Anatomy Update and a Possible Trip to Body Worlds

I have currently been working on the muscular system for my anatomy study. I wouldn’t exactly call it an “in-depth” study because I can really only spend 15 minutes at a time while on break at work.

I’ve enjoyed working with the muscles more than bones. There are so many bones requiring small or narrow shapes, and I could sit there for hours figuring them all out. In that case, only having 15 minutes is probably a good thing. It forced me to really focus and analyze quickly.

Drawing the muscles has been less of a chore, and it’s been interesting to see what actually makes all the bumps and creases that I observe while drawing the surface. I can now see the muscles as shapes that fit together like a puzzle. And, in doing this, drawing the figure is less daunting – all those peaks and valleys are starting to make sense.

I shared bones of the skeleton (frontal), hand, and foot before. So, here’s a rear view (although I made the pelvis to big and I haven’t yet adjusted it). Also, here are the muscle studies I’ve done so far (frontal views).

Since we’re on the subject, there’s a human body exhibit that just opened at the Los Angeles Science Center called Body Worlds. I guess it’s been somewhat controversial, although I don’t know those details. It consists of actual plasticized human bodies, showing the different systems. My son’s Science Co-Op is will be studying the human body for the rest of the year, and we’re trying to decide if it’s worth it to take the trip (about 2 ½ hours away – gas prices currently about $3.85/gallon here for the “cheap” stuff).

I’d love to take my sketchbook, but it’s hard to sit and draw when I also have to monitor my younger kids. Maybe I could leave the youngest at home – or take daddy along. Anyway, has anyone seen this exhibit? It’s been touring worldwide.

Dem Bones

My first figure drawing class is probably the only other class that, had I been the teacher, I would have handled a little differently. My main criticism is that we never did any anatomy studies – one would think that would be standard. I know that other instructors did require anatomy studies, and I took those instructors later in my education. But, I guess by that time they assumed we had all done it.

I do remember my instructor, a visiting artist from England, came into class one day after her review. She ranted that she had been criticized for not teaching “certain things” (not named) that she was never told she was supposed to teach. Fair enough – a lack of communication.

Of course, there was no one tying my hands behind my back, keeping me from doing it myself. But, as I mentioned in the previous post, I didn’t exactly have the spare time or the drive to pursue more projects beyond what I already had to do.

Anyway, that was then and this is now. So, for the last couple of break times at work, instead of drawing from an animal field guide, I grabbed an anatomy book off the shelf. I started with the basics – overall skeleton, hands, and feet. I only get 15 minutes to work on this stuff, so it’s a little rough. But, it does add to my understanding – in particular, the way the bones of the lower arm are turned when it’s in a relaxed position (shown in the arm on our right). The other thing I noticed was how long the bones of the pinky are. One often thinks of the pinky as the smallest digit. But, when you look at the bones that make up each finger (sans all flesh), it's longer than the thumb.

There are some more bone studies I want to do, but I’m looking forward to doing the muscle studies. That will be quite useful for capturing the fleshier parts of the figure. Then I’ll be able to put it all together in my work.