A Step-by-Step Guide On How To Draw A Person (Video Tutorials + Tips For Budding Artists)
Did you know that the human body consists of 206 bones and over 600 muscles? Drawing a person might seem like a daunting task, but fear not! We’re here to simplify the process for budding artists like yourself.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ve collaborated with BioWars artist Gonçalo Lopes to provide you with video tutorials and expert tips on how to draw a person with ease. So let’s get started!
Tools You’ll Need
While a regular pencil is a must-have for any artist, it may not be enough to achieve realistic results. To enhance your shading ability and create darker tones, you’ll need a variety of pencils such as the H pencil for light lines, HB pencil for sketching details, and 4B pencil for realistic shading. Additionally, a kneaded eraser, ruler, and sketch paper will come in handy.
Using the Grid Method for Accurate Proportions
Maintaining accurate body proportions can be challenging, even for experienced artists. To overcome this hurdle, you can utilize the grid method. By drawing vertical and horizontal lines on your paper, you can create a grid that allows you to visualize and accurately depict proportions in real-time. This technique breaks down your drawing into smaller segments, ensuring that each body part is correctly placed.
Step-by-Step Process: How to Draw a Person
Now let’s delve into the nine essential steps to follow when drawing a person:
Step 1: Measure the Height of the Person
To establish the height and dimensions of your figure, draw a vertical line and divide it into eight equal sections. Allocate each section to a specific body part, from the head to the feet. This approach ensures realistic proportions.
Step 2: Draw the Head & Map Out Facial Features
Starting from the top, draw an upside-down egg shape for the head. Divide it into quarters using a vertical line. Mark horizontal lines for the eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, and ears. This framework will guide you in accurately placing facial features.
Step 3: Draw the Ribcage & Pelvis
Draw an egg-like shape for the ribcage and a bucket-shaped structure for the pelvis. Connect them and outline the abdomen. These elements serve as the foundation for the upper body.
Step 4: Draw the Legs
Sketch lines from the pelvis to form the hip joints and draw the thighs, knees, and calves according to the allotted sections. For the feet, create isosceles triangles for the base and incorporate toes.
Step 5: Draw the Arms
Starting from the shoulders, draw inverted right triangles to depict the shoulders. Extend lines for the arms, forearms, and hands. Shape the fingers using oblong forms.
Step 6: Draw the Limbs
Focus on drawing the thighs, ensuring they are thicker than the calves. Add the kneecaps and gradually taper the legs down to the ankles. For the arms, make them thinner towards the wrists.
Step 7: Fill in the Facial Features
Now that you have the foundation for each feature, it’s time to draw the eyes, nose, eyebrows, mouth, ears, and hair. Refer to our tutorial for more guidance on drawing a face.
Step 8: Add the Details
Use thin lines to highlight bony landmarks, and curves to emphasize muscles or fat. Pay attention to the inner thighs, calves, and ankles to accurately depict the human form.
Step 9: Remove Unnecessary Lines & Shade Your Drawing
Once your drawing is complete, erase the grid lines using a kneaded eraser. Then, utilize your 4B pencil to shade the skin and hair, adding depth and realism to your artwork.
Tips and Tricks for Drawing a Person
To further enhance your drawing skills, keep these tips and tricks in mind:
Start with basic poses: Begin by drawing people in simple standing or sitting positions to grasp the fundamentals. Observe how people naturally hold their bodies and replicate their posture and expressions.
Practice with portraits: Working with still references allows you to study the subject in detail. Use portraits to refine your skills and learn aesthetically pleasing poses.
Use basic shapes as a starting point: Begin your drawing by establishing basic shapes like triangles, cylinders, and spheres. This technique helps maintain accurate proportions and spatial relationships.
Sketch before drawing: Sketching allows you to experiment with different body positions and capture the desired mood. Embrace trial and error, as it’s a crucial part of the artistic process.
By following these steps and incorporating these tips, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to create realistic drawings of human figures. Remember, practice makes perfect! So take your time, be patient, and enjoy the journey of becoming a skilled artist.
We hope this comprehensive guide will assist you in your artistic endeavors, particularly in creating your own original comic book characters. Happy drawing!
