Animal Anatomy for Artists

Checked out this book a while back from our local library and immediately fell in love. Animal Anatomy for Artists by Eliot Goldfinger is an exquisite collection of black and white skeleton and muscle illustrations that are not only informational but also inspirational.

Here is an editorial review:

“Goldfinger, author of Human Anatomy for Artists (1991), stresses that bodies have specific volumes created by anatomical structures, and he reveals how the interrelationship of muscles and bones determines shape and proportion. His straightforward guide starts with animal classification and a listing of nonmedical terminology and then explicates the "basic body plan." Detailed line drawings, black-and-white photographs, and silhouettes, as well as explanations of skeletons, emphasize the functions of various body portions such as lower leg and shoulder joint, and Goldfinger thoroughly depicts individual muscles before progressing to elaborate side views and cross sections of complete anatomies. Feathers, horns, and antlers are treated separately with both diagrams and photos before the text concludes with a brief overview of the venous system. Many will find especially useful the extensive, multimedia, annotated bibliography. This technical treasure is sure to find an audience among artists and serious animal enthusiasts alike. “

Whitney Scott
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Available at Amazon.com

The Best Halloween Parties Ever

In 1987 I was working in Battle Creek, Michigan for a company that produced television commercials. The job was a lot of fun and my co-workers were even more fun. For two consecutive years we had a Halloween party that was a combination of murder mystery, costume party and role-playing game.

Each guest was given a character description prior to the party and once they arrived they stayed in character and were given situations which they had to role play. The scenes were videotaped then later edited into a “movie” called “Zombie Asylum” In addition to the bad acting the movie was filled with tacky sets, cheesy props and really bad special effects. A few months after Halloween we all gathered together for the “premier” of the finished film.

Even though the film was called “Zombie Asylum” there was not a single zombie to be found anywhere in the movie. A zombie-less zombie film, go figure.

In 1989 I accepted a new job back in Midland and while I no longer worked with my friends from Battle Creek I had planned on continuing the tradition.

The first year back in Midland I wrote the treatment/screenplay for the third installment and started work on thirteen life-sized zombie puppets, finally “Zombie Asylum” would live up to its name.

Sadly the party never happened and my papier mache zombie puppets became the starting point for our yard display a few years later in 1992.

Once Upon A Time

Seventeen years ago my wife and I started what would become an annual tradition of decorating our yard with an assortment of homemade Halloween props. The tradition has continued and become somewhat of a hobby or in some people’s eyes an obsession.

Found a few more photos featuring our first display.

Love this photo.

We made a couple dozen rat skeletons out of wire and papier mache then placed them into large wooden rat traps.

Dem Bones

Cleaned out and reorganized the garage.

Here are a few pictures of some of the bodies that will be repainted and reused for my pirate section of our 2008 Halloween Display.

The bones were originally made in 1996/1997, plastic resin cast in silicon molds….knew I was holding on to them for some reason.

Skull and bones everywhere…oh my!


C