Bridgman's Life Drawing

by George B. Bridgman

Book Overview

Life Drawing

is not so much a unique system of drawing the human form as it is a new way of conceptualizing it. To draw the figure, the artist must have an idea of what the figure to be drawn is doing -- he must sense the nature and condition of the action, or inaction. In this book, Mr. Bridgman, who for nearly 50 years lectured and taught at the Art Students League of New York, explains in non-technical terms and illustrations in hundreds...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486227103
• ISBN13: 9780486227108
• Release Date: June 1971
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Staple reference book for any artist

I can't recommend this book higher to anyone if I tried. These books are the gold standard for anyone who's on their human anatomy learning journey

Bridgman's Life Drawing

A great book to use as a reference material, as well as a very good tool to learn from when it comes to anatomy, figure drawing, structure of the body, movement of the figure, and drawing in general.

Never Equaled

This was the second drawing book I'd ever bought, after Buscema's "How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way" -- which is where I first stumbled across Bridgeman's name. Buscema's book, which is fine for beginners, did well to point toward Bridgeman, for further study. Bridgeman's books are a wealth of information on classical drawing, giving the student an understanding of the mechanics of the figure, necessary whether drawing from life, or imagination. Artists of all sorts can apply the principles Bridgeman teaches. Bridgeman doesn't show us pretty drawings, but instead, the underlying anatomy and basic shapes that give a good drawing it's substance and weight. I bought this book back when I was in junior high school and now am considerably older and a published artist. I still find this and other Bridgeman books continuously rewarding of further study. The only drawing books I would rate nearly as high, are those of Andrew Loomis, though personally, I think Bridgeman is better on structure, while Loomis' books cover more of the practicalities of illustration and focus more on surface drawing (though both teacher/authors are miles above others in showing the strong fundamentals of drawing) -- unfortunately very little of Loomis' teachings remain in print -- probably due to some misguided notion that they're "dated". Bridgeman escapes this by adhering to the classical and timeless. Buy the book, already.

What can I say?

Everythings been said. Get this book, copy the drawings, look back at it whenever you're having a problem.

OUTSTANDING!!!

This is an OUTSTANDING BOOK on drawing the human body. Whether you are a cartoonist, serious painter or sculpter, this is a "must have" reference. Buy it, borrow it, steal it if you must, but GET IT!

Best Drawing book ever written for ilife drawing!

Bridgeman teaches everything that a figure drawing artist needs to know in a clear, concise, logical, inside out progression. He teaches the mechanical workings of the limbs in relation to their counterparts and even details the tendons and striations as never before. He avoids teaching a particular style by focusing on the anatomical correctness of the figure and not the way to draw. I learned more from this book than from any other book. Period.