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• Deleted Member

  
   

  May 28, 2012 6:27:06 AM PDT

  for drawing

  http://www.amazon.com/The-Drawing-Right-Side-Brain/dp/0874774241/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=AYTZ168W9IJ6&coliid=I4N98RL0SMWDL

  or( i am new to figure drawing

  http://www.amazon.com/Figure-Drawing-Invention-Michael-Hampton/dp/0615272819/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=AYTZ168W9IJ6&coliid=I3NYS4BKQKXMU5

   

  for understatement of expressions:( i plan to do a short animation)

  http://www.amazon.com/Facial-Expressions-Visual-Reference-Artists/dp/0823016714/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=AYTZ168W9IJ6&coliid=I2QCZVZZW8R9X8

  or

  http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Complete-Guide-Facial-Expression/dp/0823004325/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=AYTZ168W9IJ6&coliid=I358SNTN2X9C2V

   

  and for antomy:

  http://www.amazon.com/Action-Anatomy-Animators-Digital-Artists/dp/006073681X/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=AYTZ168W9IJ6&coliid=I36S8MARJG3SGB

  or

  http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Artist-Sarah-Simblet/dp/078948045X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338210515&sr=8-

• Anna Hudzik

  

  • 72 posts
   

  May 28, 2012 9:58:56 AM PDT

  Drawing on the right side of the brain is a good one because it's very straight forward, full of quick exercises and it'll get you going. I would try to find it in your local library and force yourself to go through it as quickly as possible. You'll learn and improve, but it's a starting off point, don't spend months on it.
  
  

  The figure drawing and design book looks okay, but I think that's more of a library book.

   
  I agree with bobby on the force books. A lot of drawing books are geared towards traditionalists, not animators. (life drawing classes too) The force series is perfect for animators because it gets to the heart of the problem: energy and movement.

  I'd recommend all of mattesi's books but starts with Force Dynamic Drawing and if you like it and want to push your work further, check out Force: Character Design from Life

   

  For gesture drawing check out Drawn to Life

   
  The simblet anatomy book is very nice, I've used it and liked it, but I actually think this one is a bit better Classic Human Anatomy It's by an artist for artists, and there's a lot about how muscles and joints move, the form and structure of the figure and there's even a chapter on gesture and figure drawing. I would buy this one. It's a great reference.

   
  I wouldn't buy an expression book. I would check it out from a library or better yet, get a mirror and make them yourself! Animators are actors, making the expressions will help you get further immersed.

   
  Books are only as good as what you do with them. I encourage you to find any of these at a library because the return deadlines will pressure you into using them whereas if you buy them, it can be easy to push them aside because you can read them any old time.

  
  This post was edited by Anna Hudzik at May 28, 2012 10:42:38 AM PDT
• Deleted Member

  
   

  May 28, 2012 3:29:51 PM PDT

  I already have the force books by Mike Mattesi and the drawn to life books on my wish list (I plan to buy all the books I need by Wednesday). I am going to take your advice and see if drawing the right side of the brain is at my library I hope it is because it is a pretty well-known book. I am not sure if I am going to buy a facial expression book or not…

   

  here is my wishlist:(edited)

  http://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/AYTZ168W9IJ6/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go_o

  
  This post was edited by Deleted Member at May 28, 2012 3:35:39 PM PDT
• Anna Hudzik

  

  • 72 posts
   

  May 28, 2012 5:33:33 PM PDT

  Tom Bancroft's book is awesome. He just came out with a new one that is also really good.

   

  Animator's survival kit is fantastic. Definitely buy that one.

   

  The force animal drawing book is good (sounds like you might already have that one, so you know about that) I also liked The Art of Animal Drawing Very affordable and it has a very gestural approach to animal drawing.
  
  Glebas is awesome and so is his book. Of course, I haven't come in contact with a lot of story boarding books to compare it to. Seriously, soak it all up on his website.

   

  Eric Goldberg's book looks decent from the images, but I haven't read it.

  
  I found that animation books aren't very common in my local libraries, but painting and traditional drawing books are, so seriously milk your library for all it's worth. Ask your librarian about inter library loan not all libraries partake, but they should!) I've gotten my paws on some pretty rare books that way.

   

  Instructional books are great, but don't forget to make time to look at work you admire. You can pick up a lot just from looking at people that "do it right."

   

• Josh Swallow

  

  • 149 posts
   

  May 29, 2012 9:47:38 AM PDT

  Anna Hudzik said:
  
  

  Eric Goldberg's book looks decent from the images, but I haven't read it.

   

  I think it's the best animation book. Animator's Survival Kit is great and all, but there's about five thousand pages on walk cycles alone. It's very comprehensive, but my brain can't process the amount of sequential drawings in that book.

   

  Eric Goldberg's book is everything Animator's Survival Kit is in half of its size, and the format is really charming. Plus, there's a cool CD you can put in your PC to look at all of the animation examples.