Art of Drawing: Understanding Human Form & Structure

A basic understanding of anatomy is required by any serious artist who wishes to depict the human body effectively: one must be able to not only see the form; but also to understand what it is comprised of.

With an in-depth study of morphology, proportions, muscles, joints and bone structure; Civardi ultimately breaks down this complex drawing process into simple anatomical sections consisting of the head, torso, arms and legs. Combining his artistic and scientific expertise, he teaches the reader how to depict the human form in the most convincing way.

Giovanni Civardi was born in Milan in 1947. While training to become a sculptor, portrait artist and illustrator at the Free Life-Study School of the Accademia di Brera, he also studied medicine and surgery. For over a decade, he worked as an illustrator, producing commissions for newspapers, magazines and book covers. During frequent trips to France and Denmark, Civardi put on one-man exhibitions of his work and pursued his interest in studying the relationship between medical anatomy and the human form as depicted by the artist. His experience gained from teaching anatomy, life drawing and portraiture in schools and institutions over many years has led to the publication of numerous books in which Civardi's experiences are brought into focus.