One of the challenges of drawing figures is that it is a problem solving activity that requires us to be flexible in our approach.

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• Drawing a portrait is very much like drawing any other subject matter. You have to closely observe the subject in order to draw it accurately. Of course portrait drawing is especially delicate because the goal is to make the portrait resemble the subject closely. If you know the person, the pressure to produce accuracy can be daunting.
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Because no two drawing scenarios are the same, we must learn to creatively think of various solutions to solve each individual “drawing problem”.

When working from life, we also face the added challenge of having to do this quickly, as we rarely have unlimited time with the model.

With practice you will learn to generate as many solutions as there are poses. You will begin to identify the most important elements in a pose, and recognize which to start with that will allow the rest of the drawing to progress efficiently and smoothly.

For example, if the line of the shoulders is very prominent,you may choose to begin your drawing there. Perhaps there is a dynamic movementessential to the gesture of the pose that you start with. Very complicatedposes can be simplified by beginning with an “envelope” to indicate the areathat the figure occupies, as well as the major angles of the pose. These arebut a few examples of the possibilities.

There is usually more than one correct answer. After all, drawing figures is not solely an analytical activity, but an interpretive and intuitive one aswell. However, within the myriad of possible correct answers, there may be amost efficient and effective way of beginning a drawing, which will become easier to identify with practice.

Let’s look at five strategies to “solve” the beginning of afigure drawing.

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5 Ways to Start Drawing Figures

1. You can begin drawing figures with the head and neck.

Perhaps the most common and logical way to begin a figure drawing is to work from top to bottom - to initially indicate and place the model's head.

If I were to draw a pose such as the one in the abovedrawing, I would begin by indicating the general shape and angle ofthe head with a simple oval or egg. Notice that my oval does not include thehair. The egg shape represents the skull, upon which the hair will be addedlater on.

Once I have established the general shape, I give the oval thecorrect tilt and a sense of perspective by drawing the center line of the face andindicating the chin and jaw lines. Notice how this minimal information establishesthe position of the head in space and starts to create a sense ofthree-dimensionality.

It is good practice to build up all areas of a drawingsimultaneously so that there is ample opportunity to compare the proportions,angles and accuracy of the drawing before delving into further detail. Followingthis principle, I leave the head at this point to move on to the line of theshoulders, paying particular attention to the angle of the shoulders and thedistance between the chin and the shoulder line.

When I am confident in the angle of the shoulders, I move on to drawing the main action line and gesture of the pose, and placing the feet.

Inthis second example I have used the same strategy: I began with a basic ovalshape for the head. To clarify the position of the head in space I indicatedthe chin, jaw and center line of the face. I then located the line of theshoulders before drawing the main action line of the pose, placing the feet toestablish the height of the figure, and drawing the center line.

Advantages of Beginning a Figure Drawing with the Head

Thereare some distinct advantages to beginning your drawing by blocking in the head, such as:

The tilt of the head and angle of the shoulders are often important in establishing the gesture of a pose.

You can extend a plumb line from the head to determine how far in each direction the body extends. In the above drawing, do you see the vertical line that runs through the figure’s nose? You can use it to place the figure’s hip, for example, by observing how far to the right of the plumb line the hip is located. Observing the negative space between this plumb line and the outline of the figure can also help you achieve a more accurate drawing.

The head can also be used as a unit of measurement to determine the height and width of the pose, as well as many of the smaller proportions on the figure.

2. You can begin drawing figures with the shoulder line.

In poses where the shape of the head is partially orcompletely obscured and the line of the shoulders is a more prominent feature,the latter can be an ideal place to begin the drawing.

How do you find the line of the shoulders?

When viewing the figure from the front, the line of the shouldersis found along the visible line created by the clavicle bones, belowthe triangular outline of the shoulders created by the trapezius muscle. Muscleslie on top of the skeletal structure of the body. We can mimic this order inour drawings by indicating the line of the clavicles first, and adding thetrapezius muscle on top of that construction line later.

When viewing the figure from the back, look for the point of the shoulder where the clavicle meets the acromion process of the scapula. This is usually fairly easy to locate because there is a protrusion which can often be seen on the surface of the body, right where the clavicle ends and articulates with the scapula.

Onsome people, the angle of the shoulder straightens out considerably in thisarea, making the line of the shoulders easier to locate. Connect these points onboth shoulders with a straight or arcing line to find the shoulder line.

Hereis another example of a drawing scenario in which you may choose to begin withthe shoulders instead of the head:

Person Outline Sketch Template

3. You can begin drawing figures with a gesture line

When a pose has a very distinct, expressive movement that you want to communicate, you may choose to begin with a gestural line that describes the major action occurring in the pose. An easy way to identify this major action is to ask yourself, 'What is the figure doing?' or 'What is happening in this pose?'

In this case the figure is seated on a chair, leaningslightly forward and to the left, and looking at the ground. One leg isextended forward while one is flexed back. I can describe this movement mostsimply by drawing a sweeping C-curve that begins at the head, curves around thetorso and continues on to connect the torso to the sole of the foot. Notice therepetition of this movement in the left side of the body and in the curvatureof the spine.

Once I have established this movement, I can find the angleof the shoulders, the shape of the head, and where the torso ends. The arms and legs can be indicated initially with gestural lines.

In this similar scenario, the main action line in the abovedrawing is a sweeping C-curve that is repeated in the right side of the body,the spine, and even in the position of the right arm. After drawing the overall movement of the posewith a gesture line, I move on to find the line of the shoulders, the opposingcompressed action in the right side of the body, and the feet.

Poses that are compressed or foreshortened (for example,when the figure is seated or reclining) may not have a long, sweeping majoraction line. Instead, their gesture may be best communicated by drawing the shapethat the pose fits into.

You can start these types of figure drawings by blocking in a specific shape, paying close attention to its proportions and angles (thetriangle below is not an equilateral one!). Then, imagine that you are asculptor chiseling away excess areas of the triangle to reveal the form of thefigure.

5. You can begin drawing figures with an 'envelope'.

Asthe title of this strategy suggests, an “envelope” envelops the pose. I use theenvelope when drawing a challenging pose that I want to begin more analyticallyrather than intuitively, in order to increase my chances of drawing itaccurately. Similar to the above shape method, the envelope shows us thearea that the figure occupies. To draw the envelope you can use straightlines, curved lines, or a combination of the two to map out the boundaries ofthe figure.

Notice that a new linebegins wherever there is a major angle change in the pose.

Areyou starting to notice any patterns? No matter how I begin my drawing,the essential information that I try to find as quickly as possible in my first10 or so lines is:

Person Outline Printable

thegeneral shape and tilt of the head

theline of the shoulders

themain action line and gesture of the pose

Free Sketches To Print

theplacement of the feet

theapproximate height and width of the pose

Taking your time to observe and draw these elements will createa successful foundation for the rest of your block in, the construction of thefigure, and the eventual rendering of the drawing.

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If you’re having difficulty deciding which strategies to use to begin drawing figures,here are a few things to consider:

Begin with what inspires you.
What you begin with depends on what is most important to you in the pose.Before you even pick up your pencil, first identify what interests you: Why doyou want to draw this pose? What is it that inspires you about this particular pose that youwish to communicate in your drawing? If it is the dynamic movement, forexample, then perhaps begin with a gesture line to express that idea with your initial pencil marks.

Start with theeasiest, most evident variable.
You can also begin with whichever variable is most evident to you. Whichelement from the above list of “must-haves” do you think will be easiest to draw accurately? If the shape and tilt of the head seem clear andobvious to you, for example, begin there. Perhaps it is the distinct angle ofthe shoulders that stands out to you.

With practice, determining how to begin your drawing willbecome a creative and exploratory endeavour.

Happy Drawing,

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