Ever watched those sketching videos on Youtube and become mesmerized by the drawing masters’ talent? Been envious of their carefully crafted perspective scenes? Drawing people in perspective is one of the more technical and complex aspects of art. But no worries, If you’re willing to put in the practice, you’ll be drawing perspective figures like an experienced artist in no time!
Part 1: Start With the Basics
We’ll kickstart the process by introducing some of the most important principles of perspective. This information provides the foundation for building your own perspective diagrams and sketching human figures.
First, you need to understand the concept of a horizon line. This refers to an imaginary line where the earth meets the sky and extends infinitely from left to right. When sketching in perspective, the horizon line controls which areas of the sketch are closer or further away from you.
Next up, vanishing points. This concept refers to the point, in a perspective sketch, where parallel lines fade out of view. Typically, two to three points are included in a sketch to create a more dynamic and realistic appearance.
Finally, the concept of recession lines. These lines are parallel, drawn according to the principle of vanishing points and represent the sides of a cube that are moving away from you. By connecting the vanishing points with the horizon line, you’ll have the basics challenge of perspective sketching all figured out.
Part 2: Crafting Perspective Figures
Now that you know the basics, let’s move on to the fun part – crafting 3D figures! When drawing people in perspective, it’s important to note the angles. Most people you’re likely to encounter won’t be perfectly squared off, so feel free to play with angles as you sketch.
The golden rule to bear in mind is that all elements that protrude above the horizon line will be seen at an angle. This means that drawing a person’s face in perspective requires factoring in the angle at which you’re seeing the contours. Sticking to the angle and connecting the lines to the horizon or the figure’s body will create a firmer and more realistic sketch.
As with all forms of art, it’s important to practice and gain familiarity with the principles of perspective drawing if you wish to master it. Persistently practicing human figures in the same perspective will help you gain the necessary muscle memory for creating aesthetically pleasing sketches in the future.
Part 3: Reference Materials & Tips
We understand if the process of sketching people in perspective is still feeling a tad intimidating – that’s totally normal! To get you going on the right track, it is important to leverage reference material such as photos and videos to gain a better understanding of the principles and practice drawing sketches.
It’s also a handy idea to include the body proportions in your perspective drawings. Drawing the contours in a correct proportion brings your sketch to life and make the human figure feel realistic and alive. Don’t forget to create a 3D illusion by using the recession lines and applying the principle of foreshortening. This is the trickiest part and so practice as much as you can to perfect this.
Last but not least, if you find yourself struggling with perspective sketching, there is no need to worry! Investing in learning resources and tutorials can make a world of difference to your progress. With the right learning material, you can go from a beginner to a drawing master in no time!
Part 4: Put Practice Into Action
Now that you have the fundamentals under your belt, it’s time to practice the art! Remember that practice makes perfect and do not be discouraged by the initial drawing failures. Progress takes time and patience.
Having said that, a positive attitude goes a long way in mastering perspective sketching. Believe in yourself as an artist and use what you gained from your reference materials to apply in your practice sketching. You can also challenge yourself by practicing different scenarios – different backgrounds, different positions or different lighting. No matter what kind of challenges you throw at yourself, eventually these scenarios will become second nature and you’ll be creating astounding pictures with ease!
See? Drawing people in perspective is more achievable than it seems. So don’t be feel intimidated, just stay positive and practice, practice, practice.
