Anatomy, gesture and the art of drawing the figure
In The Anatomy of Style, award-winning figurative artist and teacher Patrick J. Jones shows how a knowledge of anatomy frees you to draw the human figure with confidence. Through his annotated Masterclass study sheets and step-by-step demonstrations, he explains how to simplify complex forms, recognise the body's key landmarks and combine structure with flowing, expressive lines.
The book moves from choosing your tools and the foundations of bones, muscles and proportion to the challenges of foreshortening and drawing from life. Detailed studies tackle hands, feet and twisting poses, while demonstrations follow each drawing from its first gestural marks through shading and refinement. Patrick explains the thinking behind every stage, highlighting common mistakes and showing how to put them right.
This revised 160-page edition combines practical instruction, sketchbook studies and finished works in pencil and charcoal. It also explores drawing from the imagination and the link between drawing and painting. Beginners and experienced artists alike will find a solid foundation for developing a personal style.
About the Author
Patrick J. Jones is an award-winning sci-fi and fantasy artist and teacher. His clients have included Disney, Lucasfilm and Roc Books. He grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during “the Troubles”. Influenced by artists Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta, he spent long days in the sanctuary of rooftops, drawing and dreaming of becoming a fantasy artist to the din of street riots below. Today, Patrick mentors students online from his studio in Brisbane, Australia, and occasionally travels to draw at the world-renowned New Masters Academy. He is an instructor at Proko, a leading online art education platform, and the author of Drawing from Photos.
Foreword by Kiri Leonard
Kiri Leonard is a fantasy illustrator with a heritage steeped in ancient Nordic myth and folklore. She grew up in the village of Boeslum in Denmark and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Aarhus before attending the Pratt Institute in New York. She now lives in Austin, Texas, where she works as a full-time artist and illustrator of magical mythology, folklore and fairy tales.
