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Summary: Great Job
Review: I have been in the graphics and cartooning market for a long time. I also teach illustration and cartooning (privately & at varies schools and originizations) and have been doing so for about 8 years. I am always on the look-out for books I can refer to people/students. There are very few on the maerket which I will recommend. Most books start out correctly, however on page 2 it jumps about 2 years in knowlege and skill. This book takes it step by step and is a valuable reference source.
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Summary: If your wondering where to start....start with Jack Hamm
Review: I have just begun to explore the world of art. Drawing has become my passion, and although I have had no formal training this book has sharpened my skills a great deal. I love this book, and I am currently ordering every book written by Jack Hamm. First Lessons in Drawing and Painting is my newest purchase, and i am confident that it wont be the last of Jack Hamm's work.
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Summary: A complete art course in figure drawing
Review: I have read hundreds of art books and always return to Jack Hamm's book for the information I need. It covers more than dozens of other books combined!
Rating:
Summary: A complete art course in figure drawing
Review: I have read hundreds of art books and always return to Jack Hamm's book for the information I need. It covers more than dozens of other books combined! I am ordering it for a friend so that I can get my copy back.
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Summary: A Complete Art Course on the figure
Review: I have read hundreds of art books and this is the best by far. I refer to it constantly. It would take a dozen art books to equal the content in this one book. Don't let the small price mislead you, this is one valuable book!
Rating:
Summary: great reference
Review: I keep this book handy. It's a great source of instruction as well as inspiration. Hamm is obviously tuned into the human figure from the bones out. Of particular interest to me is his analysis of the head/face. He gives several approaches for formulating proper perspective/placement. I can't pick this book up without wanting to draw and that's what it's all about.
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Summary: If you want to draw the figure, this book is indispensable
Review: I own many artistic-anatomy and figure-drawing books and this is one of my favorites. I can't say that this is the only book you should buy if you want to learn to draw the figure, but it should absolutely be one of the books you buy. Maybe even your first.This book gives you so much information that other books lack. There are hints for drawing every part of the body, including the shoulders, necks, noses, mouths, eyes, arms, elbows, hands, and legs. These hints are practical and directly applicable to your drawings. The book isn't full of highly finished figure drawings that are beautiful to look at but don't help you actually learn to draw; instead, the drawings are more like "illustrations" but the principles contained here are what's important. You can produce your own finished figure drawings in your own style after you've learned what this book has to offer. There is no perfect book and you can never have enough figure drawing books. Each one has something to teach you that isn't discussed in the others. Other recommendations include every book by Robert Beverly Hale and Terrance Coyle (Anatomy Lessons from the Great Masters, Master Class in Figure Drawing, Albinus on Anatomy, etc.), Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist by Stephen Rogers Peck, An Atlas of Anatomy for Artists by Fritz Schider, and books by Barcsay, Hale & Richer, and so many others. Buy them all. Enjoy them all. In short, I can't praise this book enough. Buy it. Use it. You won't be disappointed.
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Summary: The Best!
Review: I really love this book, it has many examples and not too much useless text and it covers everything and with topics like "understanding knee construction" you also get a dose of anatomy to back up your figure drawings. I've has this book for a few years and just recently saw it in my college bookstore so if you don't believe me, then maybe that will convince you that college professors recommend it to their students. The artist's style doesn't overshadow the lessons, it keeps things simple instead of overloading you with things you don't need. Great book at a great price, and when it covers the male and female figures it does so tastefully.
Rating: 
Summary: OK but check everything
Review: I'm an old guy that hasn't drawn for many years. Got the bug again & bought this book to help me get up to speed. So far it's been mostly helpful but when I was trying a profile using the divisions on page 27 it just didn't look right. So I took a digital photo of a profile & started dividing it up. As far as I can tell. the forehead needs to be a lot higher in the book. So as my old art teacher used to say "Measuring systems can be helpful but, draw what you see".
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Summary: Simplified yet Detailed
Review: I'm basically a manga artist, but I like to mix techniques when I draw to create something somewhat of my own style. I've had my eye on this book for quite some time, because a few years ago I had purchased a 'how to draw animals' book by Jack Hamm as well.
When I buy an art book, I look for the following things: clear instructions, extra tips, nice artwork, understandable text, easy to follow steps, plenty of info on any given subject pertaining to the title [lips, hair, eyes] and something that I can not only follow, but learn from and expand upon. This book met my criteria, even perhaps going beyond doing so. I recommend this book for people looking for a simple yet sophisticated and detailed way of learning how to draw the head and figure. If you're looking for something that shows you how to draw bodies and heads, but aren't looking for something complicated and complex, then this is an excellent buy, especially for the price.
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