Virtual Pose: The Ultimate Visual Reference Series for Drawing the Human Figure [Hardcover]

Mario Henri Chakkour (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1999

Complete with a friendly interface and inspirational music, Virtual Pose enables artists to study and draw without the interruptions of fidgety models, limited studio time, or the need to continually move around fixed poses'

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

For artists looking for an anatomically correct resource and don't have access to a live model, this set will be invaluable. Similar in spirit to Eadweard Muybridge's 19th-century classic The Human Figure in Motion, the work by digital artist Chakkour features both male and female poses sans clothing. The brief book essentially functions as the visual table of contents for images that are on the enclosed CD-ROM. The obvious way an artist will use this resource is to select a pose, import the image into a program such as Photoshop, and then "paint" the clothes on or trace over the image to create a new anatomically correct form.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Design Books International; Bk&CD Rom edition (April 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096663831X
• ISBN-13: 978-0966638318
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 10.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,448,996 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wondful Merging of Art, Human Figure, & Technology..., July 14, 2000

By 

Michael C. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Virtual Pose: The Ultimate Visual Reference Series for Drawing the Human Figure (Hardcover)

In "Virtual Pose : The Ultimate Visual Reference Series for Drawing the Human Figure" (Book & CD-ROM), Mario H. Chakkour has brilliantly merged the concepts of fine art, the human figure, and multimedia technology into a wonderful tool for artists. Combining his artistic background, technological knowledge, and vision, Chakkour has created a developing artist's dream in this multimedia package which contains a visual library of the classically posed human form captured in the photographic images of exceptional male and female models hand-picked by Chakkour.

Within the pages of the hardback book, the artist will find the series of classical poses with several large images of the models shot from different angles around the horizontal plan which provides the artist with the opportunity to render and study the human form from various angles. However, Chakkour does not stop here; instead, he takes this multimedia package to the next level through the use of computer technology. On the CD-ROM, Chakkour combines several series of photographic images taken from fixed angle rotations around model in a multiple image overlay that allows the artist to rotate the model completely around the horizontal plane (as if the model were posing in the center of a theater in the round and the artist were able to elect to study or render the model from any front row seat around the model). In this manner the developing artist can render and study the anatomical composition and structure of the classically posed model from any vantage point around the horizontal plane. In addition, Chakkour has added a couple of rather nice finishing touches to his multimedia package including several inspirational musical scores which can be played in the background as one works as well as some of his own thoughts on the subject of art and the rendering of the human form.

Virtual Pose is certainly a helpful tool for any artist working with the human figure; however, it is particularly suited for developing artists learning to render the human figure and an invaluable teaching supplement for instructors and their students in any human figure course. I only wish something like this was available throughout the many years this reviewer studied fine art and the human figure. I cannot help but believe that this multimedia package would have made a fine companion to the classic standard among artists "Anatomy for the Artist." It is certainly my hope that this innovative multimedia package is only the first in a series. Virtual Pose is without a doubt a wonderful tool for a developing artist of any skill level who would wish to render and study the human form.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The New Standard, November 30, 1999

By 

A.Smith (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Virtual Pose: The Ultimate Visual Reference Series for Drawing the Human Figure (Hardcover)

I will try to address a couple of issues that seem to be popping up over and over. This book and CD has certainly stirred up some emotion. First, the author clearly states in his editorial review (please check above) how many poses it contains and the number of images and what not. This is an old issue which has been resolved, I think. Second, I think this book is not for everyone. And, my guess is that you will either love it or hate it, mainly because it is more than a mere reference for poses (there are plenty of books on the market that cover a whole range of the pose spectrum...) Artists refer to nudes images in reference books everyday. These books, (like the Pose File Collection, of which I own 6 books) are all grainy and do not show that much detail, let alone display the nudes in a large format. Yet, I use them all the time. Why? For the form and the anatomy. Also, whether the Pose Book collection, or others, from the sheer number of poses to the novelty of the approach, each seems to present a perspective that complements the others. Same with Virtual Pose. I don't think it should be thought of as a replacement, or a remedy...it's the first step in a whole new approach.

So, taking what exists on the market solely from the photographic quality point of view (they all fall short in that department.)...now imagine these pictures rotating around the axis...allowing you to absorb a lot of information easier...now imagine Music and tutorials...now imagine a book that is meant to inspire one to draw. Now, imagine paying less for what you would pay for one class. Yes, it has only 18 poses (each pose offers 36 views, by the way) but, its potential to inspire and teach by "showing" sure makes up for it. And this issue of Zooming...Please...not relevant or necessary to a real artist looking at the pose. I am sure it would be a wonderful gimmick. But, I am sure that would have meant that the files would have needed to be a lot larger and the computational limits of one's system pushed to its limits. The tutorials are a great way to see "how it is done". So, here is who I recommend this book to: everyone who has never experienced the magic of a life drawing class. This will not only inspire you to draw, but will encourage you to actually join a class! It's the best gift you can bestow on an aspiring artist. To those simply looking for a collection of nothing-but-poses, I truly recommend you look elsewhere. This is a lyrical approach and an homage to the art of drawing the nude.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars misleading and disappointing, November 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Virtual Pose: The Ultimate Visual Reference Series for Drawing the Human Figure (Hardcover)

I eagerly awaited a title that professed to have dozens of poses and hundreds of photographs only to find that the CD-ROM includes only 18 poses total, and does not even include all of the poses featured in the book. The resolution is low quality (especially when zooming in,) and there is no PRINT functionality. The work itself is a good idea, but one that has obviously been developed before its authors had adequate resources to produce it well. The "music" and "tutorial" sections are completely irrelevant and actually somewhat annoying. I had no interest at all in the author's personal life or his "8 minute improvised guitar piece" dedicated to someone I had never heard of. Better to wait for a high-tech agency to release a good product of this nature than to waste money on this marginally useful CD.