Rey's Anatomy -

Book Synopsis

The human body is a challenging subject to depict because of its intricate complexity and movement.

"To do it well requires an in-depth knowledge of anatomy and an awareness of what lies beneath all parts of the body, for the greatest figurative art gives the impression that there is a living skeleton inside the body, " notes artist and veteran art educator Rey Bustos.

With Rey's Anatomy: Figurative Art Lessons from the Classroom, Bustos provides essential anatomical information, detailed studies, and valuable drawing tutorials to equip artists with a basic understanding of the skeletal structure and muscle system of the human body. Having taught figure drawing for 30 years, he presents complex concepts in a remarkably accessible manner, referencing works from the Old Masters to demonstrate how an artist can take the same anatomical knowledge and express it in diverse and personal ways and, with study and practice, portray the human form without being hindered by the process or the intellect.

Rey's Anatomy explores anatomy first, followed by daily drawing exercises to help refine one's figurative work, while featuring the extraordinary work of his students throughout the book--alongside his own--a testament to how his lessons have benefited generations of artists.

Review Quotes

"Rey's Anatomy breaks down the intricacies of what is one of the most challenging subject matters for artists--the anatomy of the human figure. All intimidation vanishes as Rey joyfully distills this into easily graspable chunks, in an engaging and even storytelling manner, unveiling the mysteries, and inspiring confidence and creativity. With its many clear, easy-to-understand images, drawings, and diagrams, this is a must-have book for all students of anatomy, and one that I will be keeping, and referring to, on my own bookshelf."
--Terryl Whitlatch, acclaimed creature designer and animal anatomist

"I've been teaching college-level anatomy for two decades, and yet I still always learn something from Rey every time I watch him teach. His anatomical knowledge is encyclopedic, and his ability to translate that into art is masterful."
--Anthony R. Friscia, Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Professor, UCLA, Integrative Biology & Physiology

"In your hands is a genuine work of scholarship and an accessible celebration of human anatomy. No one holds a candle to Rey's knowledge on the subject."
--Nathan Greno, Co-director, Tangled

"Rey Bustos--teacher extraordinaire--has presented his take on artistic anatomy in this incredible book to a level I have not seen before. In a word, he has electrified every aspect of the study of artistic anatomy with vitality. He brings anatomy to life."
--Eliot Goldfinger, renowned artist and sculptor and author of Human Anatomy for Artists

About the Author

Rey Bustos is one of the country's preeminent artistic-anatomy teachers. He graduated with honors from the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design in 1989, and has been teaching figure drawing, composition, and 2D and 3D anatomy ever since. Bustos currently teaches at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, CA, Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, and Kline Academy of Art in Culver City, CA and conducts online classes for Computer Graphics Masters Academy (CGMA), New Masters Academy and Gnomon School of Visual Effects.