You should realize that the measurement of 7 ½ heads corresponds to the figure when it is standing erect. This measurement can vary depending on the subject so you may have to make adjustments to your figure drawing. 7 ½ to 8 heads is the standard measurement that has been developed for the height of an erect figure. This is the distance from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin. It is for this reason that a unit of measurement was established using the models head. Getting the proportions correct in your figure drawing is one of the biggest challenges you will face as a beginner. There is no need to get carried away and memorize every muscle, bone, and tendon in the human body just a fundamental understanding should suffice.

You will also have a basic understanding of the muscles and tendons and how they direct and control the body. When you study anatomy, you will learn more about the construction of the human body and its proportions. You will also need a good size drawing board that is smooth and flat for your drawing surface.īefore you even lift a pencil, you should have a basic understanding of human anatomy. You may want to start with a medium textured paper as it has enough “tooth” to hold a fair amount of medium, but smooth enough to allow for detailed work. For your permanent drawings, a good quality paper is recommended. They will more than likely yellow over time. Newsprint paper is fairly inexpensive and excellent for practice drawings, although you should not expect these drawing to last very long. You will eventually come to like certain materials over others. The best advice would be to get a variety of different pencils and papers and simply experiment. Your choice of materials will also depend on the chosen subject matter.

Only time and experience will tell you what materials work best for your particular style.

It is quite difficult to recommend the perfect materials as every artist is different and therefore will have different preferences. You can get started with a pencil and paper if you so desire, but there are certain supplies that will produce better results. Drawing does not have to be a very expensive art form. The very first thing you will need obviously is your drawing supplies. It is for this reason that you should take things one-step at a time and most importantly, practice! The following article will provide you with some of the basics for understanding how to approach your next figure drawing project. The act of rendering the human form accurately on paper can be intimidating and frustrating if you try to tackle everything all at once.

Figure drawing for beginners