Art Anatomy for Beginners

In this first part Steve Huston will teach you an approach to simplifying human anatomy for more effective artwork. After a refresher on the concepts of gesture and structure, you will learn a functional and constructive approach to human anatomy that focuses on simplifying the complexity of the figure and creates an effective narrative and aesthetic result. Steve will lecture, demonstrate from a live model, and teach you how to simply break down the rib cage.

Learn how to simply and understand the mechanics of the most complex structure in the body: the shoulder girdle. From diagrams, lectures, and illustrations from a life model, you will practice and gain confidence not only recognizing the anatomy of the shoulder but also drawing or painting it.

Steve begins with a lecture on how to simplify the problem of lighting and rendering for the human body. Next you will put your knowledge to the test as you learn how to combine the shoulder girdle with the rest of the torso.

Learn a simple, constructive approach to drawing the arms and legs. You will learn mechanical concepts, comparative anatomy (comparing humans to other animals), as well as ways to make analogies between the upper and lower limb in order to understand and draw this area of the body with greater confidence.

Learn techniques for simplifying and constructing hands and feet for your drawings and paintings. These complex structures are often overwhelming and many artists resort to hiding them or copying from reference. Steve will show you how to use the concepts of construction, design, mechanics, and aesthetics to create beautiful hands and feet in your artwork.

In the sixth and final part of the course Steve will help you understand how to bring together the principles learned in the course and put your new anatomical knowledge to the test by drawing fully rendered figures. You will learn how some great masters such as Michelangelo used anatomy as well as watch a long figure drawing demonstration with Steve.