Life Drawing and Figure Art

10 Tips for Getting better at Figure Drawing

Comment Written by Figure Drawing on September 4, 2009 – 3:22 pm

Figure Drawing, like anything else is a challenge to learn when just starting out.

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1: When possible, try drawing from life instead of pictures or magazine images. Drawing from life allows you to see texture, shading and depth better. If you want tips on going to figure drawing class see this past article.

2: Do not get discouraged. Most artists are more judgmental of their own work than others are. While you may not like it, does not mean that others won’t. In fact, others may love it. Never judge your drawing while it is unfinished.

4:  Try to forget everything you already know about a the human body and anatomy before you start drawing it. Draw what you see in front of you and not what you know already about that subject. You will eventually want to memorize the figure but the exercise of seeing is more important.

5:  Lighting is of major importance. Nothing is more frustrating to an artist than poor lighting. If you can’t see you can’t draw. If you do not have a well lit room with natural sunlight to work in, then check your local art supply store or search online for full spectrum lighting products that mimic natural sunlight. With poor lighting, you are unable to properly see light and shadows to create depth. Also, your own hand and pencil may create shadows on the page, making drawing difficult.

6: Get yourself a pad of newsprint paper. It’s very cheap and great for practice and doing preliminary sketches.

7: – Keep your pencils sharp. There are drawing techniques that require a blunt pencil point, but for the most part, you should keep your pencil points sharpened.

8: Vary the weight of your lines. Use a variety of different lines in your drawing by pressing harder or by lifting your pencil.

9: Keep a sketchbook with you wherever you go. Whenever you have a free moment, practice your figure drawing. It doesn’t matter if the model knows you are drawing them, what they are wearing or how they look. The more often you draw, the more observant you will become.

10:  Never throw out any of your drawings. Keep a neat portfolio of everything you draw. This is an excellent way to see your progress over time.

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