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Book Review: Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

November 8, 2009 by Parka

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

The approach covered is primarily concerned with the use of line, development of form, and the simplified design of anatomy. It doesn't go into contour drawing, shading and expression.

The many illustrated examples are aimed at helping students develop a feel for the form and volume of figures they draw. To that aspect, I think it does a very good job.

The use of simple geometric shapes as drawing guides are simple to understand. Not only that, Michael Hampton also builds onto to those simplified mannequins with lots of clearly illustrated muscles. The muscle groups are visualised very distinctly in the examples. They are colour-coded to bring attention those that affect form when the body is in different positions.

I like the part on finding landmarks — bones that are near the skin. Colour-coded and shown very clearly, with rotating views from front to back.

The book does have head drawing but the focus is on the form rather than the details of the features, although the examples do show the details. It still covers enough for for anyone to draw a decent head.

One thing that's missing is the mention of figure proportions, like how many heads tall a body, length of an arm, etc. That I think will complete the book. There's nothing on bones and you won't learn how muscle works, but this isn't an anatomy reference book. That said, having an anatomy reference book to go along will be extremely helpful.

This is a useful book for artists learning figure drawing, creating and posing figures. Recommend for beginner and intermediate artists.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention
Above's the cover for the 2nd edition.

Visit the link beside to read more reviews on Amazon.

This book is available on Amazon.com

Asia readers can find the book at Basheer Graphic Books. Check with Basheer on Facebook or email them (enquiry @ basheergraphic.com) for stock information.

Comments

This book looks so freaking

Yash Gupta (not verified)
November 8, 2009,
42 weeks 5 days ago
Comment id: 886

This book looks so freaking amazing! I am definitely getting it!

4.5/5 smh..... this should

Anonymous (not verified)
November 8, 2009,
42 weeks 4 days ago
Comment id: 890

4.5/5 smh..... this should have gotten 5

Just my preference. Certainly

Parka
November 8, 2009,
42 weeks 4 days ago
Comment id: 891

Just my preference. Certainly a 5 for most people.

How good is this book to

Isoo (not verified)
November 10, 2009,
42 weeks 3 days ago
Comment id: 901

How good is this book to beginners?

@Isoo It's great for

Parka
November 10, 2009,
42 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 903

@Isoo
It's great for beginners.

Not unexpectedly, the link to

Vainamoinen (not verified)
November 10, 2009,
42 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 910

Not unexpectedly, the link to the German amazon-page doesn't work. Not a chance to order this from amazon.de! :-(

@Vainamoinen Sorry about the

Parka
November 10, 2009,
42 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 911

@Vainamoinen
Sorry about the link. The book's currently only sold on Amazon US at the moment, unless you choose international shipping.

This book looks really good

Zaer (not verified)
November 25, 2009,
40 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 953

This book looks really good but I haven't seen it at any local book stores in SG and it's really pricey on Amazon compared to the other books. Thanks for posting though, something to keep in mind!

You know if published in

Homy (not verified)
November 26, 2009,
40 weeks 7 hours ago
Comment id: 962

You know if published in Europe. I'm from Spain and would love to get this book.
Thank you!

@Homy As far as I know,

Parka
November 26, 2009,
40 weeks 5 hours ago
Comment id: 965

@Homy
As far as I know, currently it's not sold in other countries other than US. Amazon US has international shipping — that's how I got mine.

Thank you very much for the

Homy (not verified)
November 27, 2009,
39 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 972

Thank you very much for the quick response. I could say the cost of shipping and the steps to follow, I have never purchased from Amazon.
Thank you

Looks good, but I don't

Son Of The King (not verified)
January 2, 2010,
34 weeks 5 days ago
Comment id: 1186

Looks good, but I don't really know, the sucky part is that it is so much!

I FINALLY managed to get a

Vainamoinen (not verified)
January 19, 2010,
32 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 1278

I FINALLY managed to get a copy of this. Not easy from Germany!

I'd say your verdict of 4.5 stars is accurate, from first glance. Hampton has put together quite an impressive method of building the figure. He takes a lot from Bammes' principles, and mostly, he succeeds in simplifying them enormously. The treatment of the leg is a bit neglected, tough, and sometimes, his mode of joining muscle to bone just doesn't feel right (external oblique to thorax, for example). That's the problem with simplification, I guess.

I can't wait to find the time to experiment with his suggestions, nonetheless!

any chance you could tell me

Anonymous (not verified)
February 23, 2010,
27 weeks 3 days ago
Comment id: 1410

any chance you could tell me how you got a hold of a copy here in germany?

@Anonymous Amazon US does

Parka
February 23, 2010,
27 weeks 2 days ago
Comment id: 1411

@Anonymous
Amazon US does ship this book overseas. The shipping charges should be around US$10.

I know there's really no

Daniel (not verified)
March 6, 2010,
25 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 1526

I know there's really no chance of it, but I was wondering if this book is going to get re-stocked. Was going to make a purchase two weeks ago, but had this funny feeling that the amazon stock weren't up to date.

Thanks.

@Daniel You can try

Parka
March 6, 2010,
25 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 1527

@Daniel
You can try contacting the author Michael Hampton at figuredrawing.info or see if there are stocks on his website.

This book is back in stock

Parka
July 9, 2010,
7 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 2432

This book is back in stock with a 2nd edition printing. The cover (shown below) is different and some drawings were replaced with new ones.

It's stocked by Amazon, and in Asia, Basheer Graphic Books. Links above.

HI, Where can i buy this book

Anonymous (not verified)
July 10, 2010,
7 weeks 6 days ago
Comment id: 2434

HI,
Where can i buy this book using paypal accout?

@Anonymous Labyrinth (Canada)

Parka
July 10, 2010,
7 weeks 5 days ago
Comment id: 2435

@Anonymous
Labyrinth (Canada) and Basheer Graphic Books (Asia) accepts Paypal.

Hi, Is this book in stock

Anonymous (not verified)
July 22, 2010,
6 weeks 1 day ago
Comment id: 2509

Hi,
Is this book in stock with a 1st edition or 2nd edition on Amazon?

Hi, is it the book on

Eli (not verified)
August 20, 2010,
1 week 6 days ago
Comment id: 2659

Hi, is it the book on Amazon.com the 1st or the 2nd edition??

@Eli I would guess it's the

Parka
August 20, 2010,
1 week 6 days ago
Comment id: 2660

@Eli
I would guess it's the 2nd edition since it was out of stock before.

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