How To Draw Someone Walking
Drawing someone walking can seem intricate, but when you break it down into simple steps, it’s not that complicated. As with any skill, practice makes perfect. To get started, all you need is a pencil, paper, eraser, and some inspiration.
First, let’s go over the basics. Drawing someone walking requires that you get the skeletal structure and overall body proportions accurate. This means creating the basic outline of the person, from the head to the body, as well as the legs and arms. To make sure the figure looks realistic, draw a light line for the center of the body to ensure the head, torso, and legs are balanced.
Next, let’s focus on the legs. Most people have their left leg forward when they are walking, so begin by sketching that out. It’s important to get the angles of the legs and feet correct. Start by drawing a light oval shape for the feet, and then sketch out the legs with two straight lines. To make sure you don’t draw the legs too long or too short, measure the distance between the head and the feet.
Once you’ve got the legs and feet done, it’s time to tackle the arms. Keeping with the realistic theme, draw the right arm hanging naturally down; the rubber arm syndrome many previous art students committed is an easy mistake to make. Remember to draw the torso a bit wider to represent the arm hanging on the side of the body.
Now comes the fun part-putting in the details. Start by adding a face, hair, and clothes. Think of the way people move when they’re walking and create motion lines along the arms and legs. To emphasize the motion of the figure, you can draw curved lines moving outward from the person’s body. Don’t forget to draw the hands, as well-try to imagine how the figure is gripping the objects they are carrying.
Once you’re finished with the details, take a step back and analyze your figure. The proportions should look correct and the movement lines should suggest motion and energy. The figure should look relaxed and confident and the clothes should look natural and unforced.
To make sure your figure looks 3-dimensional, apply shading. Focus on casting light and dark shadows, and define the musculature of the arms and legs. By shading certain areas, you can give your figure the impression of dimension and make it look more realistic. When you’re done, choose a colored pencil or watercolor and add some color to the figure.
To recap, drawing someone walking is pretty straightforward when you take it one step at a time. Make sure to break down the figure into its basic components, and add motion and dimension with shading. With some practice, you’ll be able to draw people walking in your sleep.
Now, let’s get creative. To add an interesting twist to your drawings, incorporate an animal walking with the person. This could be a dog, a cat, or something more exotic. Sketching an animal will help capture the unique personality of the person, as well as the relationship they share with their pet.
Another great way to make your drawings stand out is to experiment with the poses. Have the person doing something unusual, like juggling, or dancing. Drawing the figure from an unusual angle can also help add a jolt of energy to your drawing. To get the anatomy correct, look at reference photos and, if possible, draw from life.
You can also play around with the background. Give your figure some context-is the person walking in a city street or in a park? If you want, you can add specific landmarks, like a bridge or a tall building, to create a more dynamic composition. The goal is to add a hint of reality so that the person looks like they are actually walking in a specific place.
To wrap up, drawing someone walking is not as intimidating as it may seem. Break down the figure into the basic components and get the proportions right. Add motion and life with shading, and then get creative and add interesting poses and backgrounds to give your drawings some personality. With some practice and experimentation, you’ll be able to draw walking figures in no time.
