Customer Reviews

Spirit of the Pose

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It took me two years to get around to buying this book because I was hoping to get a deal on a used copy. But I've come to see that there aren't any used copies, probably because no one wants to part with theirs. And now that I've broke down and bought a copy I can see why.

The beauty of the drawings should go without saying. Glen Keene's forward properly praises Gnass as an inspiring guide for the rest of us who are likely to get spun around and lost in drawing the human figure.

Text in this book is short and sparse, but offers an insightful angle to pursuing art. The one saying that stands out in my mind is that there's no one out there keeping the secrets of drawing from you. I'm not sure why I find that comforting.

I'm definitely not a big advocate of spending 45 bucks on a book. But if you spend it on Spirit of the Pose, I doubt you'll regret it.

A must for anyone interested in learing to draw people! Karl Gnass is a skilled draftsman who has complete mastery of drawing the human body. He has been a key figure in the Hollywood animation industry for decades--as an animator, storyboard artist and script writer--and knows how to capture the movement--or inner spirit--of any pose. The book is essentially a collection of his drawings. The minimal text is inspirational, rather than instructive. I would have given 5 stars if there was more, and more effective, explanations of his technique. But you can learn alot from studying how he analyzed and rendered the body.

Behind the scenes, artisans help build the illusion of Hollywood. And behind these people are the unsung heroes, the teachers that train the artists that work in the Hollywood community. Karl Gnass is one of those great teachers. Spirit of the Pose allows us a glimpse into the inner thought process of a brilliant draftsman. His confident line and thorough mastery of human anatomy speak volumes in a book that lets the drawings speak for themselves. A must for any artist seeking the classical training that is so absent in our art schools today and a book to proudly share shelf space with the sketchbooks from the other great masters.

Spirit of the Pose is a must have for any person interested in drawing, especially the figure. Karl Gnass has put out an amazing new book on figure dynamics that reveal the highest level of skill and draftsmanship needed to portray the human form. The book is honeycombed with lyrical drawings done quickly that show grace and fluidity as well as sculptural powerhouse drawings that reveal weight, form and function. Action, motion, costumed figure, form analysis, and poetic artistry are the spirit of this book. Students and professionals can learn much about drawing from the images in Spirit of the Pose as well as the small paragraphs of wisdom and advice that compliment and support them. Karl Gnass is a modern day master and this book is the proof. I look forward to any future books or artwork from him

More than an artbook, SPIRIT OF THE POSE is an amazing collection that deserves a place on the shelf.

My big surprise was the nice size of the book. I like to see all of the details. There are very few words in this book but that is not important as the drawings speak for themselves. What he does write helps you to think about your art though. Very beautiful gesture drawings and they go well with my Hienrich Kley books.

I also enjoyed the little quirky birds. Oh the price may be steep for some, it was for me, and I receive it as a gift. But it is worth the price. Many page after page of quality figures, both male and female. Enjoy

This book is a unique combination of brilliantly dynamic figure sketches and thought provoking-philosophy. I love the little bird guys that appear at odd moments throughtout!
This book has a poetry to it that will make it a classic.

This book is absolutely beautiful. I bought if as a gift for my husband, but I find myself drawn to it each time I pass it by on our coffee table. I sit down and start to flip through the pages and find myself completely mesmerized. The text is also a lovely adjunct. This book is a visual meditation!

Karl Gnass's, "Spirit of the Pose", is pure pleasure. This book speaks to Karl's passion for drawing and encouragement for others to do so. My copy of "Spirit of the Pose",has not touched my bookshelf, but travels with me and my art bag for constant reminding of where I'd like to be, and how to get there.

I'm a student of Karl's, so I may be biased, but it was through this book that I discovered Karl and decided to seek his teaching. The book is full of expert, dynamic, energetic, and fun figure drawings, peppered throughout with little gems of wisdom. I'd absolutely recommend it for anyone, but especially fellow artists looking for clues and inspiration to help them along their path.