Virtual Pose 3: The Ultimate Visual Reference Series for Drawing the Human Figure (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The next best thing to working with a live model, Virtual Pose(r) 3 provides professional and student artists with an accurate and convenient method of viewing the human form--without needing access to a live model and studio sessions.

Digital artist Mario Henri Chakkour has created a CD-ROM and companion book that features models in 70 high resolution poses, images which can be zoomed in on and rotated 360 degrees. Painters, sculptors, and other artists will welcome the opportunity to study at length each detail and subtlety of the human form, giving them a deeper understanding of shape, form, and gesture.

About the Author

Mario Henri Chakkour is an internationally established digital artist. He is the author of Painting with Computers and creator of the Virtual Pose (r) series. He is also a member of the American Institute of Architects. He lives in Washington, DC.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Hand Books Press (March 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971401047
• ISBN-13: 978-0971401044
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #55,177 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #28 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Drawing > Figure Drawing
  #50 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Reference > Study & Teaching
  #94 in	Books > Arts & Photography > History & Criticism > Themes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars About Worth The Price -- So Don't Expect Much, January 7, 2007

By	Reviewer (USA) - See all my reviews

I was hoping for a little bit more than this. I'll just sum up where I feel it is lacking:

1. No lighting variation. The lighting is the same in every pose and it's not all that neutral a choice even, it's like noon sun where a lot of the anatomy doesn't cast a shadow. I would have liked the same pose with a few differently lit versions - this would teach a LOT about the anatomy.

2. Resolution. It's the digital age and artists want material several times higher res than the public. You won't get any extra detail zooming in which is disappointing for people trying to study a subject better.

Others have complained about the censorship... I didn't notice it for awhile, but it does appear any area very near the anus or vulva visible was covered over digitally. (Penises however, are displayed without any alterations.) Maybe this was necessary to not make the product too controversial or appeal to the wrong crowd... but on the other hand when you buy reference material you expect accuracy not this sort of thing.

So I would say this is a pretty limited product overall, but you could use it as a basic pose reference for some basic poses (mostly sitting or "artistic", almost nothing that looks realistically dynamic).

Overall I would rather pay more in the future to get a much more complete, useful product.

37 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic resource! Currently the next best thing to a real model.., November 30, 2006

By	Al Snyder - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Any artist that is working apart from a private or group studio that hires models should seriously consider buying Virtual Pose 3. If you want access to models that never take breaks, never complain about long hours and are readily available 24/7, look no further. I mean where are you going to find subjects (and subjects that are proportionately pleasing to the eye, no less) to study the structure of human anatomy - in the round - at such an unbelievably low price???

If you're confused about zooming to a particular area of the body, read the instructions in the hardback book, and if that's not enough read "dramaqueen"'s review from February 20, 2005 here on Amazon. She will spell it out in detail for you. Very nicely done too, I might add.

Despite having some minor pixelation of the photos at full zoom, I can't find any fault in this resource. This whole "censorship" issue is silly in my opinion. I would rather concentrate on the form itself, instead of particular details that would be more suited to a scientific study/drawing, rather than a work of fine art.

If you're serious about studying the human form, and need a model in your traditional or digital paintbox, check out Virtual Pose 3.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good reference - but censoring spoils the fun, February 23, 2005

By	S. Gupta (Berkshire, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having bought VP2 I eagerly bought VP3 and I am not dissapointed with its crisp printing, and interesting poses.

So why give it a 4 star instead of a 5 star - well many of the pictures of women have been censored unsympathetically and frankly I really dont see why the publisher did this on selective models. Also the movies on the CD have too much compression making them much worse quality than the printed versions. The publisher should really have put them on DVD.

I'm not saying dont buy it..BUY THIS its a great reference - just let the publisher know that blurring out bits they find embarrassing is really quite inappropriate in a reference like this.. and they should grow up?