FORCE: Drawing Human Anatomy (Force Drawing Series)

This book is fantastic. Recently I went through Aaron Blaise's Anatomy video course and I have to say that I've gotten far more from this book. I looked this book up today to find recommendations based on it and I found a scathing review that I had to stand up and disagree with. First, this book will teach where important muscles and bones are located and why they are there; very key emphasis on why. Mattesi goes at length to illustrates the human mechanism as an intricate yet flowing form. If you want to improve your ability to draw the human form with movement and life, this book will help you immensely. The negative review I read mostly complained about lack of depth/detail, and of Mattesi failing to stuff every page to the margin. The second complaint was of frequent pixelated images. I disagree with these criticisms. Mattesi has over three hundred pages of illustrations that break down each group of muscles, who through text/image explains the function of each muscle group in their relation to the rest of the muscles and skeleton. I prefer Mattesi's focus and how adamant he is to not clutter every page. Each page is economic and focused, in describing one function at a time. This book is far easier to understand than others that try to cram every page with as much information as possible. Pixelated images are there but they are few, far fewer than the other reviewer claimed. I've provided two pictures showing the first two pixelated images I found (on pages 56 and 114). They are hardly “painful to look at.” My favorite thing about this book is how Mattesi, an industry expert and master, spends the first 56 pages explaining his views on shape and functionality. How to apply basic art fundamentals to the illustration of compelling anatomy. It was the perfect refresher before entering the much meatier portion of the book that goes into greater detail on much smaller portions of anatomy. The book is printed on matte paper that’s really easy to make notes on.

First of all I will try to review the book. The author (i have the luck to have met him) is an awesome artist and very sensitive person who shares the art form and energy "force" if I may to explore it in a way that combines the guts and the brain... it hurts at first of course but once rhythm kicks in it becomes addicting. I'll start by thanking Mr. Mattesi. Its been a little over 2 weeks since i got this book. Ive flipped through it and and started it. taking my time and doing the exercises. I"m almost 3 weeks in and this book is starting to sit in. i don't think its the book but me. Ok back to the review. The book feels good!!!1 I mean the cover is smooth and grainy enough to create a sensitive experience by just holding the book. I really like it.The inside of the book (Ive only experienced about 30% of it) is pure GOLD. It has really changed the way i look at things. This book pushes me to explore and learn anatomy in a way that's actually fun! As i am going through this book, Im convinced that ill keep this book in my backpack for at least a year as a guide to explore my seeing. I really recommend this book for any artist that is concern with the vitality and energy of the "Force" that is not visible but impossible to ignore. Once again, thank you Mike, I will make sure i chew this book.

Before I talk about the content of the book. As of this time, Feb 2017, the Kindle version is in need of updates. For example, you cannot make the font bigger, and it is too tiny to read. There are some pages missing also. The book does not seem finished. I returned and purchased the paper version. I did get to read a little from the Kindle, and I did some of the exercises because I love Force books and still wanted to try it out. This is the book I have been waiting for on anatomy. I have a lot of the classic figure drawing books and the Figure Drawing: Design and Invention, but I wanted something that really broke down the muscles of the figure and explained all the details. I love the way the book is organized. Each chapter talks about a specific part of the body and that chapter and body part is color coded. Isolating the parts through color codes is great because I could also see how the muscle changed when moved because I could see the new shape with the color. For example, as you lower your arms to your side, your chest muscle is going to take on one shape. When the arm is raised above the head the chest takes on a new shape, which means other parts of the body are exposed that were before and sometimes it's hard to tell if those parts are still part of the chest or something else. Every bone and muscle is broken down and is easy to study. Of course it shows the flow and force which always give such a great sense of movement. It's a reference you need to have in your collection. I have some great courses like Proko's anatomy, Villpu, and the great books, but nothing has broken anatomy down like this book.

I own about 40 different books on Comic book style art which is all stylized someone recommended Hogarth's book instead of this book Well Burn Hogarth also faked his drawing skills his stuff looks good but it's not exact. Sure he taught at the School of Visual Arts for decades and drew Tarzan. This book brings it all together it might be really loose but that is what Art is if you want realism just look at another person =) This isn't a how to draw book as well if you can't draw this book won't help you but it can help move the pencil in ways with drawing you can omit stuff or include stuff in anatomy to make it more realistic or individual. Mike uses Hinges Bones and tendons and muscle groups that are color coded throughout the book.

If you're like me and you struggled to understand the fundamentals of drawing poses, this book is an excellent tool. The entire book series breaks down for the reader how curves, shapes, and muscles all flow to direct your eye through an image pose. Thorough anatomy is covered as well as shot composition giving you excellent reference for future work as well. Read this book and draw every page and you will be a better artist at the end than you were at the start. Top Recommendation.

The Force Series is one of my favorites and I bought this as soon as it was available. This book is exactly what I was looking for. I am an 2D illustrator and 3D character artist and it's a challenge sculpting muscular anatomy accurately while not losing gesture. I immediately applied the principles found in this book to my 3D sculpts and I am very happy with the results. Honestly, if you are already a fan of the Force series, you know you need this book!

Highly recommended book by a number of major artists. Will take some time to read and learn all of the key components. Am looking forward to really learning this material!

This is the best anatomy I've ever used for reference. My drawings are so much better now. If I'm having trouble on a body part I just look it up in this book and then I NAIL it. It's easy to find whatever you need. Definitely worth the money.

Excellent book for learning Human Anatomy for animation, illustration, comic or any other art.

Attention! Il est livré en noir et blanc. Rendu deux fois en demandant la version couler. Le contenu est top, pas faute de l’auteur…mais le code couleur est essentiel pour étudier depuis ce livre.

Confusing word play in places. construction of sentences comes off as convoluted and pretentious. I would say it is worth a rent at your library if you find it rather than a buy because there are nuggets of wisdom in Drawing Human Anatomy. Pros: Goes through every funtion of muscles How drawing is more about rythem then structure. The artist has a very unique way of visualising anatomy the first couple of chapters are really good. Cons: The descriptions of his thought processes are loaded with semantics. You'll be thinking "Well, he should've just said this" instead of " to observe with this level of clarity requires understanding the abstract of the geometry and owning a high clarity of sight" -actual quote from the book. what he draws and how he describes FORCE is confusing. Directional force and additional force can get easily confusing. I'm not trying to scare you off. I want to be realistic and fair. Art books are getting pricy and you dont want to be left a stray. Buy it if you have enjoyed any previous FORCE books. If not, there are better books to find

Muy bueno

Wonderful book! Everything in this book explained simply and crearly. I absolutely love it ❤️