Complete Life Drawing Course (Paperback)

~ Diana Constance (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Civardi and Constance take two entirely different approaches to drawing the human form. Civardi's is a detailed, classical manual, informed by his study at the Faculty of Medicine, Milan, and his teaching of sculpture and drawing. He describes each part of the skeleton and each muscle, using frontal, lateral, and dorsal projections. Academic libraries will want this unless they already own Civardi's previous trilogy, Drawing Human Anatomy, Drawing the Female Nude, and Drawing the Male Nude (LJ 3/15/96). Constance's book is a more lively and accessible volume, progressing nicely from quick-pose sketches to more ambitious interpretations of both the character and the form of the person one is drawing. Constance covers a variety of media and explores light and shadow, clothing and drapery, and varying perspectives. Her use of cropping, pastels, collage, and monotypes attest to her preference for creative expression over accuracy. The result is an outstanding book for public libraries. For an advanced book appropriate for both academic and public libraries, see Robert Beverly Hale and Terence Coyle's Anatomy Lessons from the Great Masters (LJ 7/01).
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

“Lively and accessible...progressing nicely from quick-pose sketches to more ambitious interpretations of both the character and the form of the person one is drawing...covers a variety of media and explores light and shadow, clothing and drapery....[Constance’s] use of cropping, pastels, collage, and monotypes attests to her preference for creative expressions....an outstanding book for public libraries.”—Library Journal.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (December 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806944293
• ISBN-13: 978-0806944296
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #868,803 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo!, May 7, 2002

By	Vince (Franklin, TN United States) - See all my reviews

Wonderfully done! Starts out with basic anatomy and proportions and shows how these translate in a moving figure. Large clear photos cover both male and female anatomy. The majority of the book is then dedicated to teaching you to develop your own style through various media and then critique your work. A brilliant book for both beginning and intermediate artists. Would be cheap at twice the price. A definate must have!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars concise and informative, April 6, 2003

By	amie "amie" - See all my reviews

It presents a lot of information very succintly. The book begins with a section on the human body: bones, muscles, movements and balance and progresses into 8 lessons on learning the basics of catching the nude form. It then provides 8 lessons on various ways to draw light (including a couple that have been covered in a basic design class I am taking), 8 lessons in picture making, and additional projects to try.

I have also been attending a figure drawing group, and have found the instruction contained herein is invaluable to understanding what 'information' is needed for short poses and long poses, and all of the ways one can accurately capture the essence of the human form.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great how to book for figures and life drawing, November 28, 2001

By A Customer

I wish I'd found this book before I'd bought other, less complete and helpful ones! This book shows techniques and all media and is a bargain! I was glad I got it to review before I took a figure drawing class because it helped me to do much better.