Demystifying the Human Form: A Beginner's Guide to Drawing People
Drawing a person may sound difficult, but it's really a simple process if you approach it systematically. Many aspiring artists find themselves daunted by the prospect of capturing the human form, often citing it as the most challenging subject to draw. This perception, however, can be reframed. The human body is indeed an impressively complex piece of engineering, with numerous parts that attach and move in specific and particular ways. Viewed simply as a piece of machinery, we are complicated. However, identical robots we are not. We are all the same, but not quite. The little nuanced differences are what make us individuals. And that is before you think of how expressive we are, not just in facial features but in body language. Of course, it's going to be tricky to capture all of this, and that’s why we often overcomplicate it.
The Power of Play: Starting in a Sketchbook
The best place to begin learning how to draw people is in a sketchbook. Before you worry about trying to incorporate them into a painting, have a bit of a play in a sketchbook to build up some confidence. The sketchbook is a place of safety. The name itself declares that you are under no pressure to produce a magnificent art piece of staggering perfection. You can try something out and if it is a disaster, merely turn the page and begin again. Don’t choose a fancy, expensive sketchbook. In fact, even some sheets of loose copier paper might be just as good. You deserve the right to make some spectacularly terrible drawings. That in itself can be quite fun, and you never know, you might just make one or two that aren’t so bad.
Simplifying the Form: Shapes and Proportions
One of the easiest ways to draw people is with the 'Ball-and-Socket' technique, a method in which the artist sketches several conjoined ovals to form the body parts of the human figure and draft the figure's pose. Sketch a scene, and don't forget to add ovals to bends. Don't forget to match the weather in your scene! Keep it simple, but not too simple.
When proportioning figures, it can help to lightly sketch basic shapes like circles or squares first. Observe live people in various poses rather than stylized images. Loosen up with freeform doodling when you're feeling creatively blocked before starting serious drawing. Break complex compositions into multiple sessions, periodically stepping back with fresh eyes.
If you are drawing a large figure, you will be thinking about how the legs connect to the pelvis, where the knee is, and how to differentiate the calf shape from the thigh shape. But on a small figure, you will be more likely to be able to see shapes that combine so much of this detail. For example, in a little fairy, one might try to see the bottom half of her body (from the waist down) as one shape - an upside-down tuning fork. Now that is much more approachable than trying to piece together all the anatomical components, don’t you think? If you are drawing a tiny face, you will probably only have room for one line to suggest the mouth, for example. So, what is the best line to convey a mouth? See… much easier than trying to construct plump lips and a cupid's bow?
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Adapting for Individuality: Gender and Form
Changes are made for women and men. Women have larger hips, but thinner torsos and waists. Ensure that you aren't sketching the people in your drawing at eye level. Smooth out each straight line to be more curved and humane.
This can be achieved by drawing a kind of upside-down trapezoid shape for the chest, and two vertical lines for the abdominal trunk. This is the belly button. To ensure your figure is proportionate, adjust the bicep ovals so that their bottoms are even with the height of the belly button. They should each be halfway inside the pelvic triangle. This is a guideline for the figure's collar bone. The circle should be at either end of the collar guideline. Ensure that they are attached to the underside of the shoulder circles.
Refining the Sketch: From Rough to Real
Refining (in art terms) means to "clean up" the sketchy mess underneath what's going to be the proper piece. Study photos of people in various poses, and note where the creases are. In general, they appear at the joins: ankles, wrists, knees, and elbows.
It can help to work with an art teacher as you learn how to draw faces and people. Get in the habit of sketching lightly. This will make your eraser marks less obvious, as well as put less strain on your hands. Don't rush things, but be prolific. The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of many artists. Reframe the setbacks you experience during the learning process as a positive; it's room for you to grow.
Embracing Whimsy: A Tool for Confidence
If you are really terrified of drawing people, a dose of whimsy can be prescribed. It's a mindset thing. If you draw a figure in your sketchbook and pop some wings on her or him, you are immediately giving yourself a little license to be a touch off. I mean, have you seen a real fairy? So, if the arms are a bit short and the head is too wide, well, perhaps that is what these magical creatures look like… who’s to say?
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I’m not suggesting you want to slap a fairy in the middle of your serious landscape painting, but if you have drawn lots of them in your sketchbook, you will have a far better chance of getting a well-proportioned, lively figure. And did I mention how much fun it is? If wings are too much for you, then perhaps thinking of drawing some sort of whimsical doll, or a picture book/cartoon person might be better for you. A Barbie is not anatomically correct, but if you can draw something that looks a bit like her, you will feel quite pleased with yourself. It's just a mind trick to help you keep that inner critic at bay - you know, that voice that pipes up and tells you that you got the legs wrong, they don’t look human, blah blah blah….
Drawing figures that read well is about shape and proportion. When you start out, those are the things you are going to get wrong. The best way to develop a feel for them, in my opinion, is to keep drawing them. That’s easier if you can lighten up on yourself and embrace your inner cartoonist. We learn best in the spirit of play.
The Journey of Practice
Like anything, drawing people gets easier and easier. But you do have to keep on drawing to experience that. I hope these tips about getting started in a sketchbook help you to find a fun, easy practice that you can consistently keep up. Many artists took up drawing little girls in a sketchbook many years ago, calling them their "Grace Girls" and making them one of their longest-running projects. They eventually found their way into real books of their own - it's amazing what can happen when you have a personal project that you persist with.
More recently, little whimsical girls have shrunk and grown wings, becoming tiny fairy sketches. These can be an extension of an original project. These figures are more like little dolls: quirky, whimsical, and almost never anatomically correct. But it was because of them that it became easier to attempt drawing a more realistic person. Little whimsical people are a great stepping stone if you are not ready to make the leap to grand, traditional figure drawing.
Adding the Finishing Touches
Add color to the drawing. Sign your name if you wish. Keep true to your shading and scene. Don't feel like you have to draw it exactly like the drawing. Don't be disappointed if you don't believe that your drawings are good. You may find yourself getting frustrated. Some people may find nude figures or adult subject matter offensive; be mindful of your audience and context.
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