Let Your Ingenuity Loose: How To Draw Side View Body
Drawing side view body can be intimidating. But not anymore! With this simple guide, you’ll become a master of sketching the human body in no time. We’ve got the shortcuts, tips and tricks to help you get your artistic vision to life. So let loose your ingenuity and let’s begin!
1. Differentiate the Scene
The first step is to differentiate what you’re trying to draw. Sticking to a side view of the body can be an uphill task. Especially when attempting to add some depth and reality to your sketches. To do this, create some contrast between the environment and the figure by clarifying their individual boundaries. That way, you can create a more realistic view of how the figure stands out from its surroundings.
2. Finalize the Foreshortening
The next step is all about perspective. When creating a side view of the body, it’s important to keep a clear vision of the form, length and size of what you’re drawing. Thanks to the art of foreshortening, you can quickly determine the dimension of each body part. Whether you’re going for a dynamic figure or a static one, knowing how to utilize foreshortening can quickly help you add some believability to your sketches.
3. Know Your Way Around the Proportions
Remember that every body shape is unique and different. Even if you’re using a ruler to draw the body in a side view, you still need to be aware of the different anatomy proportions. That way, you can successfully recreate the figure in real life without falling prey to the common mistakes of unrealistic drawing. Knowing the right proportions of the body will provide you with the freedom to experiment with different shapes and perspectives.
4. Dare to Experiment!
Now it’s time to show off your creativity! Dig into different styles and experiment with them until you find the perfect one to suit your vision. Whether it’s a manga-style sketch or a realistic pencil work, it’s you who’s steering the wheel. Open freehand mode and create your own paths, adapting new forms and perspectives as you go. All these small changes will empower your final masterpiece and make it truly unique.
5. Start with the Basics
Drawing the human body from a side view might seem like a challenging task. But don’t worry! For every complex problem, there is a simple solution. Before you begin, take a look around and observe how other artists made their mark on the subject. Pay attention to the basics, such as the body shape, the arm and leg placement and the facial features. Recognizing patterns can quickly help you get closer to your goal of understanding the side view of the body.
6. Practice Makes Perfect!
Nothing beats practice when it comes to honing your artistic skills. Even if you feel that you have completed the task, you can always look for ways to improve your work. Take a step back and analyze your outcome. What can you change? Are the dimensions right? Is there something you can add to make it more alive? Small tweaks can take your drawings to the next level.
7. Resist the Urge to Copy
Sure, inspiration is extremely valuable and it can help you view your work from different angles. But you need to remember that your work needs to be original. By copying other people’s work, you won’t become a better artist. Instead, focus on developing your own ideas and find other ways to display your vision. After all, your artwork is an extension of your creativity and it should remain 100% unique!
8. Finish It With a Flourish
Finally, it’s time to bring the whole picture together! Squint your eyes and take a long, hard look at your drawing. Are you happy with the results? Perfect! Now it’s time to add those finishing touches and to sprinkle some magic onto your work. You can go wild with colors, textures and other elements to make your masterpiece alive with vivid detail. Get creative and you won’t regret it!
Refining your work is a crucial task. Now that you have finished your sketch, take some time to go through each line and tackle any inconsistencies. Bye-bye, smudges and smears! Once you are satisfied with the result, don’t hesitate to share your new artwork with the world. Who knows? Maybe you’ve just created the next most fabulous canvas of a side view body.
