The Drawing Club

(Fogra 29) Job:11-41057 Title:Drawing club Handbook

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18 The Drawing Club

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Shaft, pencil and ink on colored paper, Bob Kato

(Fogra 29) Job:11-41057 Title:Drawing club Handbook

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19

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Chapter 1: What Is a Good Drawing?

Does anatomy matter?

As a college drawing teacher, I see the value of studying

human anatomy. It helps us understand form and structure not

only as it relates to drawing the human figure, but also to draw-

ing animals, organic forms such as plants, and even mechanical

objects and environments.

Anatomy can help explain and justify structure. Sculptors, for

example, often show a deep understanding of anatomy in their

drawings because they work and design in 3-D. Take one look at

any of Michelangelo’s drawings, and you will see what I mean.

The importance of anatomy to an artist at The Drawing Club

depends on the goal. If you’re going for technical accuracy,

anatomy matters more than if the success of your drawing is

based on storytelling or design.

At The Drawing Club, animators and character-design artists

are usually more story driven. Simple shapes and textures help

their designs read better than anatomical correctness. When you

look at these drawings, you can see how super-correct anatomy

might make a drawing look overcomplicated and distract from

the overall design.

Take Fred Flintstone, for instance. He’s a well-designed

character because you get a sense of who he is—a semiloveable,

bumbling, blustery guy whose wife has the upper hand—even

though you don’t know exactly where his scapula is. He doesn’t

need well-defined muscles.

The importance of anatomy to an artist

at The Drawing Club depends on the

goal. If you’re going for technical

accuracy, anatomy matters more than

if the success of your drawing is based

on storytelling or design.

(Fogra 29) Job:11-41057 Title:Drawing club Handbook

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