poses, so it has a good variety of poses.

Alternative:
Art Models Life Nudes- definitely the best model book I've seen. Search for 0976457334. Multiple models, color printing, better lighting and photography and a disk with all the photos. Each pose is shot from multiple angles. The photos on disk are big and clear and you can print any one you want as big as you want.

As a costume designer it is often difficult to find pose books that have "normal" poses that are not a photo of a body somehow artistically contorted into a pretzel or unrecognizeably foreshortened. This book has some very useful references for me and for that reason I like it. I do have to say, however, some of the poses seem right out of a 1950s pinup magazine--and the stripper shoes and stripper pole shots are a little over the top. Still useful.

I kept running into artists at the San Diego Comic Book Convention who had bought "THE FEMALE NUDE I" pose book from the publisher's representative at the gathering. Everyone was talking about it! So I immediately went to the Associates In Art table and sought out the book to see why. This is the best book I've found for drawing the female form. It's obviously designed by a professional who knows how to tranfer the art of modeling to the printed page. It uses LARGE photos (full page) of carefully crafted poses that are staged beautifully against a black background. This is a "keeper" for those needing a reference book on the female form and who are disappointed in most of the "dull" pose books on the market.

This is also a perfect gift for those artist friends who are so hard to buy for. You'll be remembered for giving this item because they'll use it for years to come. I know because the artist friends that I gave it to are asking me where to get it to give out to their friends.

If you really want to learn to draw... buy this book. Don't hesitate. This is the best pose book I have ever seen! Carefully designed by an artist for artists. Each pose is a full page. It's in black and white, so you can really work out your values / tones without getting distracted by color. The model is perfection itself, not a stick figure but curvy, streamlined with amazing muscle tone. Loads of varied poses and so well arranged. She poses barefoot and in heels. In heels she strikes a totally different attitude, you don't see this in other books. No dull expressionless faces, she's alive from head to toe. Having a great model is half way to a great drawing.
I drew all summer from this book and made rapid progress. It is so easy to read what her skeletal structure and muscles are doing. The poses are rhythmical and lyrical, a pleasure to draw. I even did a large oil painting using page 68. You can easily use color since the highlights and crestlights are so well described in the poses and color is secondary to values.
I can't wait for the male pose book to come out.
More books please!!!!

Master artist Mark Westermoe has created the best pose book I've ever used. A stunning model beautifully photographed with special attention paid to lighting the form -- a vital element that all of the other pose books I've purchased have overlooked. A "must-have" tool for any artist. I love it!

This book has been an excellent resource book for me as a professional artist. The poses, the lighting and the mood, make this book stand out from all the others on the market.
This book was professionally executed and designed.

As a working artist I have dozens of reference books and shelves of materials relating to the human form and anatomy. The Female Nude I, published by Associates In Art is far and away the best photographic pose book of the female nude I have ever encountered. This sounds like praise and it is. The model is exquisite, perfectly proportioned and posed. The background is black so there is no conflicting light on the figure other than what is intended for the eye of the artist. The model is lit in a variety of classic angles. This book is a must for anyone serious about the study of the human figure. A great tool for Professionals, Students or Amateurs. I highly recommend it.

Of all the pose books I've seen and used, this is by far the best. the model, the poses, the staging and lighting is all inspiring and superb. I heartily recommend it for artists at any level of proficiency.

i took my copy to Kinkos and had a spiral-wire binding put on it for about 2 bucks...makes it easier to work from.

The overall quality of the book is awesome. The model is top-notch. Yiu will find that most of the pose books have rather less than shapely models (cough-Pose File-cough) but Hanna has an awesome figure and great definitions in muscles. One small problem is with the quality of the printing, still is much better than other posebooks. There's also a plan for Male Nude pose book, too.

I am currently working on two large paintings based on poses from this book. The model is beautifully lit and perfect for anyone who wants to paint the figure and does not have a model available to them. Also, great for cartoonists and graphic novel artists.