Art of Drawing: Sketching People: Faces and Figures

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Giovanni Civardi has built a formidable reputation worldwide for his skills as both an artist and a teacher, and here he provides a unique introduction to the art of sketching the human form. The focus of the book is very much on Giovannis exquisite drawings of a broad range of subjects of all ages, clothed and unclothed, and in a variety of poses and situations that include figures in both formal poses as well as in everyday situations such as reading, shopping and sleeping. There is also a large section focusing on drawing heads and faces, and the book ends with a section devoted to drawings of statues in the Muse Rodin, Paris - drawing sculptures being an ideal way to learn how to draw the human form. The accompanying text provides concise, clearly written explanations of the subject, including materials, equipment and practical considerations, and the authors in-depth knowledge of the subject is apparent throughout. This is therefore an ideal introduction to sketching figures for the absolute beginner, as well as a source of information and inspiration for artists of all abilities.

Reviews

Drawing the human form is probably the hardest task for any artist. Sketching the body within the correct proportions is hard enough - trying to draw the awkward bits like hands, feet, hair can be a nightmare. In this book, Giovanni Civardi sets out to try and show just how to create sketches of the human form. As he points out these do not have to be accurate depictions of a person, just sketches and outlines of pertinent features, and facial expressions. Trying to get everything down on paper within just a few minutes is impossible - concentrating on what is essential is all important. He gives lots of useful advice, and explains why he chose to sketch the images portrayed in the book - what he was hoping to achieve, the artistic image and point he was trying to make. The images themselves offer a good starting point for artists to copy and learn to sketch for themselves. A good solid introduction to the subject which will be welcomed by artists of any standard.-Monstersandcritics.com Giovanni Civardi has been something of a fixture in the field of drawing people for some time and his books offer excellent instruction and a wealth of illustration. However, I've always felt that there was a certain heaviness to them and that they looked maybe a little dated. And now, suddenly, he seems to have developed a quite delightful lightness of touch and slight loosening that gives his figures life and movement. It's really quite something of a revelation. The main body of this relatively short book is taken up with pages of a wide variety of figures: young and old, static and moving, in a variety of costumes and poses. The instruction (though, in truth there are relatively few words) is confined to the introductory sections where Giovanni deals with a few basic drawing principles. This is a book that's probably best approached with at least a moderate ability to draw and the ability to interpret without being told what you're looking at. As long as you have that, there's a wealth of ideas here and you'll find that the method of teaching by example works remarkably well.-Artbookreview.net Includes brief information on drawing materials and techniques, with helpful hints on getting started, before moving straight on to a whole repertoire of faces and figures - more of an artist's sketchbook than an instruction manual. Tuition is kept brief and simple, but it is the quality of the drawing that speaks volumes.-Leisure Painter

Author Bio

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 this 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.