How to Draw a Full Body Person
As creative beings, we all have this innate urge to express our thoughts, feelings and ideas. Drawing is one of the simplest and most fulfilling ways to materialize our imagination. However, it can also be one of the most challenging endeavours if it’s a full figure. When it comes to learning how to draw a full body person, the trick is to start with the basics. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you out!
Step 1: Structure
The first step to any form of art is to construct the basic framework. It’s no different when it comes to drawing a full body person. Sketch the structure of the human form in simple round shapes. Put an oval for the head and draw two ellipses for the torso and legs. Connect them with an hourglass shape for arms and two cylindrical shapes for hands. Don’t worry about details yet, focus on getting the geometry right.
Step 2: Proportion
Proportions are important when creating a realistic figure. To get them right, draw vertical and horizontal lines to divide the body parts. Use your judgement to decide where to place the lines. To make sure the figure looks symmetrical, measure the segments between them and in case they’re misaligned, draw them again. Also, don’t forget to distinguish the neck’s length. For reference, check some images with the right proportions.
Step 3: Limbs
Now it’s time to add more details. To draw the arms and legs, start with a line that connects the shoulder and hip. Then, draw the circumference of the arms. At the tip of the shoulder, draw an ellipse shape for the deltoids and circles for the elbows and wrists. On the other hand, the legs require the same technique of drawing simple shapes like circles and rectangles for the place of the joints.
Step 4: Features
Draw a cross in the face centre for the mouth and nose and another one for the eyes. Put attention on making the eyes in the same level. Use curved lines for the cheeks and forehead, then draw the hair. To find the right expressions, you might want to search for some images for inspiration. Lastly, you can add some shadows and highlights to emphasize the form and make it look realistic.
