The Figure in Motion: A Visual Reference For The Artist

by Mark Smith (Photographer), Thomas Easley

Leaping, somersaulting, stretching, dancing figures animate this book of marvelous action poses, photographed for artists of all levels to use as reference when portraying human figures in motion. Expertly composed and lit pictures of male and female models in suspended action show the body from numerous vantage points. Students practice figure drawing by copying the photos, while advanced artists use them as points of departure, altering body positions to suit specific compositional needs.

Genres: Art, Photography, Reference, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1986

Reviews

[Anna Morgenstern · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was initially excited to find this book in a second-hand book store, as I know it's out of print but I would say- don't bother looking for it too much. Yes, the poses depicted are undoubtedly dynamic, however, I would argue that they are over dynamic thus rarely useful.

[Amanda Law · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, truly--the models are wonderful and photos are beautiful--but the formatting is unbelievable, rendering many of the photographs useless.

The book isn't that large to begin with, but photos are jammed onto pages, and most egregiously, many are located in the friggin' crease!

From one artists to the next, it's an OK tool for small figure studies or sketching on the go (read: without internet), but it's so difficult to justify purchasing this poorly designed book when the internet is a vastly superior resource in terms of volume and quality.

[Ana Oliveira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este livro desiludiu-me um pouco em relação à qualidade das imagens, mas tem poses lindíssimas! Vale a pena juntar este livro ao grupo de livros de estudo do corpo humano.

[Foxtower · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great resource for understanding and creating figures in poses that really show musculature and extension.

[Heather Sabian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have used this book for many years for drawing and sculpting. There are a few photos that are too dark to use but overall it was been very useful for me.