Learn to draw

The right proportions of the human figure

We draw that which we know. To be good at drawing people some knowledge of the anatomy is necessary.

In the past lessons I showed you the basics of drawing human figures. By following the past exercises you have been gaining the know-how to draw. So, by now you have a good idea of how arms, legs and other body parts are constructed. Therefore, by putting it all together you should now be able to draw a complete figure.

A soft pencil such as 4B is useful for figure drawing. Charcoal (which is burnt wood) is also excellent. Charred twigs were used by early caveman artists and still remain a common tool for the modern craftsman. Today, however, most artists' charcoal comes in smoothly prepared sticks. They give a dense black, with the ability to also create graduated tones that help you obtain a flesh-like effect on areas of skin.

Almost all beginners start off by copying from photographs or pictures. It's all right as long as you do not submit the drawing for competitions. Copying at the learning stage teaches you how to look properly and draw accurately - the basis of good art.

A first class copy of a drawing requires great ability. Drawing from life, in fact, is copying what is seen. The big difference is all in the mind. The degree of self-confidence is different. After experience has been gained, copying is replaced by working from life or doing your own thing. Life drawing classes may be out of reach. Photographs can provide an alternative source of subjects to work from.

Human figure in clothes

Practise to draw as many fashion models - male and female, as you can. Young people wear a weird and wonderful range of clothes worth drawing. Magazines and newspaper advertisements all contain photographs of models from which you can work, and you will gain much through learning how to depict smart clothes and how to draw specimens of the human race. Study the illustration in Figure I. Use simple lines in drawing and pay attention to fashions and how they have been drawn. Study the figure shapes, then copy each drawing in pencil, a thin-nib pen , charcoal or whatever you fancy. Figures II and III will help you to study the human figure and how the clothes drape over the contours of the body. Cast your eye over the simple fashions and how they have been drawn.