Figure Drawing: A Complete Guide

Richard G. Hatton's book, Figure Drawing, should be read by every student of the subject matter, simply because it offers so many useful pointers not found anywhere else. Bear in mind, this book was first published in 1904. That means two things: Firstly, it is much more text-heavy than most modern books about drawing; And secondly, the quality of the writing is much better. But it's not all words. There are also 377 illustrations, which are referenced in the text. Still, if you don't like to read, then you should probably pass on this one. If, however, you enjoy reading about a subject that is presumably near and dear to your heart -- that would be figure drawing -- then you will find this book a pleasure. Why do I rate this book so highly? Frankly, there really isn't any other book like it. Yes, there are anatomy books that give the reader loads of technical information. And then there are books, like those by Bridgman and Hogarth, that offer a "system" for conceiving the figure by means of simplified three-dimensional forms. And these are all well and good. But this is different. Hatton's book discusses anatomy quite extensively, but does so in the context of describing its effects upon the surface form. It does not read like a medical atlas. The author offers NOT a unified "system" of drawing, but lots of tried-and-true tips and observations to help the artist avoid errors in his work. Furthermore, he suggests a number of approaches to the actual process of drawing. And this is the meat of the book. It is like getting advice from an old pro. To a serious student of art, this is all quite fascinating, helpful and even fun to read. This book deserves a place on his shelf, if only because, as mentioned earlier, its contents are unique among the available works on figure drawing.