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Uploaded:November 8, 2010
Artist:Carliihde
Difficulty:Advanced  Advanced Skill Level
Steps:9
Updated:November 8, 2010
P.O.V:3/4
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How to Draw a Figure

This tutorial will show you how to draw a detailed/comic book version of the female figure. I will take you step by step on how I set up the drawing, how I sketch in the details and how i finish it. I hope you'll have plenty of fun by learning "how to draw a figure", step by step.

Tags
how to draw a terran
how to draw a figure
how to draw a goddess
how to draw a figure step 1

STEP 1.

Alright, the first step to almost every female figure should be the most important part. It's the portion of the female figure that sets it apart from the male body more than any other thing. This, of course, is the curve. The "S" curve of a woman's body should be quite prominent in showing her posture and figure. It gives your character a dainty feminine quality that you really want to show. From the head down we go from the curve of the neck, shoulders, lower back, buttocks, back of the thigh, back of the calf, heel and toes. If you don't quite see what the curve is of the figure right away, a great way to practice curves is to find pictures of women posing and drawing in the line of the curve over the photo. It's great practice! This will give you the eye you need to draw your own figure.
 
how to draw a figure step 2

STEP 2.

Now the next step is filling in the shapes. Start with the upper back. You want to give every shape a blocky look with the corners of each block emphasizing the "boney landmark" of the shape. This boney landmark are key shapes in the human figure that you should make sure to show in order to give your drawing that extra UMPH! For example, the shoulder blades, hips, the rib cage and ankles. Tip: Make sure that the elbow of your figure doesn't drop down any further than you would think the belly button would be and the the bottom of the hand (when arm is laid flat against the figure) shouldn't fall any further than halfway down the thigh.
 
how to draw a figure step 3

STEP 3.

Ok, now draw in the shapes of the legs and feet. Give the thighs and bit of an outwards curve and the calf an inwards one. (to emphasize that "S" Curve again, it's a motif throughout all female figures) One thing I always keep in mind when drawing the feet (Because I know they are hard to draw) Think of them as a wedge shape at the bottom of the ankle. If you practice with the drawing and folding of that wedge you will eventually be able to add in the toes and heel. That really helped me get the hang of drawing feet.
 
how to draw a figure step 4

STEP 4.

Ready for the fun part finally? Now you can add in the facial details. Make sure the eyes sit between the construction lines. Make sure they are a full eye's length apart from one another. The top of the ear should hit the top eye construction line and the bottom of the ear should be at the bottom of the nose. The Nose should be halfway between the middle of the eyes to the bottom of the chin. The lips should be halfway between the bottom of the nose and the bottom of the chin. The hair (My personal favorite) should be loose and fun! ( I like it long and wavy) Make sure you not only take into account the shape and length of the hair but also how it lays on the shoulders and where the light hits it. Please, when doing this figure, experiment with different types of hair! This is your chance to try something new out! Don't be afraid to stray away from my tutorial and do something crazy and fun!
 
how to draw a figure step 5

STEP 5.

Ok, now sketch in the upper body. It's all very loose, but we will tighten it as we go along. In the sketching phase don't be afraid to emphasize too much. If you think it looks weird you can always erase it, but these are the steps to have fun in and experiment with. Again, Don't forget the boney landmarks! The ribs, the hips and the shoulder blades. Also here's where you add in the fingers. I gave he a very simple relaxed hand. You don't want to make her hand do anything crazy because you want her to be poised and you don't want to take any attention away from her face.
 
how to draw a figure step 6

STEP 6.

Now draw in the legs and feet. Once again, don't be afraid to experiment with crazy curves and extreme sizes. Here is were you add in the feet as well. Make sure you show the back of the foot, because she is turned around with her back towards us. You also will not be able to see all the toes, maybe one or two. Also, make sure to show the ankle boney landmark.
 
how to draw a figure step 7

STEP 7.

Ok, Erase all your construction lines and see where your figure is at! Looks pretty good doesn't it? This is the step where you can add or subtract any lines that might be a little off. Maybe add in your own flare? Fix up the face and the hair a bit. Sketch in some more little details before adding in the final line work.
 
how to draw a figure step 8

STEP 8.

Now you can add over your sketches the final clean line work. Put in all the details and clean up the lines and really add character to the face. hair, hands and feet. Don't forget things like detail in the ear, wrinkles and creases (not too many if its a young woman)
 
how to draw a figure step 9

STEP 9.

Alright! Now erase your sketchy lines to reveal the masterpiece underneath! Now you can add in any details you may have missed and clean up anything that still looks a bit sketchy. But overall, it's all done! Now you can go directly to colors. Thank you so much for checking out my first tutorial. Comments and reviews are always welcome! Any questions, just post those too! If anyone tries out this tutorial I would LOVE to see what you do with it! Please post up your drawings so I can see them! :)
 

Comments: Post Comment

 
DiabeticPotatos's comment

 

DiabeticPotatos ~ Jul 8, 2011, 4:49:20 PM
thank you :) and yup i won't deny requests!!!
@sailormoon435
aaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwww meowla
 
sailormoon435's comment

 

sailormoon435 ~ Jul 6, 2011, 10:31:25 PM
aaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwww meowla
 
ColorFace's comment

 

ColorFace ~ Jul 6, 2011, 5:18:20 PM
OMG THX... it's only my first post. i'm pretty sure its silver... i just didn't know what colors to make it, but i'll find out sooner or later. U DA BEST! hai boogie X3 yay rock
@Wild5127
I think this discussion is really sad. If you want to be a real artist and be able to draw people, you need to know this. It's not "gross" it's anatomy. Please don't act so young. This website is for mature(13+) artists who actually want to learn something.
 
ehafler01's comment

 

ehafler01 ~ Jul 2, 2011, 3:59:02 PM
Hey Dogsta! Wondering if I could request something..? =D
@peanutnutter
I kind of do too. I mean, who dreams if a magical evil tongue?! O_o
 
fifapro's comment

 

fifapro ~ Jun 29, 2011, 8:30:38 AM
Yeah.........I didn't watch there show for a long time......so i forgot there names......LOl I LUV THEM TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! X3 smile
 
fifapro's comment

 

fifapro ~ Jun 28, 2011, 12:15:26 PM
Heeeeelllllooooo watermelon
 
Wild5127's comment

 

Wild5127 ~ Jun 27, 2011, 1:39:20 PM
I think this discussion is really sad. If you want to be a real artist and be able to draw people, you need to know this. It's not "gross" it's anatomy. Please don't act so young. This website is for mature(13+) artists who actually want to learn something.
 
evilmarypoppins's comment

 

evilmarypoppins ~ Jun 26, 2011, 10:59:47 PM
and.....can I redo the cheerios mascot? =)
@fantasygal
Powerful & Gorgeous inlove I want those wings!!!! Very nice work :)
 
peanutnutter's comment

 

peanutnutter ~ Jun 22, 2011, 10:51:36 AM
phew ^^; im glad im not responsible smile and it sure was fun to see what else you can do hai i have to say that The Beautiful Letdown and The Protector of Sorrow are definately my favourite peices. heres hoping you come back to the 'grisly' rock
@fantasygal
Powerful & Gorgeous inlove I want those wings!!!! Very nice work :)
 
peanutnutter's comment

 

peanutnutter ~ Jun 22, 2011, 10:50:39 AM
I kind of do too. I mean, who dreams if a magical evil tongue?! O_o
@twilight121600
Nice =D
 
:lol: confused :fear: X3 :x_x: :shakefist: :zzz: :shrug: :inlove: =D =( :bow: :boogie: :innocent: :omgomg: O_o :3
:rolling: :plotting: :ill: =$ :fart: :hai: :mature: ;p ^^; :drool: :stupid: :poke: :tomatoe: :threaten: T_T :snooty: :singing:
B) :yay: :yawn: :watermelon: :wtf: :wow: :jawdrop: :paranoid: :dumb: :evil: :angry: :speechless: :blank: :rock: :salute: =B ;)
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