Reference book on animals for artists

[Paul_Guraedy]

I have just added a new, old book to my carving library that should be of interest to those among us who carve animals.

“Art Anatomy of Animals,� by Ernest Thompson Seton. This Dover Edition , first published in 2006, is an unabridged republication of the work originally published by Macmillan and Company, Ltd., London, in 1896 under the title Studies in the Art Anatomy of Animals. I purchased my copy from Barnes and Noble at $12.95.

There are charts with anatomical measurements for dogs, cats (from house cats to pumas and leopards to tigers), bear (grizzly, brown, black, white), bison, sheep (including big horn), deer (caribou to moose), giraffe, pronghorn, camel, pig, elephant (Asian/African), and finally the horse.

I had been introduced to the use of head measurements for carving the horse; but, was surprised to find that Seton was using this system in 1896. Seton notes that head measurements are used because they are the least variable of a horse’s measurements. There is a chart in this book that shows 42 anatomical measurements for the horse based on the length of the head. For instance, the bridle line (behind the ear to the back of the mouth is 13/16 of a head length, the thickest part of the head is from eye to eye which measures 1/3 of a head length and the horse’s body goes in a square whose side is equal to 2 ½ head lengths. The artist then would only have to decide on the length of the head and could construct a realistic animal based on the charts in this book.

It sure would be nice if someone would collect this kind of knowledge (things like the fact that for predators a line can be drawn from the center of the nose through the center of the eye to the center of the ear and a black bear’s eye is about ¾ the width of the nose) into a comprehensive reference.

[run_in_bare]

sounds like a great book there Paul, is there an ISBN #,
An thanks for share in .
ED

[Just Carving]

Here's a link to Addall.com for the book, shows the ISBN nuber, and links to several on-line vendors that have the book available on-line.

http://www3.addall.com/New/compare.c...itle=&state=NJ

[run_in_bare]

thanks guy will see if I can find one up here .
ED

[Just Carving]

Sorry Ed. I wasn't thinking. Here's a link for Canadian vendors:

http://www.addall.com/New/submitNew....=&dispCurr=CAD

If you click on Home at the top, it will bring you to the search engine, and you can specify the location as well as whatever info. you have on the book you're looking for. It's really good for people going to college, or working on a tight budget. Not only does it help in the price area, it's good for helping you expedite the book if you're in a hurry for it.