DRAWING IN SPACE

THEORY & PRACTICE OF FIGURATIVE SCULPTURE

A complete studio guide to observing, interpreting, and sculpting the human figure from life.

Nearly a decade in the making. Complete and ready to print.

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248 pages

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Full-colour hardback

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Casebound with dust jacket

·

Ready to print

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Peer-reviewed

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Worldwide shipping

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248 pages · Full-colour hardback · Casebound with dust jacket · Ready to print · Peer-reviewed · Worldwide shipping ·

  • A clearer way to sculpt the figure from life.

    Students

    A clearer way to organise the figure from life.

  • Ateliers

    A shared language for gesture, proportion, and body type.

  • Use clear points of reference to organise what you see.

    Artists

    A studio reference to return to again and again.

INSIDE DRAWING IN SPACE

A studio book,
not a coffee-table book.

For students, ateliers and artists.

Designed to be consulted, marked up, and returned to while working.

Drawing in Space helps artists see structure, simplify complexity, and sculpt the figure with confidence.

  • Use the constructive approach is systematic, it prioritizes the most crucial information to introduce at each stage in the pursuit of structural solidity

    See structure clearly

    Prioritise the information that matters most at each stage.

  • Sculpt the big picture

    Make decisions from a distance as you grow your sculpture from the inside out.

  • Use clear points of reference to organise what you see.

    Work systematically

    Learn what to look for and when. Use clear points of reference to organise what you see.

  • Learn how to ask better questions at every stage.

    Be your own teacher

    Learn how to ask better questions using self-critique prompts throughout the book.

Endorsed by leading artists and art critics

  • “I’ve worked with clay every day for half my life, and this book has already given me a new perspective on a medium I thought I knew intimately. It’s beautifully written, and the often complex, tactile processes are so thoughtfully explained.”

    — Florian Gadsby, Potter

  • “My years studying Drawing in Space forged a rigorous technical mastery that propelled my work to a new level of power and freedom.”

    — Eudald de Juana, Sculptor. Founder of Geode Art Space 

  • “In Drawing in Space, a clarity is being offered that may not have been available since Edouard Lanteri’s Modelling and Sculpting the Human Figure (1902).”

    —  Gary Weisman, Sculptor. Visiting Sculpture Faculty, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts 

  • "The clarity and intelligence of the approach laid out here will make this volume hugely significant to the future vitality of figurative sculpture."

    Peter Trippi, Editor-in-Chief, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, New York


  • “I have always felt that nature is the best teacher; long before I met Rob, I was impressed by the results of Drawing in Space, which brings one closer to sculpting the natural world.”

    — Grzegorz Gwiazda, Sculptor and Associate Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw

  • “May Drawing in Space serve as a beacon of knowledge, guiding and inspiring future generations of artists.”

    —  Daniel Graves, Painter. Founder and Director of the Florence Academy of Art 

  • Sergio Tomasa Carrasco

    Anatomical illustrator
    Sergio teaches sculpture and anatomy at Figura in Amsterdam. His portrait of Dr José Gustavo Guerrero is in the International Court of Justice, The Hague.

  • Hywel Pratley

    Hywel Pratley

    Peer-reviewer
    Hywel teaches Drawing in Space internationally, is a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors, and serves on the council of the Society of Portrait Sculptors.

  • Sanne van Tongeren

    Peer-reviewer
    Sanne is the Founding Director of Figura, the Dutch Academy of Figurative Sculpture in Amsterdam. She is a member of the Dutch Society of Sculptors.

The team behind the book

  • Robert Bodem

    Robert Bodem

    Co-author
    Rob is the Founding Director of The Florence Academy of Art’s Sculpture Program and The Athens Sculpture Atelier. He has spent over two decades refining Drawing in Space, which has shaped a generation of sculptors. Based in Athens, Rob continues his own sculptural practice while exhibiting and teaching internationally.

  • Poppy Field

    Co-author
    Poppy read History of Art at The Courtauld and trained in Drawing in Space at The Florence Academy of Art. Based in London, her public works include monuments of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip for the Royal Albert Hall. She is a visiting tutor at Figura and a Council Member of the Society of Portrait Sculptors.

FAQ

  • Drawing in Space is a first-edition hardback.

    It is 248 pages, full colour throughout, casebound and finished with a dust jacket.

    Future editions will be paperbacks, made with different materials and methods. They will not benefit from the same economies of scale as this first bulk print run, so a later paperback would not necessarily be less expensive.

  • Yes. The book files are complete, and we are working with experienced production partners.

    We will keep backers updated throughout printing, binding and fulfilment.

  • The first-edition hardback will be available on Kickstarter for €80.

    A signed first-edition hardback will be available for €85.

  • Yes. The Kickstarter will include two bundle options for studios, schools, groups and ateliers:

    5-copy bundle: €360
    This offers a 10% saving per book.

    10-copy bundle: €680
    This offers a 15% saving per book.

  • We aim to begin shipping around eight weeks after the campaign ends.

    Kickstarter’s shipping partner, Easyship, will generate shipping labels, provide tracking and prepare customs documentation where required. We will keep backers updated throughout printing and fulfilment, and are committed to clear communication at every stage.

  • Shipping will be charged after the campaign ends.

    Backers will receive an Easyship Collect survey to confirm their delivery address and choose a shipping option. Depending on the destination, there will usually be a choice of services, such as cheapest, fastest or best value. Available services and estimated transit times will vary by country and carrier.

  • Each book will be packed in a rigid cardboard book-wrap mailer for protection.

  • We have chosen Gomer Press, a fourth-generation, family-owned printer and binder in Wales.

    Gomer specialises in high-quality, full-colour book production and produces books in-house under one roof, with modern presses and a dedicated binding line. This means quality control and scheduling remain under their direct supervision.

    Gomer was named Printweek Book Printer of the Year in 2025 and works with leading publishers, museums and cultural institutions, including:

    • Ashmolean

    • Royal Academy of Art

    • National Portrait Gallery

    • British Museum

    • Royal Collection Trust

    • Royal Museums Greenwich

    • The Design Museum

    • The Getty Museum - LA

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