4/02/2016

Tips For Drawing Better Human Figures In Pencil

By Deborah Brooks


One of the more impressive ways to convey just how beautiful the intricacies of one's mind is, is through the free creation of art. Each person has a style that is uniquely theirs but those who take honing their abilities seriously may consider in depth study of various techniques. When attempting to draw human figures in pencil, these general guidelines can help a lot.

Each tiny detail like the shape of a head, style of neck, shoulder position, torso size and limb proportion are all very critical factors to making a recognizable humanoid form. For one who is not trained, getting these aspects to come together correctly can be challenging as the body is a highly complex design. Learning the tips and dedicating time to practicing them, can push one's progress and quality of sketching skills much further.

Before starting to get serious with paper, one may want to consider purchasing a book that features tips on drawing anatomically. It will point out the importance of learning to see a body as a precise grouping of geometric shapes that come together to make the basic design. Beginners and those who have no real experience can benefit immensely with this tutorial.

The next step is decide whether the form will be placed into a full composition, or a partial one. This will determine how much positive space will be used and in which direction the sketch will be positioned. Choosing a posture for the figure is also very much important as a standing body will be best set in a portrait orientation, while a prone subject would fit better in landscape mode.

Any artwork that involves humanoid subjects can become less appealing when the proportions are unrealistic. This alone is reason enough for one to study the ratio of one body section to another so that there is a deeper understanding of how they come together to form proper anatomy. A wooden artist's mannequin or tutorial handbook can be incredible references as they can help avoid drawing the form disproportionately.

In both the male and female forms, it is important to consider symmetry. In the perfect sense, the left and right sides of a body are perfectly balanced in design, size and balance. To get good details, remembering that women usually feature soft, feminine curves, while men are often bulky in their thighs and calves, and wider in the shoulders and chest.

Shading is a key technique in the field of sketching. It does not matter if one chooses to use a wooden mannequin or a live model as their reference, they should be very aware of how their source of lighting affects the subject. Areas that are raised and directly in the line of illumination will be highlighted, while the recessed areas and those in the back will be featured in shadows.

Following these general guidelines may help an artist to be better at creating both male and female subjects. Putting the effort into studying and practicing the techniques will yield noticeable improvement in skill and ability over time. One can find so much joy in having the freedom to use art as a means of expression.




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