"This is the book that started it all" —Patrick O'Brien, MICA
James Gurney
This weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.
You can write me at: James Gurney PO Box 693 Rhinebeck, NY 12572
or by email: gurneyjourney (at) gmail.com Sorry, I can't give personal art advice or portfolio reviews. If you can, it's best to ask art questions in the blog comments.
Permissions
All images and text are copyright 2020 James Gurney and/or their respective owners. Dinotopia is a registered trademark of James Gurney. For use of text or images in traditional print media or for any commercial licensing rights, please email me for permission.
However, you can quote images or text without asking permission on your educational or non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you give me credit and provide a link back. Students and teachers can also quote images or text for their non-commercial school activity. It's also OK to do an artistic copy of my paintings as a study exercise without asking permission.
This post has special interest for me. I enjoy drawing and painting horses, but as much as I've done, it's immeasurably helpful to be reminded of these basics. Thanks so much, James!
Really interesting, never realized how different a horses spine is different than ours: ours bending longitudinally and theirs laterally, found this http://nicholnl.wcp.muohio.edu/DingosBreakfastClub/BioMech/BioMechbend2.html specifically referring to pivotpoints of the horse's spine
This is great, I have just been devoting more time to drawing animals. I was drawing horses the other day, and this is the exact reminder I needed, very helpful. Your blog is a FANTASTIC resource for the aspiring artist.
Ken Hultgren, in "the art of animal drawing", draws some "forbidden arching" in the horse spine, and the result is excellent ("better than life"). Just to say that, when you know perfectly your subject (he did), you can modify or enhance reality. He's one of the best draughtsmen I know.
Johnny, I'd second My Pen's suggestion of the Jack Hamm books, as well as Marvel way to Draw comics (if you're into comics) and any books by Bridgman and Loomis. As Mario said, Hultgren's book on animal drawing is good, too. Basically, they all have simplified mannikins that you memorize so you can draw the figure or animal in any pose.
Ethan said: never realized how different a horses spine is different than ours: ours bending longitudinally and theirs laterally,
Aside from it's orientation I think they're remarkably similar: the lumbar vertebra capable of of bending but not twisting, the thorax capable of twisting but not bending and the cervical capable of both twisting and bending.
Do you have the full image of the Spirit Construction Notes for the Torso/body? I am working on a project where we are animating a horse but we only have notes 1, 3 and 4! We have only been able to find your screenshot from the notes. Please help!
16 comments:
This post has special interest for me. I enjoy drawing and painting horses, but as much as I've done, it's immeasurably helpful to be reminded of these basics. Thanks so much, James!
Thanks for sharing this! Lately I have been drawing a lot of basic anatomy, to get better at drawing in general!
Jack Hamm's animal drawing book is pretty helpful too.
That was incredibly helpful! Thanks :)
Famous Artists definitely knew their stuff. That school constituted some of the best illustrators of the 20th century.
Really interesting, never realized how different a horses spine is different than ours: ours bending longitudinally and theirs laterally, found this http://nicholnl.wcp.muohio.edu/DingosBreakfastClub/BioMech/BioMechbend2.html specifically referring to pivotpoints of the horse's spine
This is great, I have just been devoting more time to drawing animals. I was drawing horses the other day, and this is the exact reminder I needed, very helpful. Your blog is a FANTASTIC resource for the aspiring artist.
Ken Hultgren, in "the art of animal drawing", draws some "forbidden arching" in the horse spine, and the result is excellent ("better than life"). Just to say that, when you know perfectly your subject (he did), you can modify or enhance reality.
He's one of the best draughtsmen I know.
Man, you post some cool stuff on here.
Hey James, do you know any fundamental books that can help me render 3d objects from my imagination?
Johnny, I'd second My Pen's suggestion of the Jack Hamm books, as well as Marvel way to Draw comics (if you're into comics) and any books by Bridgman and Loomis. As Mario said, Hultgren's book on animal drawing is good, too. Basically, they all have simplified mannikins that you memorize so you can draw the figure or animal in any pose.
Ethan said: never realized how different a horses spine is different than ours: ours bending longitudinally and theirs laterally,
Aside from it's orientation I think they're remarkably similar: the lumbar vertebra capable of of bending but not twisting, the thorax capable of twisting but not bending and the cervical capable of both twisting and bending.
very helpful! please more posts like these!
This is so helpful for me to animate Horse for my new Animation project. Thanks a lot for sharing this.
Very helpful. Thank you :)
Do you have the full image of the Spirit Construction Notes for the Torso/body? I am working on a project where we are animating a horse but we only have notes 1, 3 and 4! We have only been able to find your screenshot from the notes. Please help!
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