[FrageNSTEIN]

Not mine really. I think it would be great if the many talented artists that frequent these boards could give one or two of their best tips and if they want an example, which should in the end improve the quality of art all over these boards.

Type away artists!

Drew "FrageNSTEIN" Haynes

[burn0ut]

im no talented artist(some would say otherwise hehe)
but heres just something to take at, When figuredrawing, try Feeling out your drawing, look at how the body is flowing, use big and long strokes, dont pick at it, draw long elegant lines, and put feeling into it. Your first line is usually your best line. And get down the gesture as quick as possable.
When im figuredrawing, i like to use big ass paper so i can use my whole arm, and really flow on the paper.
So, put your heart into it, dont try to make it look like a photo. cause that would suck.(haha but everyone has diffrent views)

[blaise]

Well, I haven't checked it out yet(d/led it though), but EpicKnightsc.com released a full online book(legally AKAIK) on figure drawing.

Check it out at:
http://www.epicknights.com/

[wahookah]

don�t forget to mention loomis figure drawing book at http://www.yoyodyne.net/

it was scanned by Anthony a members of the forum and is hosted by Lord Whorfin

further info at http://www.sijun.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=001240

[Awetopsy]

simple ones off the top of my head:

1) make the soulders about the same width as 1 1/2 heads tall.

2) elbows always reach as far as the top of the hips or no shorter than the bottom of the ribcage. (with that 4 inch area)

3)the body is usually 6 1/2 - 8 heads tall. for instance, if you want a more realistic looking person draw the body 6 1/2 - 7 heads tall. If you want more athletic/superhuman try 8 heads tall

4)hands reach down to the top of the thigh. the fingertips reach the middle of the thigh.

5)the foot is as long as the forearm.

6)the eyes are spaced about 1 1/2 - 2 eye widths apart.

7)the length of the hand from bottomof palm to fingertip is roughly the same distance as the chin to hairline.

8)hairline is more centered to the forehead.

9)hips are usually aligned vertically with the shoulder ro armpit.

thats all I can think of for now.

[bld]

I think a great practice for people new to drawing figures and people is to sketch out in pen. No erasing. Take an entire sketch book and dedicate it to pen drawings. Its easier to decide what you need to focus on to improve if what you drew is permanent, with pencil the urge to erase a mistake is rather great, and by the time you get the pose you want, you lose track of the steps in the blur of smudged pencil and eraser marks. Its also probably easier to be loose with a pen. Figures drawings are more of a "don't think just draw" for the begining, then you can refine it later with carefull thought and planning. Or perhaps im giving bad advise, if thats true someone will correct me

[smothered]

The best advice I can give is to learn all you can from wherever you can, and practise what you've learned.
I thought I had anatomy down until I found Robert Hales books. They opened a whole new door. Same with Lanterni, the sculptor. Every author/artist has a different way of explaining things, each one having it's own merits. So look into them all.
The only other element in the equation is to draw. You'll never learn unless you do. Of course a good approach, and a well thought out method is preferable, but even crazy figure sketching with your toes is better for you than not drawing anything. Draw every day.
there's thousands of tips in the books by the wonderful professors or art throughout history. The only thing in short supply is shortcuts. It's a difficult, taxing skill that you need to cultivate continually through your life.
to sum up:

1- read all you can about it
2- draw constantly/consistantly every day

I imagine if anyone follows these two rules, provided they have the slightest inkling of talent, should make a good figure draftsman in a couple years.(or decades!)

-k

[aquamire]

Never draw the figure rigidly.. no bone is perfectly straight, they all have some curve to them. Study anatomy to find out where those curves are.

I have a question regarding the Loomis book, Figure Drawing for all it's Worth. How do you go about learning from it? I've tried copying the proportion charts, but what ends up happening is I start trying to copy Loomis's lines, and I end up severely frustrated because I cant draw from copy for crap. I can draw from life easily, but not from photographs. I have to have an idea of the form before I do that. Anyone else have problems with it? I also find the lack of supporting text to be a little unnerving.. and the order of the pages baffles me sometimes. Like how it shows how to put together the Manakin Frame AFTER it shows how to balance it..

Maybe it's just me. I duno.

[Briareos]

Take a figure drawing class. Or, attend a life drawing session regularly for a while. I guarantee you will draw figures wayyy better. All in all, its about drawing the nude figure from life. Studying from books or drawing just doesnt cut it. Go draw some nude people, serious. I don't care even if you 14 years old, neither do the models or the artists. You mom might be a little hard to convince tho

[Elessil]

With all these artists around here I dare not call myself one - but yesterday I got a figure manneqin(like Loomis describes in his book). Actually I didn't plan to buy one, but when it was offered at 2$ I couldn't resist. And I have to say it's pretty good for figure drawing, although you must know about anatomy for using it proper. But solely by putting the mannequin in the pose you desire you get a feeling for it and can draw it much better.

[FrageNSTEIN]

Well, there will be no nudes around me, at least not in this house or while i live here. I'm 15 and it wouldn't be hard to convince my mom to let me draw nudes... it would be incontrovertibly impossible. But I will try to find stuff.

Drew

[XandGash]

That's too bad. I've been drawing nudes since I was in middle school, and had the Serpeiri sketchbook at age 15 or 16. I say you have to learn as early as possible, because you'll be learning something new every day for the rest of your life. Remember...artistic comtentment equals zero growth.

[FrageNSTEIN]

Well, I'm always growing in other art areas. Especially things related to skinning for Quake3Arena. If anyone is interested in Quake3 I'd be glad to send you what I have so far as a preview, but I don't have aplace currently to put the file on the net for display here. NEWay, every summer I spend all day every day on the comp and i learn in those three months more than I lean in the entire rest of the year.

Drew

[webtech4]

I start out with basic shapes circles and lines forming the "skeleton" or wire frame if you want to call it that of the body then i form the muscles etc. You have to have a feel of how the human body looks like. I use references. They really do help.