Opinions on Bridgman

[Rollo the Cat]

Do people still consider Bridgman's books worth while? In all these years has anyone ever done something better? I am talking about both the print quality and the material itself. Any suggestions?

Thnaks

[lovin art]

Yep his stuff is fine these also alot more to consider in the way other artist to draw inspiration from at school I'm hearing loomis and fOr anatomy Grays this one is based on medical but am told it's the best for learning anatomy theres also another great figure and portrait artist I have his book back home but can't think on his name ATM sorry! You can try doing a search that mite help there's a great thread in here about this topic not so long ago

[mnsrc]

Like alot of us here, I have many anatomy books, but the most helpful for me are Hogarth's Dynamic Anatomy (thanks to CesarV) and Vanderpoel (thanks to Nathan). I'm following Cesar's lead and doing a sketch a day from Hogarth.

[terranersa]

Bridgman is great, his simplification/construction of forms is good to learn about. Though the book that most helped me out was Vilppu drawing manual.

[kevinwueste]

I would say that George Bridgman was a mad scientist ( my name for genius artists/teachers) - and while the "Complete Guide to drawing from LIfe" is great because it is big and fairly replete, if you can find an old copy "Bridgman's Life Drawings" book - that is the goods! Mine is from 1924 and if you can get an early ed'n - it will have everything - in its right place! Not to mention the drawings are clear, there are lots of them and the text is still connected to the right drawings! What he can really show learning students and draftsmen is a method of construction via abstract shapes while also deftly illustrating the "push" and flow of the rhythms that charge figures with that extra something ( beauty, energy - perhaps).

Vanderpoel - also here I recommend an old, used copy that has all the text and drawings that have been haphazardly edited out of the new, cheap editions - "the Human Figure" is a fantastic text on how we build these shapes, how light shifts across forms and some of the technical notions of human shapes and how they interconnect. There is also useful discussion on technique - how to apply graphite or charcoal. And of course his drawings are just lovely, fantastic things!

EVERY Andrew Loomis book - regardless of the slightly dated feel of some of the drawings - is a must. I have them all - and now they are being reprinted - run ! don't walk to your nearest book seller ( also free for download - and legal - just google Loomis downloads). He is the master of the caligraphic, rhythmic stroke.. a mad scientist if there ever was one!

While I agree it has value for sure, personally I am less a fan of Gray's Anatomy - I do believe it shifts the balance toward sub-surface anatomical information just a bit too much for artists - as we are requiring almost exclusively surface and connective ( muscle, fat, bone, tissue, ligaments) information. I might consider "Anatomy for the Artist" by Jeno Barcsay and the "Anatomy school for Drawing" by Andras Szunyghy and gyorgy Feher - both excellent and complimentary for the requirments of figure drawing, painting and sculpture. Sarah Simblet's books is useful as is Valerie Winslow's "Classic Human Anatomy". ( disclaimer - she is a teacher at the school where i have spent some time studying).

Just one opinion, of questionable repute!

Kevin W