crap the rest got erased so ill repost it. in response to your other questions, learned to draw on my own, but i learned discipline at art school, undergrad at columbia and grad at the school of visual arts. art school is boring, but thats what i needed. i desperately needed to learn how to revise, do proper studies of plaster casts, mix colors (something i still have a long way to go in), learn anatomy. i never would have done that on my own. i learned far more in my studies about drawing effectively. i agree with antonov (and that is why i am trying to become an active member/poster here) that painting education, unless you get lucky with an instructor, or manage to be part of an atelier situation, is woefully inadequate. most painting instructors that i have had are very competetive with students, though they may not always realize it, and hold out on some key techniques, proper ground/canvas prep, the importance of discipline (which is 10x more important in painting than drawing, even in abstract art, because it is nearly impossible to correct a rash decision or a rushed underpainting beyond the layer youre working on. you can always erase or redo a drawing without too much cut loss)
that said, i have tons and tons to learn. not so much about drawing, with regard to tonal relationships. but definitely with regard to line, composition, and, yes, the discipline to put as much effort in the less fun parts than in the fun parts. painting, i have oceans to learn, and i am really trying. i find the seven layer stuff antonov teaches here so far to be invaluable. it is no substitute for a real apprenticeship, but i think it will pave the way for that, without going to florence or something.
i havent bought the videos. i think they are a bit expensive. and the html books (i bought both) summarize the main dos and donts that i need to know to progress as a realistic (or interpretive, if i decide that i want, or am ready). having had some education already probably means i can get a bit more out of the html books than a total novice. i think if i were a total novice to painting, i would buy the videos, since they are cheaper than even one decent painting class. i may still buy the still life one. we'll see how well im able to implement what ive learned so far.
thats enough about me.
books, i recommend the cyclopaedia anatomicae. it has complete, well rendered anatomy, metatarsals to individual vertebrae, muscles tendons etc, of humans, horses, dogs, bears, etc, from all angles, including unusual ones like full superior/anterior. i also thing drawing the figure for all its worth by andrew loomis is a good one. both are out of print, but available on alibris.com through a network of used book sellers. both should run 30-50 bucks. although there are copies listed that cost far more. you have to be pateint with alibris, like with ebay, and wait for the good prices/auctions. also, by loomis, 3 dimensional drawing for a good foundation in perspective. loomis was an illustrator in the 40s-50s, he published under viking press. good teacher. one last one is master class in figure drawing, which is in print and available.
later
smk
jai guru deva om
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