anatomy for artists

WAY back when, I was an undergraduate psychology major with an exciting job in a lab focusing on neuroscience. I had dreams of applying to medical school to be a doctor.

***spoiler: the doctor part didn’t work out.

Somehow, along the way, I never managed to study basic human anatomy to any great extent.

Until now…. Now that I am finally pursuing a professional art career. Who knew?

A few years have past since lugging around enormous text books for undergrad classes… but I am back at school - this time as an art student at The Compass Atelier. Now that I am in year three of the Master Artist Program, our class is deep into an intensive human anatomy curriculum.

Quite honestly, finding the mental energy to learn all the bones and muscle names of the human body has been a bit challenging for me, a working mom of 2 very active teen/tweens, with all responsibilities of being a grown up. Yada yada.

Thank goodness for the extreme patience (and encyclopedic knowledge) of my instructor, Glen Kessler, at The Compass Atelier. Glen somehow makes it fun learning details of anatomy for the figure using the concepts and teachings of Robert Osti through his book Basic Human Anatomy.

By the way, the drawings in this book are gorgeous.

But this is not just text book learning. Our class is doing conceptually mind-blowing things like drawing skeletons and layers of overlapping muscle from live models.

***Hint: those models have skin and I don’t have x-ray vision, do you?

Yes, I’m finding it pretty intense and humbling. When I want to scream and pull at my hair, I remind myself that I am living my dream right now. The opportunity to take this class and learn the tools that I need to make meaningful art is so unique and valuable.

If you are interested in learning more about the Master Artist Program and considering applying, message me. I’d be happy to share more info!