Christopher Hart Watson Guptill Nonfiction, YA? Art ****
Description
Life drawing and human anatomy are staples of every artist’s skills, but most art anatomy and life drawing books are full of minute details that have little impact on the
external appearance of the figure. Artists don’t need a doctorate in medicine to draw the human figure, but they might need one to get through those books. Hart condenses
human anatomy to those points which matter most, the bones and muscles visible to the naked eye and how they move in relation to each other. Proportions, motion, weight
distribution, perspective, and more are covered.
Review
Not a thorough anatomy book, this nevertheless is a good one. The writing is clear enough for older or brighter children to follow easily, but the information benefits
artists of all ages. Hart breaks the concepts down into easy-to-digest pieces without compromising artistic integrity or offering cheap shortcuts. The illustrations lean toward
cartoon/animation-style humans, well drawn but not photo-perfect or finely detailed. Certainly, if one wishes to continue building their skills (and what artist doesn't?),
further study is required. In the meantime, this makes a great starting point for those who want to draw humans but find most artistic anatomy books overwhelmingly complex.
Christopher Hart Watson Guptill Nonfiction, YA? Art ***+
Description
The first of the Manga Mania series, this book gives an overview of the manga phenomenon. Some basic character types are described, with tips on effective image
composition and dynamic posing. A section at the end lists many careers that utilize artistic skills, beyond the comic book or animation industry.
Review
There's a lot of information here. Even though the writing is clearly pitched at the under-21 crowd, most any artist with an interest in cartooning or manga will find
something of use here. Hart gives a nice overview of manga along with many useful illustrations and tips. The career section at the end points the readers/artists to areas
they may not think to look when considering a job, and also offers some advice for anyone who wants to break into the fields described. I still think that it's helpful to
know some basic anatomy, despite the stylized nature of many manga characters, but all in all this is a good book.
Christopher Hart Watson Guptill Nonfiction, YA? Art ****
Description
In the worlds of manga (Japanese graphic novels and comics) are an infinite variety of monsters and heroes. From medieval castles to futuristic space fortresses,
steam-powered jet packs to cybernetic armor, and young fairies to many-headed dragons, this book outlines some of the basics of imagining and realizing manga settings,
accessories, and characters for all sorts of fantastic worlds.
Review
Part of the Manga Mania series, it is not intended for beginning artists. A good knowledge of form and perspective, not to mention basic anatomy, is recommended
before attempting the characters in this book; even though the lessons are step-by-step, knowledge of art basics will definitely lead to better end results. That said, it's
a great spur for the imagination. The writing is aimed for a younger set (below 21), but any artist can get something useful out of this book. It made me want to try some
of its creatures, and if an art book makes me want to draw, I consider that a good thing.
