Animal Anatomy for Artists: A visual guide to the form of mammals, reptiles, fish, and birds

Mastering animal anatomy is fundamental to creating dynamic, believable animal drawings. Whether sketching from life to capture realistic depictions or designing creatures from the imagination, an understanding of the animal form is essential. Authoritative and accessible, Animal Anatomy for Artists will equip you with the knowledge, tools, and reference material you need to take your animal drawings to the next level. Introductory chapters by artist and instructor Joe Weatherly focus on a structural approach to drawing, exploring core topics including gesture, rhythm and posing, construction, anatomy basics, proportions, and more. This is followed by the visual reference library, an expansive collection of stunning animal photography with detailed overlaid illustrations showing the skeletal structure, musculature, and contour forms of a wide variety of animals, illustrated by artist Shannon Beaumont. The library also contains numerous pose sketches, both stationary and mid-action, of each animal. Whether you are an oil painter, traditional sculptor, or digital concept artist, the informative resources within this book will help you to improve the quality and accuracy of your art. With an enlightening foreword from artist and teacher Marshall Vandruff, Animal Anatomy for Artists is a key resource for artists of any skill level who seek to capture animals realistically, or aim to exaggerate the animal form to create fantastical creatures and characters. The clear presentation and incredible details provide a keepsake resource that will enable you to create anatomically correct images for years to come.