Learn to Draw the Human Figure - Gesture and Proportion

Learn to Draw the Human Figure - Gesture and
Proportion


The complex human form can sometimes seem like a huge challenge for
the artist. Like any task, it becomes much more manageable if you break
it up into 'bite-size' chunks instead of trying to 'swallow it whole'.
To tackle figure drawing - sometimes called 'life drawing' - we will
sometimes take an overview looking at aspects of drawing the whole
figure, and sometimes look at drawing parts of the body. Over time,
practice in all these areas will come together and you'll find yourself
able to tackle any pose with confidence.

Learning to draw a nude model in a life drawing class is
obviously the ideal, but if this isn't possible, don't despair. You can
still learn to draw the figure very well without a model. You'll find
that friends or family may be happy to model wearing close-fitting
sportswear, and any drawing problem (observation, foreshortening,
proportion) that you find on a nude model can equally be explored
drawing arms and legs.



For best results, work consistently, practicing drawing daily. When
reading, make notes in your sketchbook to remind you what to work on.
When you are ready to move on, come back and takle the next exercise.
Remember, you won't learn to draw by just reading about it! You have to
put it into practice.

First, let's look at the basic proportions of the head and body,
and practice sketching them.

Looking
At Proportions

Find out the standard proportions of the human figure. The first
page describes traditional proportions, while the second
page shows you how to measure the model with the 'thumb-and-pencil'
method.

Homework:

Once you've read the article carefully, ask a friend to 'pose' for
you - clothed is just fine! - and do a sketch, using the
thumb-and-pencil method to find how many heads tall they are, and
marking key points on the figure. You could use a mirror, holding your
sketchbook in one arm, if everyone is too busy! Try sketching some
simple stick-figures using circles and ovals, using the proportions
described.


Gestural
Drawing

Practice capturing the essential qualities of the figure using
gestural drawing. The examples in this article focus on strongly
directional lines, but you can also try using loose oval forms to
describe the body. Try a variety of energetic poses.


http://drawsketch.about.com/cs/figuredrawing/a/figuredrawing.htm

When starting out on figure drawing, artists traditionally had to draw
from casts - a foot, a hand, a face - before being allowed to work on a
real figure. A great deal of time was spent studying small details. You
might be keen to tackle the big drama of the figure study, but spending
time working on the detials will make your major drawings much more
successful. This is particularly useful for students who have access to a
life class - time spent working on hands and feet when away from class
will allow you to get maximum value out of time with your model.


Learn how to draw the classic proportions of the human head. Everone
is a tiny bit different, but once you need to get confident with the
basic structure before you tackle detail. Just read page one of this
article to start with. For more detail on the technique, take a look at
the Ron Lemen tutorial link near the bottom of the text.
Homework:Practice constructing heads using the method
shown. Don't get too involved in detail, just work on constructing a
three-dimensional nose, and placing the eyes and mouth in correct
alignment with the plane of the face.



Learn to
Draw Hands

The complexity and mobility of hands can make them a daunting
subject, often the most clumsily drawn part of a figure drawing. Read
this lesson for a simplified approach to drawing hands. Spend plenty of
time practicing hands - you have your own to practice on! Fill pages
with hand
studies like these.

How to
Draw Eyes

Apprentices in the Master's studio would spend hours (when not
painstakingly grinding pigments) doing studies of eyes. Read this
article, then ask a friend to pose (or use a mirror, or magazine photos)
and do your own page of eyes from every angle. Practice drawing pairs
of eyes, especially at an angle, being sure to align them correctly on
the face.


Learn to
Draw Hair

Hair is an important part of a person, and poorly handled hair
diminishes an otherwise well-drawn figure. This tutorial focuses on
quite detailed pencil drawing, but the principle of looking at the darks
and lights works equally well when handled briskly, or when using
charcoal. Try it and see. (Be sure to read all 3 pages.)