1. Introduction
This method will help you draw people and different creatures with a pencil. It in no way claims to be the best or even the fastest. Working this way, you will have to think and recreate the shapes human body in volume.
Classical animation (especially Disney) uses a similar method of developing characters. There it is important to feel the character in volume so that he moves naturally. This method will help you get your representation of character shapes on paper. And it will get rid of the "does not fit on the sheet" syndrome.
2. Pose
Fundamentals of human anatomy
Schematic representations of a person
Let's start with simplified images of a person. Remember: "Stick, stick, cucumber - it turned out to be a little man" ... Do not underestimate their significance. You don't even know what use schematic "little men" can bring. You ask - what?
Most importantly, they display very important characteristic object you are drawing - proportions. You know the meaning of proportions in drawing. Leg too short or too a long nose can ruin any masterpiece.
Let's take a closer look at our people. They differ in detail, depending on how accurately you want to recreate the figure. But we will deal with the poses a little later. Let's look at proportions first.
Man 1. Head, torso, arms and legs. There is little you can do with it. Is that to practice in observing the proportions of these parts of the body.
Man 3. Pinnacle of schematic art;). I don't think you've ever seen anyone draw like this. In this figure, the shoulders and pelvis already have a certain width. Below you will appreciate the value of schematic drawings.
Exercise: draw a few "little men" and see how accurately you keep the proportions. It's simple and fast way evaluate your knowledge of the proportions of the human body. You will be able to really appreciate the result if you are not distracted by accessories: armor, hair, etc.
In addition, a schematic image allows you to immediately determine whether your hero will fit on a piece of paper allotted to him.
Language of the body
And again little people.
So, now you know how important it is to master the proportions in or. And what kind of help do schematic little men provide in this. Now it's time for the pose. Or, in other words, make your hero do something.
With the help of schematic drawings, you can try many poses and choose the right one before you start working on the character. In addition, you will always see whether the figure will fit on the sheet or not. So a schematic image helps you plan your future masterpiece.
Humans in action.
Below are a few examples in which the schematic "little men" display various poses. As a rule, you can immediately see whether the pose is natural or not. As a last resort, try to recreate the pose that you drew, and it will immediately become clear to you;)
This one throws a spear.
Dancing (well, I think so;).
Runs. Note that the pelvis and shoulders have become slightly narrower. After all, we are drawing a side view.
Gladiator. The lowered hand with the sword is slightly shorter. Pay attention to the rotation of the body - a very natural pose, especially when looking around somewhere.
This one is sad. Or can't find a contact lens.
This one just doesn't do anything. The same rotation of the body - the shoulders and hips are deployed at a small angle.
Strange type. He must be very uncomfortable. Anyway, it looks stupid.
Exercise: draw a few sketchy people doing different things. Watch the proportions. This work will help you feel the dynamics of the human body.
Equilibrium
When you set the pose of your character, you need to remember about his center of gravity. The law of universal gravitation has not yet been canceled. The center of gravity of a person is located in the lower abdomen. The weight of the legs is about half the weight of the body.
Its location relative to the points of support affects the balance of the body. Look at these examples:
red circle = center of gravity
red arrow = direction of gravity
green arrow = pivot points
Normal gait. human
The center of gravity is between the two points of support. As a result, the person is in balance.
A fall.
The center of gravity is away from the fulcrum. As a result, the person loses balance and falls to the left.
Balancing.
It is possible due to the relative symmetry of the human body. Compare with the following figure.
Now the man leans to the right. The center of gravity also shifts slightly to the right.
Run man, run.
When a person runs, the center of gravity is in front of the fulcrum. You see that such an unbalanced posture causes the person to fall forward. Naturally, he will not fall, because he moves forward and alternately puts his legs forward.
Leaning against the wall.
The little man is in balance, because the center of gravity is between two points of support: the legs and the shoulder. The second leg does not take part in maintaining balance.
Crouching tiger. The lurking dragon.
High kick. The center of gravity is to the right of the fulcrum and the body will move to the right. This will give strength to the blow. By the way, knowledgeable people they say it's wrong to beat like that.
Of course, the posture does not have to be balanced. This gives it dynamism and movement. A balanced pose is a calm character.
I hope that my advice will allow you to achieve a more natural drawing.
Movements and actions
The body is a flexible and movable system that is affected by gravity. His position is not rigidly established.
The first picture shows a walking person. I displayed the movements in a somewhat exaggerated form, for clarity. Pay attention to the movement of the hip joints. Shoulders tend to move in the opposite direction.
In the second picture - a man who lies on his side, leaning on his elbow. His chest hangs on the appropriate shoulder. The spine has a certain flexibility and can also change its position.
3. Structure
To create something, you need to understand its structure. If you want to depict the human body, you need to know a little about the features of its structure.
Skeleton
The skeleton, as you know, is the basis of the body. The schematic little men have already shown us something. But we need to get to know the human body better.
Main parts of the human body:
- Front view:
- head ( black)
- rib cage ( blue)
- spine ( blue)
- pelvis ( blue)
- joints ( red)
- hands ( green)
- brushes ( green)
- legs ( green)
- feet ( green)
Side view.
Pay attention to the curve of the spine (I removed my hands so that it can be seen better).
To draw a human figure, you can use the skeleton in a simplified form:
This drawing allows a little better understanding of the structure of the human body.
The structure of the human body
And now - closer to the body. Let's take care of the muscles (or fat, as it turns out). We will use ellipses, cylinders, and other shapes to represent body parts. Select the shape that best suits the desired part of the body.
Maybe go straight to drawing the actual body?
Of course it is possible. But we've been working on sketchy figures and a simplified skeleton so you don't get distracted by the details so you can work on proportions, balance and pose. This seemingly extra step will allow you to deal with volumetric proportions.
Volumetric representation of body parts.
Red lines are connections.
You can analyze the location of body parts.
Location of body parts. Practice
You can use this method to describe poses and volumes. Look at the examples.
On the left - sketches, schematic drawings. On the right - three-dimensional drawings based on schematic drawings.
Note that you do not need to strictly adhere to the cylindrical shape - rather, just connect the joints. These sketches are similar to medical mannequins, made up of cylinders and ellipsoids.
Details
This method will also come in handy when working out details, such as hands and feet.
4. Options
Of course, different people quite different proportions.
1. People
Here are some examples:
- muscular man;
- woman, standard figure;
- thick man;
- child
Sometimes it's easier to draw the whole figure (as in the case of a muscular man), sometimes - first chest, then the rest. See for yourself which is more convenient.
2. Various creatures
This method will help you draw a variety of creatures whose structure is similar to that of a human. To be precise - all the descendants of dinosaurs, from mammals to birds.
Here are some examples:
- Monkey
- Dog
- Lizard
When I worked on the muscular monkey, I drew the whole figure at once. As a rule, for muscular creatures it is not necessary to draw a separate chest.
The same applies to limbs. You don't have to draw the lines first. Draw the joints and connect them.
3. Cartoon characters
Yes, for "cartoons", especially in the style of the forties and fifties, this method is also well suited. Converting volumes is quite easy, you will see for yourself. You do not need to draw the chest and pelvis if you do not need them. And the joints are hardly needed for "cartoons" that bend like rubber.
That's it guys. The lesson is over. the main idea- for drawings you need a certain basis. To get it, it is better to simplify the image to a schematic. The main advantage of this method is that you can easily and quickly try out different poses. And the size of the paper will not get in the way of your imagination. This method will help improve the composition of the drawing.
And finally - a small example.
Usually all artists draw people sitting or standing. But what if we have the task of depicting a lying person? The technique will be slightly different from the usual. To see the drawing lessons of people in full height, go to the "people" section of this site. The menu is located somewhere above (or on the side), depending on which device you are currently reading this text from.
Let's get back to the lesson. I took for example this girl who is lying, this is exactly what we need:
First point. It is necessary to select all parts of the body using circles.
Second point. We will get a blank form for the future drawing of a lying person. But while this is only a sketch, you need to use the leading lines to show where the eyes, growth, nose, arms and legs are located. Don't forget the hair, it's a woman.
Third point. Now we can easily draw every detail of the body of a lying girl, because we have done good sketch. A sketch is the key to a good drawing.
Step four. We erase the lines that served as auxiliary guidelines. Add hatching. And then we bring the drawing of the lying girl to the end, I got it realistic, and you?
I've got enough useful lessons drawing girls. I advise you, dear reader, to see them all and choose the most interesting ones for yourself. I give you a list.
Drawing a person can be the most vivid and profound experience in an artist's life. Today we have prepared for you tips from the famous Italian artist Giovanni Civardi from Drawing the Human Figure. Let this knowledge become a source of inspiration and creative stimulus, helping to convey mood and memories in the form of a drawing.
You can draw a human figure and a portrait with any materials - from pencils to watercolors. The pencil is the most common tool due to its low cost and versatility. Charcoal is great for quick drawings with strong tonal contrast and less workable small details̆. For mascara, it is recommended to use thick and smooth paper good quality. Mixed media is a simultaneous combination different materials in one picture.
Experiment in search own tricks, which will achieve the most expressiveness, and try to take advantage of random effects.
Fundamentals of plastic anatomy
Artists study anatomy in order to make meaningful representations of the human figure. To reproduce it reliably, you need not only to see, but also to understand what you are drawing.
Thanks to the knowledge of anatomy, the image becomes more convincing and alive than nature itself.
In general, the shape of the body is determined by the skeleton as the main supporting structure, the muscles that fit it, and the upper layer, consisting of a fatty cover. It is useful to know and remember the relative sizes of the articulating bones and their proportions relative to each other and the entire skeleton, because without this information it is impossible to “transfer” the figure to paper and acquire the skill to depict it logically and consistently.
Below are the main bones of the skull and neck, along with skin, cartilage, fat, muscle, hair, and more, in layers.
The skeleton of the male torso, enclosed in the contours of the body, in the frontal, lateral and dorsal planes. These drawings will help expand your understanding of body shape.
Upper and lower limbs in different planes. As in the previous figure, skeletal structure shown inside the contours of the body.
It is important for an artist to consider three main aspects of muscles: their appearance (shape, size, volume), location (where it is in relation to the skeletal structure and adjacent muscles, how deep or superficial) and its mechanism (function, direction of muscle pull, corresponding changes in shape and etc.).
Proportions
In order for the drawing to come out believable, it is necessary to take into account the proportions of the body and head. The height of the head from the forehead to the chin is often taken as a unit of measurement for determining the proportions of the body. The growth of a standard figure is approximately 7.5-8 heads. Remember a few more proportional relationships: the head fits into the total height of the body with the neck three times, the length of the upper limbs is also three heads, and the lower ones are three and a half.
Despite the differences between individual individuals, they can be divided into three main groups of types with similar characteristics within each - ectomorphs, mesomorphs and endomorphs.
Hands and feet
It is easy to understand why the hands and feet, with their arrangement and variety of possible gestures, are considered the most difficult parts of the body to convincingly reproduce, both in drawing and in painting and sculpture.
Drawing your hands and feet is the best way to study them in as much detail as possible. You will be able to make sure that quite worthy studies are obtained, comparable to face drawings, and maybe even more expressive.
First, a quick (but diligent) sketch is performed in the desired angle and pose, then with the help of its “geometrization” the necessary anatomical information and volume are transmitted, after which the details and individual outlines are refined.
As well as for the head and body, knowledge about the structure of the bones of the feet and hands will be useful.
Draw your own hands and feet in different provisions. You can use a mirror. take miscellaneous items into your hands and convey the dynamics and mood of the gesture in the drawing.
Head, face, portrait
The main interest for the artist has always been the face and figure. A portrait is not just a reproduction of physical features for the purpose of recognizing a particular character. This is a story through facial expressions about his personality, thoughts and emotions.
How to draw a head and facial features, we described in detail in the article.
Outline of a person in a sketchbook
A sketch is a quick, spontaneous drawing from life, made in a short time with several informative lines. Drawing people in a natural setting, who do not pose on purpose and probably do not know that they are being viewed and depicted, will seem difficult at first. But there is no real reason to be afraid or lost - hardly anyone will pay attention to what you are doing.
The ability to portray strangers̆ in any position and under any circumstances is important for the development of technical skills and value judgment. And, of course, the regular practice of sketching will hone the gift of observation and interpretation, teach you to look deeper and make quick, confident, understandable and accurate decisions.
A few quick tips on how to sketch from life:
- Get in the habit of always carrying a pencil and a small sketchbook—one that fits easily into your bag or pocket—in case something catches your eye or seems interesting.
- It is worth striving to increase observation and the ability to isolate the main thing and at the same time coordinate visual perception, value judgment and hand movements during the execution of the drawing.
- Do not try to reflect on paper everything that you see in nature. Given the limited amount of time and the risk of changing the pose of the model at any second, focus on the essentials.
- To learn how to use your memory to reproduce the sequence of basic phases of movement, you will need maximum concentration in observing people.
If you are still confused by the thought of drawing people from life (note that if someone notices what you are doing, some may be flattered and others will leave in displeasure), drawing statues can help prepare for this mentally and gain some confidence. and sculptures in museums or monuments in public places.
Check if the museum allows you to sketch, and if so, feel free to go there and sketch the sculptures from different angles.
This is how they teach drawing in Paris - in the courtyard of the Louvre with sculptures.
Stages of drawing
If you are drawing a whole figure (clothed or naked), you can first draw some quick, light lines to outline the space that it will take on a piece of paper (maximum height, maximum width, etc.). Then outline the main parts of the body (head, torso and limbs) taking into account relative proportions.
Finish the drawing with essential contours, shadows and details that cannot be left out. Erase guide lines if needed.
In the book "Drawing the Human Figure" each section is analyzed in as much detail as possible, there are detailed images of the human skeleton in different planes. It is described in detail how to draw a figure of a man, a woman, a child, an elderly person, how to depict a nude and a person in clothes.
In this tutorial, I want to demonstrate how to draw a bed with a pencil in stages. I will draw in graphics editor SAI, however, you can use paper, pencil, paint, or draw on a computer with a mouse and graphics tablet.
Each of us in the evening or late at night goes to sleep in our favorite bed. Beds are different types and materials - on springs, folding, folding, single and double, iron and beds made of solid birch or pine. Let's try to draw a single bed with a blanket and a pillow in a cartoon style.
In order for our painted bed to be even and not fall apart, we just need a frame. In addition, drawing the base makes it easier to work further. Draw here such a design, denoting the elements of the bed.
- Legs;
- Front and back headboard;
- Blanket;
- Pillow;
- Mattress.
To make it easier to draw, I start with the back of the bed. We draw it immediately together with the legs. I depict a wooden bed, but you can show your imagination - for example, make a pattern or drawing. The legs can be thin, just like the back itself, you can make each of the elements carved.
Now let's draw a soft pillow and a mattress under it (its visible part). These elements can be drawn in a box or stripe if you like such patterns. You can also draw a fully made bed covered with a blanket - in general, let your imagination run wild, or use your own bed or a photo as a reference.
It remains to draw the second back and the remaining legs of the bed. The visibility of the back leg depends on the angle from which we draw the bed.
Head:
We draw a figure that resembles an egg turned upside down with a sharp end down. This figure is called OVOID.
Vertically and horizontally, we divide it exactly in half with thin lines.
vertical
the line is the axis of symmetry (it is needed so that the right and left parts
turned out to be equal in size and the image elements were not on
different levels).
Horizontal - the line of the eyes. We divide it into five equal parts.
In the second and fourth parts are the eyes. The distance between the eyes is also equal to one eye.
The figure below shows how to draw the eye (the iris and pupil will
not fully visible - the upper eyelid partially covers them), but we are not in a hurry
to do this, first finish our sketch. 
Divide the part from the line of the eyes to the chin by two - this is the line on which the nose will be.
Divide the part from the line of the eyes to the top of the head into three equal parts. The upper mark is the line from where the hair grows) 
The part from the nose to the chin is also divided into three parts. The top mark is the lip line.
Distance from upper eyelid to the tip of the nose is equal to the distance from the upper edge of the ear to the lower. 
Now we make our standard blank sob in three streams.
lines,
drawn from the outer edges of the eyes will show us where to draw the neck.
Lines from the inner edges of the eyes - the width of the nose. Lines drawn in an arc from
the center of the pupils is the width of the mouth.
When you colorize the image, notice that the raised
parts (forehead, cheeks, nose and chin) will be lighter, and the eye sockets, cheekbones,
the contour of the face, and the place under the lower lip - darker.
The shape of the face, eyes, eyebrows, lips, nose, ears and
etc. all people are different. Therefore, when drawing someone's portrait, try
see these features and superimpose them on a standard workpiece.
Another example of the fact that everyone's facial features are different.
Well, here we see how to draw a face in profile and half a turn - the so-called "three quarters"
At
drawing a half-turn face, you need to take into account the rules
perspective - the far eye and the far side of the lip will appear smaller.
Let's go to the picture human figure.
In order to depict the body as correctly as possible, you need to know a few secrets, as when drawing portraits:
The unit of measure for the human body is the "length of the head".
- human height is on average 7.5 head lengths.
- Men, of course, are usually slightly taller than women.
-
Of course, we start drawing the body from the very head that we will
measure everything. Have you drawn? Now we postpone its length seven more times down.
This will be the growth of the depicted.
- The width of the shoulders is equal to two head lengths for men and one and a half lengths for women.
- At the place where the third head ends :), there will be a navel and an arm bent at the elbow.
- The fourth is the place where the legs grow from.
- The fifth is the middle of the thigh. This is where the arm length ends.
- Sixth - bottom of the knee.
-
You can not believe me, but the length of the arms is equal to the length of the legs, the length of the arm from the shoulder
to the elbow will be slightly less than the length from the elbow to the fingertips.
- The length of the brush is equal to the height of the face (note, not the head - the distance from the chin to the top of the forehead), the length of the foot is equal to the length of the head.
Knowing all this, you can quite plausibly portray the figure of a person.
Taken in a group dedicated to graffiti VKontakte.
Lip shapes 
nose shape 
Eye shapes 
Forms of women's brogues
(c) The book "How to draw a human head and figure" by Jack Hamm
The proportions of the child's figure differ from
adult proportions. The less times the length of the head is hindered in growth
child, the younger he is.
IN child portrait everything is a little different.
The child's face is more rounded, the forehead is larger. If we draw a horizontal
line through the middle baby face, then it will not be an eye line, like
was in the portrait of an adult.
To learn how to draw a person not only
standing like a pillar, we will temporarily simplify our image. Let's leave
only the head, chest, spine, pelvis and fasten to all this
arms and legs. The main thing is to keep all proportions.
Having such simplified version human figure, we can easily give him any pose.
When we have decided on a pose, we can
grow meat on our simplified skeleton. Do not forget that the body, it is not
angular and does not consist of rectangles - we try to draw smooth
lines. At the waist, the body gradually narrows, at the knees and elbows too.
To make the image more lively, character and expression must be given not only to the face, but also to the pose.
Hands:
Fingers on such smooth as a board, the joints in the entire skeleton are the widest parts of the bones.
(c) Anatomy for Artists: It's Simple by Christopher Hart
