Animal Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form Hardcover – Illustrated, 11 Mar. 2004

good descriptions and anatomical detailsalso in most cases gives gives the finished body outline so great for making models

Most affordable price online

In beautiful depth of detail for those who need help sometimes with proportions like me.

Great Book!!! Better than I expected.

Good book!

good

This is a truly first rate book for serious artists wishing to gain insight into the anatomical structure of animals, but who don't wish to skim through pages of unecessary text.Goldfinger has complied a massive 256 pages of informative and detailed drawings and photographs that are not only useful but amazing to look at. Text is kept to a minimum, and his written information is fascinating and insightful.He has aimed the book at both the sculptor and figuritive painter/drawer making it a valuable resource for all artists.He begins by explaining in easy to understand terms how anatomical structure is compiled; how cartilage works, why muscles sit where they do etc.Throughout each animal group (of which he covers many) he describes some of the behavioural habits of creatures and how these impact on the animals appearance - the teeth of rodents for example.You cannot turn a page without finding either a detailed drawing of a skeleton, musculature, silhouttes,black and white photography or even vascular construction. In fact the only minus is the black and white photography which would have added a new dimension had it been in colour.It cleverly compares similar animals to one another thus highlighting their differences. The four silhouettes of the Lowland Gorilla, Chimp, Orang Utan and Gibbon are incredible.Animals covered are too numerous to mention here but they include a thorough analysis of the horse, dog, cat (domestic and big), primate and then the dometic and wild hoofed species. He includes rodents, elephants, giraffes, ox, seals, sea lions and a fabulous insight into birds and their wing construction.I am smitten with this book and would recommend it to everyone seeking a highly detailed insight into these species.

I was a little disappointed with this book, I did check the few photos of the inside pages that were available and made a decision on this and the reviews, a lot of the pictures are of horses. The main animal I'm interested in the Hare only had one single page of a black silhouette, and the rabbit was only on two pages and then a silhouette. The book and reviews suggested it was a fantastic resource for a sculptor but I find it very limiting in views and angles especially front on to the animals (which is very important when you are sculpting an animal and wish to see the muscles from the front angle.) Unfortunately it was very expensive and i regret the purchase as it has limited use to me, perhaps it was my fault and I should have researched the book even more than I did.