Log inBy Category
By Instructor
Learning PathsBrowse

Anatomy for Artists Volume 1

Understanding the Back and Shoulder Muscles with Rey Bustos

Description

“Artistic Anatomy” refers to the essential muscles that create the visible shapes that we see on a model’s physique. Rey Bustos, famed illustrator and anatomist, teaches how to illustrate the complex back and shoulder muscles in a way that is preferred by most artistic anatomists.


When illustrating, it’s not necessary for artists to know every single muscle of the body. By editing the key number of muscles that artists need to know down to a minimum, Rey begins the workshop with a focus on the Sacrospinalis (or Erector) spinae group — some of the deep muscles in the center of the back that can be found along the spine all the way up to the base of the skull. These complicated, often-stringy muscles are important and keep humans upright — but they can be challenging for artists to study individually. Rey reveals the simplest way to understand and interpret this muscle group and teaches easy-to-remember strategies for illustrating the forms.


Moving on, Rey addresses the medial form in the lower back, in between the two posterior superior iliac spines, and works up to the thorax. Thereafter, he layers muscles by placing them in order onto the skeletal frame to complete the study of the back and shoulders. His lectures in this 1-hour, 20-minute workshop are accompanied by stories that will help with remembering the shapes and relationships of the muscles and anatomy — and are essential to making things memorable and easy to digest. A traditional drawing demonstration concludes the workshop to put all the theory into practice.


Duration: 1h 40m

Format: HD 1920x1080

Rey Bustos

Illustrator and Instructor

Rey Bustos is a distinguished educator and illustrator specializing in artistic anatomy. He graduated with honors from ArtCenter College of Design in 1989 and began his career working with clients such as LA Gear, Pepsi, and various publications. Since 1990, Rey has focused on teaching, earning recognition for his engaging and passionate instruction.


He has held teaching positions at Art Center College of Design (1998-2020), California State University, Los Angeles (2005-2012), and the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (2004-present), and has conducted anatomy workshops for Disney Feature Animation. He has also contributed to online platforms including CGMA, New Masters Academy, and Gnomon School of Visual Effects.


Rey is the creator of Imaginatomy: An Anatomical Approach to Animal and Character Development and teaches Analytical Figure Drawing, 2D/3D Anatomy/Écorché, and Composition. In 2021, he published Rey’s Anatomy: Figurative Art Lessons from the Classroom, encapsulating his teaching philosophy and methodologies.