How To Draw The Human Figure
Drawing the human figure can seem intimidating, but with a little practice and guidance you can create works of art that you can be proud of.
Isn’t it time you showed the world the artist you truly are? Drawing the human figure isn’t as hard as you think. Here are some of my top tips to get you started:
Start with the basics
Before you tackle complex poses, it’s important that you understand the basic anatomy of the human figure. Study the relationships between the major body parts and the variation in proportions from person to person.
Once you have a grasp of basic anatomy and the ability to break down the body into simple shapes, you can start to work on posing your figure. To accurately capture the dynamic of movement, focus on the line of action. This is the central line of force that cuts through the figure and communicates the weight and energy of the pose.
Create your own characters
Drawing the human figure isn’t just about replicating poses from books and photos, you can also create characters from your own imagination. It’s important to draw a variety of figures in different poses, since this will help you become more familiar with the forms and shapes of the human body.
Start by asking yourself questions such as “Who is this character? What is their age, gender or nationality? What kind of emotion are they expressing through their body language? What type of clothing do they wear?” Collecting varied reference material and using your imagination to create your own characters will help to make your work more personal and interesting.
Focus on details
Pay attention to the details. Investigate the different textures and patterns that make up the human figure and capture them in your drawings. Look at the way each person’s face is individual, the way the fingers wrap around an item and the way fabric is draped across their body. All of these details add up to tell a story about the individual pose and can help to bring your character to life.
Practice makes perfect
The only way to improve your skills is with practice. Draw from life. Draw from photos. Draw from memory. Push yourself and try out different techniques and materials to discover your own artistic style. Try out different lighting and shading techniques to give your figure depth and dimension.
Learning to draw the human figure can be a rewarding experience, so don’t be afraid to give it a go! Don’t be discouraged if your results aren’t perfect; the important thing is to enjoy the process and keep improving.
