Figure Drawing2

Welcome to Figure Drawing 101, here are some valuble tips on Figure Drawing and Quick Sketches... -TAo!

Materials needed for classical figure drawing:
-charcoal pencil (it's okay to get the peel off kind)
-razorblade (for sharpening your pencil-
do it by hand, not mechanically)
-sandpaper clips (for sharpening your lead)
-newpaper print (smooth surface and acid free is best)
-kneeded eraser (for highlights and touch up work)
-tissues and towels (for cleaning up)

Materials needed for quick sketchting:
-feltip and ball point pens, markers (not pencils,
try different types first, then select the one that suits you)
-blank sketchbook (medium or any comfortable size)

Holding the pencil (writing vs drawing):

Don't hold the pencil like you would when you normally write.
The length of the pencil should be closer to the paper's surface,
almost parallel so that you can get more lead and less tip.

If you're right handed, draw from left to right or top to bottom to avoid smudging.

(It's good to practice drawing circles for warm-ups
while waiting for the model to get started.)

Okay, the Process:
-start out by taking a moment to SEE what it is that you are drawing.
-then start with the BODY FIRST because it's the biggest mass.
(it should look like a sac of rice or pillow type shape)
(sometimes I like to start w/ the head first.)
-next draw a light CIRCLE to indicate the head position.
-then throw in the LINE OF ACTION. (this depends on where you sit,
none for straight on or top views of the model.)
-then do little LAND MARKS or MARKINGS
to indicate placements of the other body parts.
(watch out for distance and size relations from one part to another.)
-now CONSTRUCT OUT the entire figure and break it down into
SIMPLE SHAPES. (cylinders, triangles, circles, etc.)
-once fully constructed, go back and "sculpt" out your drawing by
either pushing or pulling the lines into the shape of your model.
(remember to think and draw in 3D! )
-finally, concentrate on the DETAILS or TONALS- work on one part at a time
in a flowing manner into the next part. (do not jump around to
different parts- try to understand what makes this shape and that shape.
(understanding the bone structure helps, but not neccessary.
It's just the more you draw, the more you will see the
same simularities and structures over and over again.)

FORMULAS:
"Formulas" are good.
(practice and create your own formulas. For example: I use a circle for the head,
a sac shape for the body, cylinders for the arms and legs,
and so on- you can also create your own.)

Understand the different formulas for males and females:
-males are boxy and sharp edges, while females are round and curvy.
-males are broader on the top and females are broader on the hips.

Click here to learn more about
this in CHARACTER DESIGNS

More helpful tips on figure drawing :

-For beginners: practice and focus on one body part at a time. (don't overwhelm yourself and take it slow.) Take one week to draw only the hands, or legs, or head, etc. (pick only ONE body part work on it's CONSTRUCTION- Formulate and make a guide for yourself. (don't worry about the details like wrinkles, hair, and tonals.) Once you get comfortable and good at it, move on to another body part and do the same thing. Take as much time as you need and work at your own pace.
The saying is: "It's not the pencil mileage that counts, but what you take in!"

- Try to draw from "live" models, not from books and magazines - the reason is that books are flat and look deceiving. (instead, borrow a friend, or use a mirror.)
-Stay away from "Playboy" and other nudie magazines. (you'll never use these poses in animation, comics, and other illustrations. Also, you've gotta learn how to draw fat and uglie people too.)
-Remember "Cause and Affect". When an element is pushed up or pulled away from by another element. (example: when a person is sitting on a chair- their butt is not solid and round looking- it's flat and squshed over the chair. Look at the hand drawing on the right of the screen- It's holding up a thin block, the thumb is FLAT up against the box. That's "Cause and Affect"
-You don't have to complete the entire figure to be able to put it in your portfolio.
It's okay to have a partial drawing for submission.
-challenge yourself and do lots of perspective and forshortening poses. These will only make you a better artist and make your portfolio stand out.

Click here to see more on PORTFOLIOS

About QUICK SKETCHES:

-The essence of quick sketch is capturing the MOMENT on paper.

-It is also quickly sketching out a STORY. It lets us tell a simple story with a few amount of lines as possible. You're trying to communicating an IDEA down on paper without having to draw out the details.

-Quick sketch is really an art form that teaches you to be observant and be patient.

-It's also the early stages of the drawing process. From there, we can adjust and sculpt the lines until we get a cleaner and final version of the end result. (Sometimes, loose rough drawings are more appealing than tight stiff drawings- so don't worry about the line work.)

-The best way to tell a story are the ACTION POSES. Start with the LINE OF ACTION and try to say it efficiently. Don't complete the entire drawings either, leave off details or other parts that are not meaningful.

-Add props to help tell the story. *Most importantly, get the story telling essence- don't let anything else distract from that. (Do lots of sequencial drawings in order of the main movements one after another.)

More tips on QUICK SKETCHES:

-If you're starting out for the first time, you may want to familiarize yourself with the human and animal anatomy at home, then later go out and draw them in action. Little kids and animals are the hardest to draw cause they don't hold still for long.

-Ask yourself: "What's going on?", "Is that intersting?"
"What am I trying to capture?", "What's the story here?"

-Try to give indication of facial expressions: happy, sad, mad, confused, frustrated, pissed off, wondering, ect.

Try using different tools:
- Experiment with different sizes of blank pads, pens and markers, until you're comfortable with the one you like.

Do selective studies:
-Focus on certain body parts- the face, hands, feet, etc. And don't jump around! Again remember- It's not the pencil mileage, but what you take in!

Great places to draw quick sketches:
-The zoo, beaches, malls, sporting events, parks, festivals, theme parks, reunions, promenades, etc.

-SAVE and DATE all your pages. Later down the line you can check to see if you're improving.

-Finally my last word of wisdom: Push and challenge yourself! Don't always go for the easy and boring poses.

Well, that's it for this page on Figure Drawing. Hope it helps- TAo!