The Human Figure :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

great book

2008-03-31
if you're an artist or just someone who wants to learn how to draw.. this is a great book to have

Recommended by my drawing instructor.

2007-11-01
This book does require some patience but it can also be worked with by just copying the drawings.( although I DO read it in between raising children and keeping up with art school homework) I really learned a lot by doing extra credit assignments given by my figure drawing instructor, that involve copying plates from this book.

Great instruction

2007-10-11
Great illustration. It can sometimes be very hard to read, but I've learned a lot of anatomy from it. I have a lot of anatomy books and this is by far the best for drawing. It gave it 4 out of 5 stars just based on the verbal content.

Good for beginner to lear drawing human figure

2007-09-23
It is simple and easy to read book to help artist to have a general understand of the human body. There are good sample drawings with the text.

Not for the Beginning Artist

2007-08-07
Vanderpoel's "The Human Figure" seems to be considered a touchstone text in the world of figure drawing - indeed, several other books I use reference this one. From the illustrations in this book, there is little doubt that Vanderpoel was a tremendous talent and had much to teach us about how to render the figure. Unfortunately, I very much wish he hadn't written this book in this particular format. This was among the very first books I received when I began drawing and, while the few illustrations within serve as excellent examples to learn from obliquely, this book is long on written explanation and short on the kind of instruction one comes to expect from a drawing book - step-by-step insight accompanied by a good number of illustrations; drawing is, after all, a visual exercise. Now, for those of us who have had a little more experience under our belts, Vanderpoel may be a good text to return to. However, for those just starting out in drawing, someone the likes of Burne Hogarth or Bidgeman is better suited (their books are highly recommended).

Human figure- Old School

2007-06-08

Unrivalled teacher. Penetrating comments, suggestions on what to look for, with more than 430 drawings. Basic.

One of the "Standard Texts" for master artists

2007-04-26
This book is still "standard issue " for masters like Nelson Shanks - and still in the store at the Art Students League in New York. Why? because its one of the best resources out there for people who want to become master artists - Books like "drawing on the right side of the brain' are great for people who want to learn how to draw. But becoming a master is something different (I am not belittling Drawing on the right side of the brain -its a great book) some people find its hard to believe that a cheap edition (and yes I wish the reproductions of the drawings were better) can provide as much 'knowledge' as a slick, more expensive book - its a longer harder path and more challenging - but follow the principles in this book , and copy the drawings (particularly on the head) and you'll be on your path to becoming a master drawer.

How do we rate something written in another time.

2007-02-02
I am not sure how folks can rate something from another era..who is to know what was in this person's mind at the of time writing. I found the book very interesting. I'm not an accomplished artist but I found it useful. And someone thought enough of this man's art to devote an art gallery where his works are collected and displayed (outside of Chicago.) He taught art and made it his lifes work. He was a very accomplished artist. And he made a living from his art. How many can say that? Maybe what we should say instead is that this book does or doesn't suit us at the moment. Since it still is sought after long after Mr. Vanderpoel's death I would have to say it has it's merits. After seeing paintings of Mr. Vanderpoel's, I think he was a pretty good artist and certainly did what he was driven to do and ranks among the better American artists. Being a member of the Vanderpoel family makes me very proud.

The Human Figure

2007-01-09
It is a thorough, detailed study of all elements of the human figure for the artist.

Not an Instructional Book

2006-12-24
This book is not a step by step instruction book. Instead I think it is a great book to excite your imagination as to the function of the human mechanism. The superb illustrations give you a feel for the human form. I don't think they are detailed enough to use as reference instead they only support what is written in the book. This book helped me gain a better understanding of the human form. I recommend it for that purpose alone and not as an instructional book.