Mastering the art of the human figure is no small feat for artists. It requires a lot of time, practice, and a good reference.
Finding a good reference can be difficult, especially if the availability of local models is low. A live reference is always best, but if no one is willing to pose, what’s the next best choice for an artist to practice with? Even pictures can create a result that’s too flat or has distorted proportions.
This is where anatomy models come in. Although anatomy models are traditionally seen as references for the medical community, they’re also important for artists.
Anatomy models can help teach an artist the right musculature structure to draw their subjects as realistic as possible.
So, what is the best anatomy model for artists? The best anatomy models for artists have two sides to show musculature structure and the full human form, can be manipulated to create different poses, and are the right size to capture detail while fitting on a desk or table for reference.
If you don’t have a local art studio or school in the area that has classes with live models, you’ll definitely want to invest in an anatomy model. Take a look at our recommended qualities and products to purchase the best anatomy model for your art.
What Are Anatomy Models Used For?
Anatomy models are used to give artists a reference when they can’t view a live model to draw the human form.
Live models are always the best way to draw a human form because you can capture the life and fluidity of a body better when referencing a real body. For artists that don’t have live models available to them, anatomy models can be used.
Some anatomy models can be manipulated into different poses, which can be helpful for artists learning to draw the human form in specific positions such as sitting, crouching, kneeling, and more.
Anatomy models also help the artist to understand what’s happening beneath the skin.
Having a foundational understanding of the musculature and skeletal structure of the human body is what helps the artist add correct shading to accentuate muscles or highlight where a bone may protrude. It also allows the artist to imagine how the muscles move according to different poses or actions.
Anatomy Models For Artists – Buyer’s Guide
Before you go out and purchase a new anatomy model, there are certain qualities you need to know to look out for before you go.
The best anatomy model should have a body that shows the musculature structure on one half and the full human form with skin on the other, it should be easy to pose, and it should be the right size to use on your desk or drawing table.
It’s also important to note that anatomy models are not the same as drawing mannequins, which are the wooden models that are also commonly used for form reference in art.
While drawing mannequins are also helpful for any artist, they’re not the focus of this article. To learn more about drawing mannequins, check out our article “13 Best Drawing Mannequins.”
1. Musculature Structure & Full Human Form
If you’re going to use your anatomy model to really understand the inner workings of the human body before you draw one, then it’s important to have a comprehensive view.
The best anatomy models have a human body with two halves. On one side, you’ll be able to see the musculature structure underneath the skin. On the other side, the body will be fully covered in skin, as you’d see any human being.
This joining of the overview and inner view of the human body is what gives artists the best frame of reference for drawing the human form.
While people who haven’t drawn before or beginner artists may think, “I’ve looked at my own body my whole life. I know what bodies look like,” it’s harder to translate it to paper.
To get the curves, shadows, highlights, proportions, and structure just right takes countless hours of study and practice with the right reference model.
2. Easy To Pose
Although there are plenty of helpful anatomy models that don’t move or can’t be posed, the best ones for truly understanding the way the human form moves are able to be manipulated and posed.
As an artist, you won’t just be drawing humans stiffly standing around; you’ll likely be drawing people doing things, like sitting, gardening, talking with their hands, dancing, or any other activity you can think of.
To ensure you’ve captured the body at just the right angles and proportions, it’s important to be able to manipulate your reference into the pose you’re drawing.
If you’re only able to use a stiff model, you can still get a sense for how the body is formed, but you won’t truly understand how the body looks in a specific pose.
This can be important for making sure joints aren’t twisted the wrong way, limbs aren’t accidentally elongated, and all body parts are accounted for.
3. Right Size
Another consideration when purchasing your first anatomy model for artists is to make sure it fits in your space.
It may seem like a life-size anatomy model would be great since artists always draw from live human models for reference all the time.
However, when working from home or on the go, having a life-size anatomy model just doesn’t make sense. It would take too much room in your home, and you wouldn’t be able to bring it with you if you were to draw elsewhere.
You also likely won’t be drawing a human body to scale. You’re more likely to be drawing miniature images of humans, scaled down to fit on a sheet of drawing paper.
For this reason, it’s helpful to have an anatomy model that’s smaller in size and can fit on a desk, drawing table, or any other small surface.
The Best Anatomy Models For Artists
To give you a wide variety of options for your anatomy model, we’ve included several different styles of models.
In the list below, you’ll find anatomy models of just the head, some that pose, some that are stiff, some sets with a man and a woman, and some that just have one sex or the other.
Our options are designed to give you the broadest range of anatomy models so you can choose the one that’s right for you.
If you’re going to mainly be drawing portraits of people that only include the neck up, you won’t need a full body model. In fact, a full body model probably wouldn’t even help you. You’ll want a model that has a special focus on the structure of the neck and head.
Take a look at our options below!
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Numbered Human Adult Skull Anatomical Model | Human skull model for drawing faces |
| 2. | Zumllex Portable Human Model Craft Anatomy Skull | Facial musculature, 4" tall |
| 3. | HSOMiD Mini Desktop Anatomical Model | Facial musculature, male features |
| 4. | Body Kun DX Set Male Female - Grey | Male & female set, posable, accessories |
| 5. | ABROBROKI Body Kun Doll - Male+Female Set | Posable, male & female, realistic |
| 6. | MM Model Male & Female Human Anatomy Figure | Male and female, half skin, half muscle |
| 7. | TMDel Human Anatomical Model | Male & female, skin and muscle, light tan |
| 8. | BONEW Female Anatomical Model | Female model, 11.4" tall, half skin, half muscle |
| 9. | MedFrom Female Anatomy Figure | Female model, light color, muscle and skin |
| 10. | CopyLove Action Figure Drawing Model | Male model, posable, accessories |
| 11. | Doc.Royal Human Anatomical Model | Male model, skin and muscle |
1. Numbered Human Adult Skull Anatomical Model
Faces are some of the hardest subjects to get right. With all the contours and planes and angles of the face, one misplaced shadow or one missing highlight can throw off the entire facial structure.
If you’re going to be primarily drawing faces, it might be better to start with an anatomy model that’s just the human skull, like this one from hBARSCI.
This human skull model will help you fully understand where the bones of the face are and how that impacts the way our faces come to life.
2. Zumllex Portable Human Model Craft Anatomy Skull
Once you’ve mastered the structure of the human skull, it’s important to understand the muscles of the face.
If you’re ready to move onto this next step, we recommend picking up this small head model from Zumllex.
Only 4 inches tall, this anatomy model for the head and neck will be perfect to help you really nail down your drawing skills when working on portraits.
You can even drop it in your drawing bag and take it with you on the go so you always have a reference to work with.
3. HSOMiD Mini Desktop Anatomical Model
If you like the idea of having a smaller model of just the head and neck but aren’t a fan of the option above, you can pick up this other option by HSOMiD.
This head and neck model is blue-grey instead of beige, if you have a color preference.
With this model, you still get a good reference of all the musculature structure of the human head and face, just as with the option above.
You may have to soften up your drawing if working on a female portrait since this model is male and has a stronger, sharper facial construct.
4. Body Kun DX Set Male Female – Grey
Switching gears to some full body sets, this set of a male and female body by AbbonyDuo is a great option for those who prioritize the ability to pose their reference over seeing the anatomical structure.
These models still give a great view of how the human body is shaped and how it moves, but you won’t get to see the musculature structure underneath.
It all depends on the skill you need to brush up on the most and the type of model you’re looking for. If you want a set you can manipulate to understand how the human body would look in different poses, this is the perfect set for you.
It also comes with a variety of props, so you can even get a sense for how certain objects look in proportion to the human body, such as a sword, a gun, and a computer.
5. ABROBROKI Body Kun Doll – Male + Female Set
This set from ABROBROKI is another great male and female model set with the ability to pose.
The set listed above is more ideal for those looking to draw in an anime, cartoony style, while this set from ABROBROKI is ideal for those looking to keep their drawings more realistic.
Both the male and female bodies in this set have more realistic form and proportions, but they can still be posed to give you a sense of how the body will look doing specific activities.
You can purchase this set in grey or skin color.
6. MM Model Male & Female Human Anatomy Figure
If you’re less concerned with being able to pose your anatomy model and more concerned with understanding the musculature structure underneath, then this set by MModel is the best choice for you.
This set comes with a male and female model. Each of them shows the full human form with skin on the model’s right side, while the model’s left side shows the musculature structure underneath our skin.
These models are 11.8 inches tall, giving you a large enough model to understand the structure while not being so large that it can’t fit in a drawing bag or on a table.
7. TMDel Human Anatomical Model
Another great option for the half-and-half anatomy models showing the musculature structure and full human form is this set from TMDel.
This set also comes with both a male and female model, so you’ll get a great sense of both body forms.
These models are painted in a neutral white color so you can see the way the light interacts with the contours of the body and gain a greater understanding of highlights and shadows.
8. BONEW Female Anatomical Model
For those looking only to draw females, you can grab this solo female anatomy model from BONEW.
This female anatomy model is the half-and-half structure showing the muscles and the skin. It’s about 11.4 inches tall, so an ideal height to understand the body.
This model is blue-grey in color, which can be great for artists who don’t care about the color of their reference figure.
9. MedFrom Female Anatomy Figure
Our next option is similar to the model listed above. This is a female anatomy figure only, no male figure is included.
This female anatomy model from MedFrom shows the musculature structure as well as the full human form.
It also comes in a light, white color so you can get a closer study of the light play on the human form.
10. CopyLove Action Figure Drawing Model
For those looking to use only a male anatomy model, this first option by COPYLOVE is a great choice.
Offered in grey or light skin color, this anatomy model is flexible and can be posed in different ways to mimic certain activities.
Like one of our sets above, this male figure will come with an accessory kit so you can better understand how the human body looks while holding specific objects.
If you need a male anatomy figure you can manipulate and pose, this is the perfect choice.
11. Doc.Royal Human Anatomical Model
Our final option by Doc.Royal is a male anatomy figure that can’t be posed, but does give you a great view at the musculature structure and full human form.
This male anatomy figure is a blue-gray in color, but you can still easily see the planes of the body and the way the light and shadows play in the contours and curves.
At just under a foot tall, this anatomy model is also the perfect size to use on a drawing table or on the go.
Up Next: Best Pencils For Drawing Anime
