Book excerpt: Written by a noted author and instructor, this guide for intermediate to advanced students presents the fundamentals of figure drawing in a lucid, practical manner. Each step in the construction and artistic representation of the human figure is fully explained and illustrated. Topics include such vital aspects as proportion, bone and muscle structure, limbs, head and neck, male and female figures, action and motion, and the draped figure. This volume ranks among the most complete and useful guides to figure drawing. Its wealth of illustrations ranges from diagrams to anatomical drawings to photographs, along with a rich gallery of work by the great masters. Examples include drawings from the works of Leonardo and Vesalius as well as Picasso, Modigliani, Rubens, Rembrandt, and dozens of other distinguished artists.