Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Draw People
- 1). Lightly sketch a 3-D cube, from any angle. This simple shape can be the foundation of many complex shapes, including the parts of a person. If you need help drawing the cube, make a reference image of one using a freeware 3-D modeling program like Art of Illusion, Blender or Google Sketchup.
- 2). Resize the cube so its dimensions reflect the rough dimensions of a torso. Make the top-to-bottom size (the length) a bit larger than the left-to-right size (the width), and make the front-to-back (depth) size a bit smaller than the width.
- 3). Draw boxes representing the upper legs. Size their dimensions to the torso box's, and connect the legs to the base of the torso. Make the length a bit shorter than the torso's length. Make the width one-half the torso's width, and the depth a bit less than the torso's.
- 4). Attach boxes for the lower legs. Use the same dimensions used for the thigh boxes, except make the widths two-thirds the thigh width. Make the foot box with these dimensions: length is one-half the calf length, width is same as calf and height is a bit smaller than the width.
- 5). Create arm boxes and attach them to the tops of the left and right sides of the torso box. Make the upper arm's length extend two-thirds of the way to the torso's base. Make the forearm length equal to the upper arm length. Draw the width and depth to a bit less than the lower leg's width. Size the hand cube's sides to a bit less than one-half the length of the forearm.
- 6). Make a box for the neck. Use the thigh's width and depth, but make the height two-thirds this dimension.
- 7). Connect the head box. Give the box these dimensions: length is one-third the torso length, width is a bit less than the height and depth is same as the width.
- 8). Take a break from your box-drawing, then return to look at it. Let your mind fill in the curves and features (e.g., lips, bone outlines, skin creases) for each box. Begin tracing each feature when you can visualize it on the box. Look at your drawing from a distance intermittently to evaluate your work more objectively.
- 9). Stop drawing when all main features are represented. Optionally, shade the person by lightly sketching over the same side of all boxes.