Anatomy for the Artist

Combines stunning drawings and photographs to explain human anatomy

Unlock your inner artist and learn how to draw the human body in this beautifully illustrated art book by celebrated artist and teacher Sarah Simblet.

In Anatomy for the Artist, Sarah reveals the extraordinary structure of the human body. Combining specially-commissioned photographs of models with historical and contemporary works of art and her own dynamic life drawing, she leads us inside the human body to map its skeleton, muscle groups, and body systems. Detailed line drawings superimposed over photographs reveal the links between what the body looks like and its internal construction. Six drawing classes show how to observe different parts of the body - from top to toe - and give expert guidance on how to draw them. Inspirational master classes on famous works, ranging from a Michelangelo study to a Degas painting, show how artists have depicted the human body over the centuries. Each master class includes a photograph of a model holding the same pose as in the painting, to highlight details of anatomy and show how the artist has interpreted them.

Understanding anatomy is the key to drawing the human body successfully. As well as being the perfect reference, Anatomy for the Artist will inspire you to find a model, reach for your pencil, and start drawing.

About the Author

Sarah's expertise, enthusiasm, and innovative approach to drawing give her books a vitality that appeals to a wide audience. Sarah teaches at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford, and at the Royal College of Art in London. She has studied and worked in Oxford, Cheltenham, Heidelberg, and Madrid, and was awarded her PhD by the University of Bristol.

Her drawings are in national and private collections, including the Royal Academy of Art in London and the Ashmolean in Oxford. Sarah is the author of the highly acclaimed Anatomy for the Artist and has had three solo shows of her large-scale work. She has given interviews on BBC Radio 4 and has acted as a consultant for Watchmaker and for Discovery Channel's Art-Science documentaries.

Her latest book, The Drawing Book (DK, 2005) reveals a unique blend of practical teaching, inspirational sketchbooks, and insights into a range of masterpieces.