5 comments about Wrestling for Fighting: The Natural Way.

1. Randy Couture has been one of the poster boys for Mixed Martial Arts competition in recent years - and a good one at that. His words are well thought out, he's articulate, hard-working and talented. A lot is made of his age, as well. However, I don't think it means a great deal except to say he's an example of what hard work and good attitude can acheive.
   
   
   Erich Krauss and Glen Cordoza do a great job of getting these qualities to shine through in this publication. The book's dedication speaks of work ethic and self-reliance, as well as the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people and influences. One can only say that this is as much a recipe for success as any. It's worked in Couture's case, anyway.
   
   
   The book is - like most Victory Belt publications - a large format book. It's 11" x 9" and has 214 pages. It's a glossy book on high quality paper. It's also generous with photos and the photos are detailed and clearly show the techniques presented. I was critical of a couple of Victory Belt's publications in the past for proof-reading. This one does a lot better. It is very unfortunate that one of the very few errors that slipped through happened to be in a very noticeable place. Nonetheless, the writing is excellent and gets better with each publication. I'd be a real jerk if I said it took away from the book.
   
   
   As seems to be the Victory Belt template, the book opens with an introduction which spends twelve pages chronicling Randy's career. Erich and Glen are getting better at this every time. It's the best written of the Victory Belt intros by far and the one I enjoyed the most, as well. Take note, though, it may be that I simply enjoyed Couture's story more than the others.
   
   
   The technical portion of the book is broken up into three parts. The first talks wrestling, the second focusses on Greco-Roman wrestling and the third on adapting the wrestling game for Mixed Martial Arts. Each part is broken up into six to seven chapters concentrating on different aspects of Randy's game. As far as the techniques go, this is clearly the game of Randy Couture. The book also shares a lot of information with his earlier video series from Century. That makes this a great adjunct to the series, as well.
   
   
   The wrestling section starts with a comprehensive chapter discussing wrestling basics. This is followed by a look at four basic takedowns. This is followed (quite naturally) by a chapter on finishing the single leg. Clearly this is and area Randy considers key. Following this is a long section on tie-ups. Here, you really start to make the connection between the Randy you see in the cage and the one n the book. There are two defensive chapters in the wrestling section - Sprawling and Defending the Single Leg.
   
   
   The section on Greco is shorter, with a two page introduction followed by a chapter on pummelling and then basic takedowns. I enjoyed this section a lot as I picked up several of details that (as a Jiu Jitsu guy) I didn't know before. There are then chapters on armdrags and on more advanced takedowns. All are effective techniques, well photographed and captioned.
   
   
   The last part of the book is called "Wrestling for Fighting" and is obviously the crux of the book as far as the authors are concerned. It starts with an introduction (as for all the book's parts) and then jumps into the relationship between strikes (especially the overhand) and the double-leg takedown. There is then a chapter on closing the distance. Following this, come the chapters on the most famous parts of Randy's game - The clinch and cage tactics.
   
   
   The clinch chapter concentrates on Couture's much hallowed "Dirty Boxing" technique while the chapter on cage tactics provides invaluable pearls on how to use the fence to your advantage. I'm not sure Randy has given up all his secrets here, but the book certainly describes much of what I've seen the man do in the cage.
   
   
   From here, there are chapters on ground tactics and submissions. The tactics here are simple. There is a good deal of time devoted to "Ground 'n' Pound" and two basic choke submissions. Both should be a big help for wrestlers looking to make the change.
   
   
   All-in-all, I think there's something in here for everyone. Wrestlers making the jump to MMA will obviously benefit the most as it shows precisely how the wrestler's game translates. People like myself, who don't have a strong wrestling background will be able to add elements to their game they had previously not been exposed to. And, I don't think there's out there who couldn't benefit from the clinch and cage tactics chapters.
   
   
   The book brings the good points of all Victory Belt's previous publications together. It's shorter, more basic and easier to navigate than the already excellent 'Book of Knowledge' from BJ Penn and more articulate and mature than 'Mastering the Rubber Guard'. This one takes pride of place on my bookshelf and will join the Best of the Best category on this site.



2. I loved this book because it covers all the basics of freestyle,greco-roman,and mma wrestling.The basics from each individual styles that combine to make up mma is all you really need to compete.Randy charges $700.00,hr to teach private lesson and you get a couple of months worth of that for only $35.00!



3. Wrestling for Fighting is an essential addition to anyone's MMA library.
   
   The other reviews have already done a good job of describing the contents of this book but in brief:
   
   The first section of the book covers basic wrestling.
   The second section is Greco wrestling (upper body wrestling/throws).
   The thrid section covers wrestling techniques used in MMA.
   
   This is a very high quality book (as are all the books co-authored by Krauss and Cordoza). It is full of photos showing the techniques from mutliple angles. The written instruction is thorough and easy to understand.
   
   Some things to keep in mind. As the title hints, this is a book about wrestling. What you're getting is a top notch instructional on all aspects of wrestling by one of the greatest wrestling based MMA fighters of all time. Do not buy it expecting to learn submissions (other than a few basic "wrestling" subs) or standup striking (though there is plenty of ground n' pound instruction). This of course does not detract from the book in any way. There are already excellent books that cover striking and submissions. And since wrestling is an important, if not arguably the most important aspect of MMA (deciding where the fight takes place), it deserves its own volume.



4. This is a super book and I've really enjoyed it! It's full of some great tips & tons of awesome instructional photos. If you love Randy Couture & are a big fan of his fighting style this book will be most helpful to you. It has helped me out tremendously and has improved my ground game by leaps & bounds! Randy Couture is such a hero to so many people - HE ROCKS! BUY THIS BOOK TODAY!!!!!!!!!!! I HIGHLY recommend it!



5. This book is awesome. The background on Randy is great and I found the fact he didn't start college until after being in the Army very fascinating. The best part about the book is the color photographs. It looks like they had 3 cameras all synced to the same "switch" so when one button was pushed all three cameras took a picture simultaneously from front, back and side positions.
   
   This is very helpful in letting you see all angles of each move. While the book is called wrestling for fighting the majority of the book can be applied to folk style high school and collegiate wrestling. There is only one small section at the end which covers MMA specific technique. I highly recommend this for either wrestlers or coaches or anyone getting into mma from boxing or karate diciplines.

3 comments about Splash 10 Passionate Brushstrokes (Splash).

1. I have most of the Splash series and I think 10 is one of the best yet. I love to see what other watercolorists can do. Their imagination abilities are truly remarkable. Splash 10 is also special to me as my teacher, Susan Stuller, has two paintings included.
   
   Marti Franks



2. Book ten already! I wonder if the folks at North Light thought Splash would last from January 1991 to May 2008 for the latest edition. Especially when you consider the number of books out there. Put 'watercolor painting' into Amazon's advance search and more than 8,000 titles pop up, try 'watercolor instruction' for more than 800!
   
   I mentioned in my review of book nine that I thought the contents rather subdued in comparison with previous editions and ten does rather continue that impression. I must admit that I have no idea about the criteria for inclusion in this series but selection is probably based on what is available and maybe there just aren't many eye-stopping paintings around. I'm thinking here of Deborah Rubin's tram painting in book eight or Hosey Hutson's beautiful painting of the side of a barn made up from 7-UP signs in book six.
   
   So what does this latest book have to offer. There is certainly no reduction in quality from the ninety-nine artists included and the range of styles is as wide as previous books. Dan Burt's included again (he's also in book seven and eight) with his amazingly flamboyant casual brushstrokes and so is Soon Warren's glass bowl with flowers done in an almost photorealist technique. Ted Nuttall (also in book eight) contributes a lovely portrait rather reminiscent of Charles Reid's style: an apparent casualness of color and brushstrokes that makes it look so easy but is in fact the epitome of creativity and professionalism. John Salminen lives in the Minnesota woods and so is intrigued by big cities. He has two paintings that nicely capture the feel of a metropolis, his starting point are his own city photos. As with previous editions all the artists write about their techniques and inspiration.
   
   Book ten is the same size as the others, printed on good paper with a 175 screen. The paintings are divided into seven sections with the usual favorites: landscapes, still life, flowers (with some really good exhibits) and people. I always thought the design of the series rather good, clean and uncluttered but this book has a rather annoying design conceit: there are three examples of display type printed on the paintings. This seems to me a totally unnecessary idea, empty areas of a painting are there for a reason and not to be considered as an optional place to add text. I've not noticed this in previous books.
   
   Despite the fact that this tenth book (like the ninth) doesn't quite come up to the creative exuberance of the previous eight it still has plenty of wonderful watercolors to inspire you and the series still continues the very high painting selection one has come to expect.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



3. Rachel Rubin Wolf must be doing something right with now a tenth in the series. The Splash series is a collection of current watercolor artists and some of their most inspiring work.
   
   This one is Passionate Brushstrokes. The colors, the ideas, the perspective of the paintings are once again terrific.
   
   It is especially helpful, as an artist, to read from each artist their breakthroughs, their inspiration, their secrets along with each painting in the book.
   
   It is not a how-to book but looking through the book is motivating and inspiring if you are trying to get a new painting going.

5 comments about Cast Drawing Using the Sight-Size Approach.

1. I bought this book after reading the positive reviews at amazon.
   This book gives a closer look at classical drawing technique which is perfect for portrait drawing done in a studio.
   Almost from a beginning a reader is thought the sight-size technique by example.
   There are clear explanations about setting up a workspace, measuring, shading and finishing work. Additionaly a reader is given some references about the sight-size drawing and painting.
   The author promise this book to be a start of a whole course of sight-size aproach. That's why a student-reader begining his journey with this book starts with basic practice of cast drawing.
   What I like the most in this book is that it comes with a subject right away without any unnecessary content.
   The author is a painter and teacher and as a teacher he knows that book is sometimes not enough. That's why there is a dvd that accompanies the book and shows the author explaining the technique while drawing a cast.
   The only disadvatage of sight-size aproach is that you have to have some extra space to set up your workspace that's why I recomend this book to everyone interested in classical drawing and painting done in art studio and to everyone interested in drawing techniques in general.
   However, I don't recomend it to comic and concept artists, unless they are interested in broadening their drowing skills in general.



2. A little book, but very very complete. I think that it suits all artists that are not perfectly familiar with this method. I was knowing the method but I found some little gems in it. A must!



3. "Cast Drawing, using the Sight-Size Approach, by Darren R Rousar"
   
   In my studio is a large walk-in-closet filled with books on art history, artist biographies and art how two books. Most of my how to books are deceptive pricey, glitzy books claiming to reveal secret art practices, some just rehashed bits of stuff with an over focus on personal expression and others are ads. My students offend bring in new books and we as a class discuss each book's merits. We've broken the field of books on art practices into three groups: inspirational, usually packed with lots of pretty pictures, artist promotional, usually packed with lots of pretty pictures produced by one artist, and technical usually not so pretty but packed with useful information.
   
   Darren R Rousar's book "Cast Drawing Using the Sight-Size Approach," is technical and is in the vein of an older group of books written in the tail end of the 19th and start of the 20th century who's authors focused on real studio practices and aesthetics, not on self-promotion. What you will learn from Rousar's book is a way of drawing that is focused and sure. This book is like having Rousar there beside you as he walks you through an approach to skill development in drawing. He is one of those rare teachers, formed from the studio tradition, who understands the how and why, and can explain it and do it. I wish I had him as a studio trained drawing teacher instead of the university trained teachers, when I went to art school back in the 70's but I now have his priceless book of well-presented material.
   
   This is not a book of fluff and pretty pictures. If you want to learn how to draw, buy this book and learn from it.
   
   David C. Powers artist and teacher of art skills



4. This book is very simple and straightforward explaning the "atelier" or a sighting method for drawing which yields realistic drawings. I once took a class on this subject and have read a few books on it, but most were a bit "lofty" and philosophical. This book tells you how to set up an atelier studio simply and a week later I was using these methods and producing almost photo real drawings (been studying art for 4 years now). Highly recommended.



5. The content of the book is good; other reviews have covered it and I don't disagree, so no need to rehash.
   
   One star deducted for its disappointingly mediocre production quality; it looks like a manuscript printed on a cheap home laser printer and sent off to the publisher for duplication, and in fact I'd be surprised if that wasn't exactly how it was done. The photographs, as a result, are badly halftoned and muddy-looking, like newspaper photographs, and for a work about detailed fine art line this one, that's really surprising and unfortunate. There are many photographs that I really wish were sharper so I could see the technique and results being described more clearly. I would happily have paid more for the book if it had had better print quality, like any of the other art instruction books I've purchased over the past few years.
   
   Five stars for the content, minus one for the production.

5 comments about Vanishing Point: Perspective for Comics from the Ground Up.

1. I thought I had a fairly good handle on perspective drawing, but this book goes into significantly more depth. (Pun intended.) It provides exciting options for approaching a piece of art beyond the ordinary, and many little tips and tricks on solving perspective problems. Even though it is themed towards comic and fantasy art, I would recommend it to any artist who wants to have a greater understanding of perspective, and more tricks up their sleeve for producing believable and emotionally impactful scenes.



2. This book is good and clear for beginners and the more advanced. It touches some topics I haven't learned at art school. Definitely a book I will be using frequently. All other books talk about the same vanishing points.
   The practical examples in this book will help the student grasp the subject quickly. Love it!



3. I highly recommend this book. It is a simple read with simple diagrams and explanations on how to draw in perspective. i have recommended its title in other reviews i wrote. I think you will be very pleased with this book if you want to see, read and practice from a book.



4. I'm an artist by hobby and have read 8 books on perspective but this one is exceptional. It's not just a book for comic artists but a great book for learning perspective. I was surprised when I received it. It covers topics that I have not seen covered in any other perspective book I've read. Such as, curvilinear perspective. It covers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 point perspective. I never saw any other coverage of 4 and 5 pt perspective before. Great book for any artist, comic or not and great illustrations. A+



5. When I was able to understand a couple techniques just by LOOKING at the illustrations in this book I knew this perspective book was a keeper! Most of the written examples is concise and clear. Another book I would recommend is How To Draw MANGA: Putting Things in Perspective.

5 comments about Comic Artist's Photo Reference - People & Poses: Book/CD Set with 1000+ Color Images (Comic Artists Reference).

1. This book is great for getting proper perspective and foreshortening etc. into your action drawings. I'll take a whole lot more of them! Perfect for graphic novel or comic illustration where you don't have models available for reference shots, or you need an inspirational shot for a particular mood. Like I said, my only complaint is that I want more! It includes a CD also so you can reference that as well, but I haven't checked to see if that has different poses or not yet. Hopefully it does. As an accurate anatomical reference for drawing humans or heroes in action, it is great! It does what it sets out to do. Top Notch.



2. Do you ever get that perfect composition in your head but can't seem to work it out when sketching? I know I do. As a comic book artist and cover painter I have the usual reference library of cheesecake pin-ups, muscle magazines, and old comics laying about. A new addition to my reference library is People and Poses. This is a terrific resource and helps me nail the anatomy in my drawings and paintings the first time. People and Poses brings me real life, right now, awesome poses to help me turn my creative ideas into reality. A must for any artist's library.
   
   Brian Miller, Author: Hi-Fi Color For Comics: Digital Techniques for Professional Results



3. I'm surprised by all the positive reviews that this book/CD has been given. I bought it based on the feedback from other buyers and I was pretty disappointed.
   
   The lighting of most of the models is pretty good but the angle of too many of the photos is either straight-on or shot from above. This causes the models to look squatty and distorted. The choices for female models was pretty poor. I'm sure they are very beautiful in real life but their body types are not suited for this type of photography. I also discovered that there are photos featured in the book that are not included on the CD or website link. I was also disappointed to discover that the photos are not high resolution. They are only 72 dpi and not very good quality.
   
   There are very few books like this on the market and something like this is a nice alternative to the expense and time associated with shooting your own photos. Unfortunately, this book will not be the alternative I was looking for. Hopefully Scalera will release a future edition that will address these problems.



4. Fantastic reference book for action poses. Has great pictures at varied angles and perspectives. Very comprehensive. Comes with a disc that has even more images and features. Nice little addition of industry talent giving their approach to figure drawing/cartooning. A good book for artist's of all
   skill levels.



5. As a beginning professional comic book artist, I've had a lot of trouble nailing certain poses that have to deal with obscure angles and foreshortening. This book has made things a lot easier, as there are a ton of very helpful photos and tutorials in it. The bonus CD is also a great addition.
   
   A good comic book artist should always be prepared to know how to draw anything at any given time. One should also always draw what's right for the story and not take too many shortcuts. While this is hard to do, it it will help you grow as an artist and stand out in the competitive world of comics. And for the difficult aspects of human anatomy and poses, this book should serve as a great reference guide to artists of any level.

5 comments about Mastering the Rubber Guard: Jiu-jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition.

1. Eddie Bravo is one of the most outstanding and controversial figures in Jiu-Jitsu today, having received his Black Blet under the equally distinguished Jean-Jacques Machado. In addition, he holds the distinction of being the only American to submit a member of the legendary Gracie family in Jiu-Jitsu competition, a feat he accomplished against Royler Gracie at the 2003 Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling Championships.
   
   Anyone who's trained Jiu-Jitsu knows that in the beginning, you spend a great deal of time on your back, and that it can be one of the most frustrating experiences in Martial Arts training. Exasperated White Belts find their Guards passed almost effortlessly, and end up floundering helplessly in Half-Guard or Side control, waiting for the inevitable submission. Even more advanced students often feel apprehension when fighting off their back, worried that a failed submission attempt would cause them to lose position. Frustrated Jiu-Jitsu students of the world: Eddie Bravo has heard your cries, and written a book that will turn your Guard and Half-Guard into one of the most dangerous places your opponent could be!
   
   Mastering the Rubber detail breaks down, in incredible detail, Eddie Bravo's entire bottom game and is a great tool for anyone interested in Jiu Jitsu.



2. Eddie Bravo has spent years developing his Rubber-Guard system. He's even used it to beat Royler Gracie in competition. Now he presents the bulk of the system in one text. Good stuff.
   
   I could have done without the intro. "Pot's great! It should be legalized! The Tobacco Mafia's holding down hemp!" Alright, Eddie. Whatever you say. He at least tried to relate this to BJJ by saying that smoking pot will give you a new way of seeing things. And taking 'roids will make you stronger and have a faster recovery time, but they're illegal too. It's actually somewhat convincing as a pro-pot argument, but completely out of place in a martial arts book, in my oppinion. Even his gi-versus-no-gi hypothetical question at the beggining of the book has the worst of racial steriotypes in it.
   
   Anyway, once we get going, Eddie gives us some good stuff. He talks about the importance of flexibility, and provides the reader with some stretches. Next, it's on to the half-guard bottom game, a game that has sorely been ignored by too many people. Just working the various sweeps from this possition will improve your game. Next we get a butterfly guard game, always one of my favorites. This section's a bit bare, mostly covering sweeps and transitions to half- or rubber guard possitions. Then we finally hit the Rubber Guard itself, of which about 100 pages is devoted. We get control possitions (very important) and submissions. Good stuff. Following that is a short chapter on how to finish what Bravo calls the "Spider Web", which is a possition that sets you up for an armbar after one of his Rubber Guard sweeps. Mostly it's how to finish from here. Eddie finishes up with escapes into guard and half-guard possition from just about every possition you can think of. This is a valuable section, for nothing else than to get you from a defensive game to thinking offense again.
   
   Now when it comes to Jiujitsu, Eddie shines. The Rubber Guard system is in my oppinion the best bottom game going, and we're seeing more and more of it in grappling and MMA competitions. Like almost all Victory Belt products, we're given clear color photos, multiple camera angles, and color-coded sections. Bravo even includes a "rubber guard flow chart" at the beggining of the book. I found most of the instruction easy to understand and apply.
   
   The down side? As I've said, the intro on pot was unnecessary. I also found some of Eddie's technique labels to be very obscure. Basically anytime he was allowed to talk about anything other than how to perform a technique, the book took a downturn. Also, while one of Bravo's big selling points is that the Rubber Guard is good for MMA, he doesn't actually do any MMA himself, which seems a bit funny. However, given its excellent format and highly-applicable techniques, I'm going to go ahead and give the book five stars.



3. Most people in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu know who Eddie Bravo is. There's a pretty obvious "love him or hate him" feel around. I'm happy to note, though that I'm one of the less boisterous people who fall into neither category. I just like anyone who can explain a concept to me so that I pick it up. And Eddie does that for me in this book.
   
   A quick word, firstly, on Eddie's first book - 'Jiu-Jitsu Unleashed'. I was going to give it a separate review until I received 'Mastering the Rubber Guard'. 'Jiu Jitsu Unleashed' was a reasonable book until the new one came along. 'Jiu Jitsu Unleashed' is a collection of techniques that Bravo uses in his game. It's got a good collection of anecdotes and shows Eddie's game and how it has come to be quite well. That said, the overlap with 'Mastering the Rubber Guard' is too much to warrant buying both - if you were wondering about that.
   
   In fact, I felt quite disappointed in myself when 'Mastering' turned up. Why? Because I'd paid good money for 'Unleashed' just a couple of months before and this was so much better. Ultimately, though, I got a book that was twice as good, anyway. The exception is tht 'Unleashed' takes a bigger look at the Twister and Eddie's top game. Hold on, though. Victory Belt (the publishers) have 'Mastering the Twister' on the horizon.
   
   Like 'Unleashed', 'Mastering' covers the main areas of Bravo's game. There are sections on the half guard and, obviously, the rubber guard. This time, however,we get sections on the butterfly guard, recovering the guard, Bravo's "Spider Web" control and a section on stretching.
   
   Kudos to Bravo for realising not everyone has his flexibility and that they need to develop that attribute to make all the techniques work. Putting my S&C coach hat on (especially with my knees), I shake my head in disapproval of some of the stretches. Still, it's what Bravo does and they are all applicable to his game and the book. Just exercise some critical thinking. If you're in the group the stretches are likely to injure - don't do them.
   
   I'm not going to get into details of the moves. What I am going to say is that they work for Bravo and his guys. They work for a lot of others, too. They might even work for you. The technique names have always been a bone of contention for some, too. Bravo is quick to explain that the names are devloped for coaching in competitions, so the opponent doesn't understand advice being given. I do the same thing with my guys to a large extent.
   
   The book flows well, with a strategy for each position and a series of ideas to help achieve the techniques. For example, the "Whip Up" has been a bit of a boon for my half guard, depite it not being a technique, per se.
   
   The book also contains a flow chart to help guide you through the Rubber Guard game. I've beeen flow charting for a couple of years now and can attest to the improvement and insights it gives you. Eddie gives you his own, personal flowchart.
   
   I'm never going to use Eddie's whole game. I'm 6'7" and weigh the best part of 300 inflexible pounds. I bought the book to help my students and training partners. I've been pleasantly surprised to take some techniques and insights away, along with a better understanding of the 10th Planet system.
   
   Insofar as production, it's good. It's colourful with good quality stock. Photographs are clear and plentiful. Since I'm a bit anal, I picked up some spelling and grammar errors and I hope they'll be picked up with better editing in future Victory Belt productions. But, ultimately, it's content I care about and this book has plenty of it.
   
   Victory Belt's 'Mastering the Rubber Guard' Page
   
   After giving this review to a couple of friends to look over for me, one pointed out the obvious philosophical differences between Eddie and myself and expressed surprise I'd give such a flattering review. Especially due to the drug references.
   
   Let me say this..... Some of the language in the anecdotes is foreign to me and I find some analogies a little trite. I have never taken any illicit drug, including marijuana and am strictly anti-drug.
   
   If you can't put these things behind you and they stand in the way of you buying the book, then too bad. You'll miss out on some quality instruction.



4. This book is a must for any Jiu Jitsu practioner wanting to take his or her ground game to the next level.



5. This is the best martial arts book I have ever read. Very entertaining and informative. Descriptions, and transitions are thoroughly and thoughtfully laid out with great pictures of the positions. The quality of this book, the shear volume of valuable information, make this edition an absolute steal at the price offered here.
   
   Bravo attributes pot smoking with much of his success at BJJ. I am not convinced, but Kudos to this gappling Genius in any case. If you have any fragile sensibilities then you might be offended by his introduction. If you can look past this then you will love what this information can do to your grappling game.
   
   If you always find yourself getting demolished on your back, or you just can't seem to maintain a solid guard system whilst defending, then you definitely need this book. It is a problem solving manual, that presents many clear and succint tools that work a HIGH PERCENTAGE of the time. I think this point is critical when learning any system, that is, you want the technique to be effective most of the time with most opponents.
   
   Bravo starts off teaching you his half guard defense game, which when you apply his methods, becomes an extremely offensive approach for sweeping, submitting, and transitioning to other positions.
   
   He also covers his butterfly guard, pyramid guard (which I have never seen anywhere else), and also half guard dog fight positions (very wrestling orientated).
   
   Later he walks you through his Rubber Guard game which is just amazing. I have tried his lock down methods and they really work. However it will still take me time and practice to get the techniques really tight and to improve my flexibility. I would say the Rubber Guard techniques may be a bit beyond some peoples anatomy at first (i.e. flexibility plays a big part here). However Bravo does outline some very good stretches to slowly develop this flexibility over time.
   
   I think Bravo's methods are cutting edge and possibly revolutionary. If you do not take the time to learn this stuff now, then you will surely find yourself on the receiving end of it at some stage in the near future. I say get in there now before everyone else, and make it an integral part of your grappling game.

5 comments about Dynamic Figure Drawing (Practical Art Books).

1. I have been learning anatomy for my drawing for a long time. I own quite a few anatomy books but I have been having trouble converting my knowledge of anatomy into drawing people. After buying this book it all changed.
   
   You will not learn everything from this book, which I think is fair enough. I do not understand the attitude of people who think a book should include every detail of subject. It shouldn't. A book should set out to achieve a purpose and supply everything needed to achieve this purpose. Which is what this book does.
   
   This book will teach you how to draw your figures in different, dynamic poses. It goes into foreshortening and overlapping of body parts and it breaks down each body part into shapes and outlines how the body parts flow into one another. There a wealth of examples that you can copy and experiment with.
   There are two main problems with this book.
   
   Firstly, there is not a lot of structure to it. It really could have used an editor or somebody to go through it and organize it a bit.
   
   Secondly, the text is very academic and can be hard to understand. If you look at the accompanying pictures though you should be able to work it out.
   
   You will still need to learn anatomy. Anatomy is a fundamental that all aspiring artist needs to learn and this book isn't a shortcut, but I found that this book was able to bridge a huge gap for me in my drawing. It is something I think I will use for the rest of my life. I only wish I had found it earlier.



2. Dynamic Figure Drawing by Burne Hogarth is an explosion of human motion. The text, like the drawings, is crisp and forthright. There are no unnecessary lines in Hogarth's sketches or his dialogue on how to create them. This is the book to give anyone, of any age, with, or without talent. The beauty of the illustrations almost eclipses their value as examples. The figures curl, cringe and almost seem to launch from their empty backgrounds. There are no distractions of composition, just the human body in motion, caught on paper. The static, frozen, two dimensional renderings of anatomy previously available to artists don't give a clue as to how the bones, muscles and tendons will flex with movement. Hogarth's work clearly and beautifully shows how to capture the human body in motion. If you love art, of any form, you will find endless enjoyment in this book. If you are an artist you will find it an invaluable anatomical reference. This is the book to give anyone interested in art, but in the hands of the very young, that person just forming their talent, it would be invaluable.



3. I bought this book about 16 years ago when I was a dopey kid trying to draw people because some artist recommended it. Lord knows I looked through this book a thousand times and didn't really "get" any of it.
   Flash forward to the present where the dopey youngster now has some anatomy and perspective knowledge. I picked up the book to take a look at it as a completely different person. Well it still sucks. I'm not going to give it 1 star because the information is good, its just not presented in a way I can assimilate it.
   I wouldn't buy this for a kid, or someone just starting out. But it could be a good addition if you've been having a hard time drawing dynamic poses from imagination. If your already drawing dynamic poses this might help correct mistakes you've been making or augment the process of learning anatomy in perspective. P.S. Who tagged this beautiful illustration?



4. I have learned more from this book than any other art book. A true wealth of information for anyone who has apassion for the human figure from your own perspective without pictures or models. Truly Amazing Info!!!



5. I used this book to practice the essentials of human figures drawing. Book teaches you systematically fundamentals by showing the proportions of each possible action figures and helps you to visualize the human body in almost every possible form. In case you don't have a model, it is very helpful for improving your drawing skills by going through every page and sketching each possible action form.

5 comments about Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist (Galaxy Books).

1. As a teenager, I bought this book to help me draw people better. Learning body and head proportions is key to drawing more realistic-looking people, and this book can help you along. Peck's illustrations show you different ways to look at the human body, sometimes using blocks, spheres, and other objects to represent how a certain muscle group works or looks to help you better understand how it should be drawn. He covers everything from musculoskeletal structure to facial expressions, emotions, and photos of faces from around the world. And for those who like to warm up their skills by sketching people but have no model to use, there are several human model pictures towards the back of the book to help you out. Before I took college courses and had real models to work with, I used these photos to do my many quick pencil or charcoal sketches as a warm-up for drawing. Having this book before those courses definitely helped me draw better and faster than some of the others who were learning to draw people for the first time. I have referenced it several times since then when drawing or painting people to make sure I'm getting the right idea of the muscle structure. I have used other books for learning to draw people that was more step-by-step, but this book has a lot of different detail other books don't have.
   And I was surprised to find out it was from the 50's when I looked it up here on Amazon, since it doesn't really appear that way at all.



2. I am an art student who wanted a guide to the human body. I could not be happier with "Atlas of Human Anatomy" because of the detailed illustrations combined with easy to grasp sketches. The written sections are not extremely long, and while they do delve into technical language that can be difficult, it is overall all well balanced with the illustrated elements. I find both sides important, and as a comprehensive resource on the human body for the artist, I highly recommend "Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist".
   I can only say that it has helped me tremendously.



3. My professor/adviser of art advised me to get this.
   
   It was great advice :D



4. This book surprised me. I already have several dozen books on art anatomy, but Peck's book has more. He goes into expressions, cultural and age distinctions, and locomotion. Is this the only book you'll need in studying anatomy, probably not. But each book you get on the subject, and study (NOT JUST COLLECT) will hone your visual memory until drawing the figure becomes second nature. Note: Study means putting time and effort on that drawing pad!!! Also, nothing beats drawing from life or imagination! These books are to supplement these areas.



5. This book is a cheap and good reference for beginning figure drawers. The diagrams are fairly clear but some of the hand-drawn references get confusing.

5 comments about Drawing Realistic Textures in Pencil.

1. A very comprehensive book from one of the top in his field. I am still learninf his techniques. Enjoy Very much.



2. This book is unlike any other pencil drawing book. The drawings in this book are photo-realistic. The techniques are like nothing else you've read about in other pencil drawing books. He covers metal, leather, wood, skin, hair, fur, bricks, glass, etc. Highly recommended if you want to create very realistic drawings. If you want the wishy washy sketchy technique, then this book is not for you.



3. I actually found this book in my local library and had to have my own copy. I have always admired realistic pencil drawings, and the information and illustrations in this book have inspired me to keep exploring and working on my own skills. I am currently taking some private drawing lessons from a wonderful artist and when I showed her this book, she also wanted a copy. Even if you don't draw this is a beautiful book and it is truly amazing to see what can be done with graphite.



4. The refinement of your pencil drawing begins here!! If you want your pencil drawings stay close to the realism, this is the book that will teach you to reach in that apprenticeship.
   
   This book is not indicated for beginners, it doesn't teach as maintaining proportions and/or to draw... it goes beyond of that. This book teaches step by step how to handle the materials of drawing to get textures close to the realism.
   
   Suitable for designers that already know the basic foundations of the drawing, the techniques presented in this method are innovative and use materials as the coal and the carbon pencil together with the graphite. It contains dozens of clues of like you can get the realism in your drawing with a great amount of illustrations step by step. Several textures are taught as leather, glass, wood, metals, human skin, several surfaces, etc.



5. For artists who are ready to bring their work to the next level, this book is extremely helpful. As the author states at the beginning of the book, all the shading, blending, and "texturizing" in the world won't lift an inaccurate rendering out of mediocrity. This is not a "how to draw" book, it's a "how to draw more realistically" book. The author's writing style is easy to read and understand. His still-life and portrait compositions are brilliant. This makes an excellent reference book full of information. Glad I got it. I, too, got "Drawing Sharp-Focus Still Lifes" by Zappalorti from Amazon and was very happy with it as well.

5 comments about Color: A Natural History of the Palette.

1. I use some of the fun facts from this book in the oil painting class I teach. A very entertaining and educational travelogue. I really enjoyed how the author tied different narrative threads together.



2. Part travelogue, part history and part study of the origins and source of pigments, "Color" is always informative and engaging. There is no book quite like this. For the painter, amateur or professional, the book will provide inspiration and a new way to look at and think about color. For the non-artist, it is an eye-opening essay into this exciting world. You'll want to rush out and buy a paint set afterwards.



3. Color: A Natural History of the Palette
   
   This book was highly recommended by a potter on an online listserve for potters. I found this book very interesting because of the travels by the author to find the areas that the materials used in color originated. It told me of the history of the area/country where the materials came from, as well as the methods used to develop the colors, and the people who used the colors. She talked about people continuing to use a color (the painter Turner) even though he knew the color would not last, as well a people continuing to use a color that would affect their health (lead as part of the process) because that's the only way to get that color, which continues to this day.



4. I read this book while researching information for Hi-Fi Color For Comics: Digital Techniques for Professional Results. I found the information in-depth and useful and while not all of it translated smoothly into my topic, Comic Book Coloring, I was able to easily connect-the-dots between the authors experiences and my own. If your only exposure to color is in a niche like painting, silkscreen, or yes, even comics books there is good stuff in here for you too. I wouldn't say this book is essential for an artist's library but it is a nice addition and the ethnographic information in relation to color is undoubtedly interesting on its own in a National Geographic sort of way.
   
   Brian Miller, Author: Hi-Fi Color For Comics: Digital Techniques for Professional Results



5. I am very interested in the subject of pigments and color and was disappointed at how tedious this book is. I'm not interested in the characters she meets in her travels. I'm not interested in her fantasies about what ancient people might have been like (or what their love life was like!).
   I want to know about the history of pigments and paints. I want to know how one sort of pigment gave way to another or how it was improved or even how tastes shifted from one favorite to another...advantages and disadvantages of different pigments. This book has some of that (buried in travel anecdotes), but when those sorts of topics come up, she quotes "The Art Forgers Handbook" again and again. Seems like that's the book I really wanted.