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An essential visual guide for artists to the mastery and use of advanced human anatomy skills in the creation of figurative art.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Dynamic Anatomy-Historical Observations
The Many Lives of a Torso
Anatomy and Realism-Sculpture "Dissected"

Chapter 2: Aesthetic Geometries and Proportional Relationships
Stability, Utility, and Beauty
Aesthetic Geometries
The Battle of the Canons
Uses of Proportional Relationships
Proportional Relationships and Movement
Proportional Relationships and Aesthetic Geometries

Chapter 3: Landmarks and Muscular Volumes
Landmarks of the Torso
Landmarks of the Shoulder
Landmarks and Anatomy of the Arm
The Elbow Joint
Landmarks of the Hips
Landmarks of the Leg
The Knee
Landmarks of the Ankle and Foot

Chapter 4: The Uses of Landmarks and Proportional Relationships
Ways of Looking
Muscular-Skeletal Connections
Reconstructing the Skeleton

Chapter 5: Flows and Rhythms of the Figure
Flows, Rhythms, and Movement
Reading and Using the Flows
Flows of the Whole Body

Chapter 6: Movement
Origins of Movement
Dynamic Flows
Projecting Narrative
Movement and Stereometric Volumes
From Stereometric to Organic
Muscles in Action

Chapter 7: The Hands
Skeletal Structure of the Hand
Stereometric Rendering of the Hand
From Stereometric to Organic
Light on Form
Holding Objects

Chapter 8: The Face and Facial Expressions
Structure of the Head
Parts of the Face
Facial Features
Curvatures of the Face
Muscles of the Face and Facial Expressions

Chapter 9: Demonstrations and Techniques
Measuring Techniques
Structural Drawing
Tonal Drawing
Reduction Technique
Trois Crayons

Index

About the Author

Roberto Osti teaches figure drawing and human anatomy for artists at the New York Academy of Art, University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Formally trained as a medical illustrator before becoming a fine artist, Osti has contributed his work to many science and art publications. His paintings have been exhibited in galleries in Europe and the United States. He is the author of Basic Human Anatomy, an art instruction best seller and classic reference book.

Reviews

"Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael drew the human body with an understanding of its workings from the inside outside - as have thousands of artists since. Who better to teach this method than Roberto Osti, who trained as a medical illustrator before turning to fine art. . . . Dynamic Human Anatomy, a follow-up to his book Basic Human Anatomy, explains how this methodology can be used to reach beyond static depictions in order to 'convey a sense of life or express psychological character.'" - Artists Magazine