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Art Anatomy for Beginners

In this 6-week course, renowned painter Steve Huston will provide you an introduction to human anatomy. You will study how he uses the perspective of aesthetics and mechanics of motion, to deconstruct the anatomy of a human figure. You will learn how to simplify the structures of the figure, in order to create compelling and effective drawings. Following the traditional approach of historic drafts persons like George Bridgman and Burne Hogarth, this course will provide you a concrete foundation of anatomy, tailored specifically for artists.

6 Lessons 11h 25m 42s of videos

In week four, Steve Huston will teach you a simple, constructive approach to drawing the arms and legs. You will learn the mechanical concepts of the limps, as well as how to compare the human anatomy to that of animals. Steve will teach you ways to make analogies between the upper and lower limb in order to understand and draw this area of the body with greater confidence

Common Questions

Which courses should I take before starting this one?

We recommend that you have some figure drawing experience before starting this course. Constructive Figure Drawing with Steve Huston would be a great place to start, but we also recommend Renaissance Figure Drawing with Glenn Vilppu, and the Spirit of the Pose with Karl Gnass.

Is this a good place to start if I have no experience with anatomy?

Yes! That's exactly how his course was designed. This is a great place to start learning human anatomy.

Which courses should I take after this one?

The next course we recommend to continue your study of anatomy is Human Anatomy for Artists with Rey Bustos, where you will learn more about each of the muscles and bones of the body.

Can I take this course digitally (Photoshop, Procreate)?

Like all New Masters courses, you can follow along digitally with a tablet. Though because software and digital drawing techniques change quickly, you will need to decide how to interpret the information presented in your drawing application of choice. We recommend avoiding layer, undo, automatic line straightening, or other shortcuts for this course.

Do I need to memorize anatomical terminology for this course?

No, you will be learning the mechanics and big architectural forms of the body.

Are there any assignments in this course?

This course includes downloadable assignment PDFs, that help you practice the materials taught by instructor Steve Huston. Keeping up with these assignments will maximize your learning outcomes.