Figure drawing
by Michael Hampton · first published 2009
4mentions
4recommended by
4HN commenters
2012–2023first – last mentioned
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
A structured resource for drawing the human figure, suited to anyone seeking a methodical path into figure drawing. It pairs well with other books and courses for building a solid foundation.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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Optimal way to practice > Deliberate practice Best books > Depends what you want to draw? How to Draw by Scott Robertson and Figure Drawing Design and Invention by Michael Hampton should keep you busy for a while How do I learn to self critique? > Take a picture of your drawing I find it easier to see mistakes by looking at a picture of…
on “Ask HN: How Do I Become as Proficient with Art as I Am with Computing?” ↗…all of these art books (except Vilppu's), and I DON'T think the best text on how to learn how to draw is a copy of Preston Blair's books. For me personally, I got the most advancement through Loomis' Figure Drawing For What It's Worth. I spent a lot time going over diagrams in the book. It transformed the way I approached drawing Other people, (especially people who get into art with no prior experience) swear by…
on “The Best Textbooks on Every Subject” ↗Also highly recommend https://www.proko.com/ (particularly "Figure Drawing Fundamentals") and https://drawabox.com/. I didn't realize how much structure drawing has, and both of those describe it in a way that's good for my right-brain. I'll never be a great artist, but it's…
on “Ask HN: How do I get into Art?” ↗…and paper imo. Drawing is an essential skill for any visual artist not just for mechanics but for developing style, taste, and true understanding of the world around you visually. I recommend Freehand Figure Drawing for Illustrators as a good starting point (along with some beginner art lessons). It won't take 1k hours before you see results. It's also fun!
on “Study: ChatGPT Outperforms Physicians in Quality, Empathetic Answers to Patients” ↗