Getting Started
Drawing people can seem like an intimidating task, but with a few simple techniques and an eye for detail the process can be surprisingly simple. Before picking up a pencil, take the time to really observe people and familiarize yourself with their features and proportions. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to try; practice really does make perfect!
Gesture Drawing
Gesture drawing is an important part of sketching people. This involves quickly sketching the bare bones of a human figure, focusing mainly on essential angles and poses rather than details. It’s best to draw from life, taking the time to observe the physicality of a person you’re attempting to sketch. Don’t be afraid to use short, loose strokes and make use of graphite so you can easily erase and redraw.
Gathering Reference
Though drawing from life may give you the best perspective, it’s also important to know when to look for outside reference. This can come in the form of photographs, life casts and sculptures. Having a few reference points can help you nail down how the proportions of a person should look and help you understand how to draw different parts of the body, such as hands, feet, clothes and hair.
Construction Using Basic Shapes
When constructing your drawings, it’s helpful to break them down into simple shapes, such as circles and rectangles. This is a useful tool as it can help to give your drawing structure and make it easier to get the figure’s proportions correct. Once you’re confident with the basic shape, you can then begin to draw more natural and characterful features like hands, arms and head.
Refining Strokes & Finishing the Drawing
When you’re ready to bring your character to life and begin to add more detail, start off by refining the basic lines and shapes made in the construction stage. Continue to observe real people, as this will help you to convey character in the figure. Sketch out clothing, flowy locks of hair and expressions, giving your drawings grace and personality. Adding small details like moles, wrinkles and pores will bring your characters to life.
Using Color & Texture
To make your characters even more lifelike, introduce color and texture. This doesn’t have to involve expensive art supplies; even a simple colored pencil can add real depth to your work. Start by blocking out larger areas, such as shirt colors and hair, then introduce more subtle gradations and highlight certain sections. If you’re using graphite, use a kneaded eraser to create light and highlight areas more precisely.
Integrating Exaggeration & Posing
To convey a certain emotion or atmosphere with your drawing, you’ll need to use exaggeration and posing. This can involve altering the proportions of certain body parts, such as making the arms longer or the head larger. Making your figure twist and turn can also help express emotion and draw the viewer into your world. Be thoughtful in how you exaggerate, as making a mistake could ruin the effect of your drawing.
Rendering Details & Proportions
Focus on the underlying structure of your figure and render details accurately. No two people are exactly alike; keeping this in mind will help you avoid making cookie-cutter characters. To ensure you get the proportions right, use grids and measuring tools such as calipers and ruler.
Drawing People In Different Styles
Once you’ve got the basics down, you can start to experiment with different drawing styles. This could involve simplifying certain features, thickening lines or exploring a brighter color palette. Have fun, work hard and accept that some mistakes are all part of the learning process.
Drawing people can seem like an intimidating task, but with a few simple techniques and an eye for detail the process can be surprisingly simple. Before picking up a pencil, take the time to really observe people and familiarize yourself with their features and proportions. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to try; practice really does make perfect!
Gesture Drawing
Gesture drawing is an important part of sketching people. This involves quickly sketching the bare bones of a human figure, focusing mainly on essential angles and poses rather than details. It’s best to draw from life, taking the time to observe the physicality of a person you’re attempting to sketch. Don’t be afraid to use short, loose strokes and make use of graphite so you can easily erase and redraw.
Gathering Reference
Though drawing from life may give you the best perspective, it’s also important to know when to look for outside reference. This can come in the form of photographs, life casts and sculptures. Having a few reference points can help you nail down how the proportions of a person should look and help you understand how to draw different parts of the body, such as hands, feet, clothes and hair.
Construction Using Basic Shapes
When constructing your drawings, it’s helpful to break them down into simple shapes, such as circles and rectangles. This is a useful tool as it can help to give your drawing structure and make it easier to get the figure’s proportions correct. Once you’re confident with the basic shape, you can then begin to draw more natural and characterful features like hands, arms and head.
Refining Strokes & Finishing the Drawing
When you’re ready to bring your character to life and begin to add more detail, start off by refining the basic lines and shapes made in the construction stage. Continue to observe real people, as this will help you to convey character in the figure. Sketch out clothing, flowy locks of hair and expressions, giving your drawings grace and personality. Adding small details like moles, wrinkles and pores will bring your characters to life.
Using Color & Texture
To make your characters even more lifelike, introduce color and texture. This doesn’t have to involve expensive art supplies; even a simple colored pencil can add real depth to your work. Start by blocking out larger areas, such as shirt colors and hair, then introduce more subtle gradations and highlight certain sections. If you’re using graphite, use a kneaded eraser to create light and highlight areas more precisely.
Integrating Exaggeration & Posing
To convey a certain emotion or atmosphere with your drawing, you’ll need to use exaggeration and posing. This can involve altering the proportions of certain body parts, such as making the arms longer or the head larger. Making your figure twist and turn can also help express emotion and draw the viewer into your world. Be thoughtful in how you exaggerate, as making a mistake could ruin the effect of your drawing.
Rendering Details & Proportions
Focus on the underlying structure of your figure and render details accurately. No two people are exactly alike; keeping this in mind will help you avoid making cookie-cutter characters. To ensure you get the proportions right, use grids and measuring tools such as calipers and ruler.
Drawing People In Different Styles
Once you’ve got the basics down, you can start to experiment with different drawing styles. This could involve simplifying certain features, thickening lines or exploring a brighter color palette. Have fun, work hard and accept that some mistakes are all part of the learning process.
