Spirit And Force In Figure Drawing

This book is unlike any other book I have come across on figure drawing. It focuses on helping you develop your sense of perception so as to be able to capture that sense of life--that "spirit"--that animates the human form and makes a truly good figure drawing come alive on the page. This process involves more than technique, more than just studying anatomy and the mechanics of drawing. With thought-provoking questions, reflections and philosophical observations intermingled with his drawings, Karl Gnass sets out to guide us on a path of discovery which leads to a deeper understanding of the process of creating art and ultimately to an awareness of our own creative direction. The kinds of questions he deals with are the difficult, personal ones that artists at all levels face and that you don't necessarily find addressed in a book: How do you discover your purpose as an artist? What are you trying to express about the subject? How do you overcome frustration with your drawing skills, an uninspiring model or subject, or concepts and habits that limit you, to find a sense of direction on your own? How do you find creative freedom while developing your craft? Accompanying the text are several hundred superb drawings which illustrate the concepts that Karl touches on. Karl Gnass's drawings have an incredible line. They are full of movement, force and energy, and even better than words they convey the beautiful poetry and expressiveness of the human form. This is a book to cherish, whether as a guide and inspiration for students or as a collection of beautiful drawings for your library.

I 'm so happy to have finally gotten this book. It was well worth the wait! The placement of figures on each page take you on a journey and you have to keep moving. One after another, they draw you in to the next. (pun intended. sorry.) If the first book emphasized the intent and spirit of drawing, this book accents the process. Each figure is drawn with incredibly masterful skill but rather than having "perfectly pretty" line work, they are all extremely loose. Sometimes it almost fools you into thinking that drawing is easy. Minimal text inspires the reader and/or aspiring artist not to hold onto the comfort of a known method. Don't settle and keep digging even if it can get messy. It sounds easier than it is and this book will now serve as my own personal reminder. In addition to the figures, I was very fond of the sketches of cats, landscapes, and deer. There's only a few and I wish there were more! The short study of active anatomy at the end of the book was also very informative. I hope there will be more comprehensive guides in the near future. Til then, I'll spend my time looking through this gorgeous book!

What I love about this book is that it helps me ask great questions about figure drawing, and gives me concrete tools to explore those questions further on my own. This is a book to turn to when you want to kick it up a notch. No other figure drawing book I know of is quite like this one. The book is organized in two sections—an incredibly rich and varied sketchbook with insightful notes, and an end section that explores a powerful approach to capturing active anatomy and rhythm (In my opinion this section is more useful than Mike Mattesi’s approach—though Mattesi’s books are worth looking at. Karl Gnass’ approach anchors the force and motion more firmly to the underlying anatomy, making the drawing more dynamic.). For me, this book immediately opened up an inquiry into why I’m drawing in the first place. What is my intent—what am I trying to achieve—how can I use what I know about anatomy and structure and motion to support my intent? The drawings and notes throughout the book reveal philosophical insights into the drawing process in a way that is incredibly clear, and at the same time deeply layered. I can already tell this is a book I will return to again and again over the years to discover new insights. This is a unique and inspiring book.

Waited years to get this book. Literal, actual years. Nearly a decade. It's a master's teachings at work, perfectly inspirational and reassuring. There's little to no words but there's little to no need for them. Watch, learn, imitate, repeat. Having faith in the enjoyment and repetition of the process. So grateful I was able to obtain it. Thank you God, and thank you Mr. Gnass for sharing your teachings with a poor artist like myself.

As a professor of fine arts for the past fifteen years I have rarely found a book that expresses life drawings as "drawing life" in the human figure. Examples after examples of drawings that probably took no more than ten minutes to draw. This just juggles the mind at how Karl Gnass is able to capture the very essence of vitality with meaning and expression with every mark that is made on paper. And then finally, the tutorial with such detail you'd wish there would be another volume soon. This is really a treat as to what a "master class" should be, like being able to sit in a graduate program. Karl Gnass also teaches at most of the major animation studios in the greater Los Angeles area. Having been able to attend some of his private drawing workshops I can also say this book will inspire the student in all of us.

What's all the hype about this book is not all that it all right but not all that its all right but not all that pĺease peopĺe stop hyping it up to be the best.

Love the drawings. Wish there were more pages.

“Spirit & Force” is not your predictable, instructional, manual that walks you through a step-by-step-how-to-draw-process. This enlightening book gives you much more-and at a much higher level. The book provides a much-appreciated philosophical bent on how to approach figure drawing. If your goal is to learn how to make dynamic figures that breathe spirit through the lines, then take this book and Karl Gnass as your mentor. Every drawing in this sketchbook, along with the enlightening notes, is a delight. On a hedonistic level I see “Spirit & Force” as a box of chocolates with a surprise in each morsel. I savor it, cherish it, and go back to it for more because I know I will keep learning from it into the future.