How to Draw Bodies

How to Draw Bodies How to Draw Bodies Human bodies are the most complex and hardest subjects in the realm of art. This is so because; no two bodies are the same. Each body differs from another in terms of features, physique and proportions. This makes the human body a unique and versatile drawing subject which requires thorough practice and observation capabilities by the artist. Although drawing different human bodies can be challenging, but if the below mentioned suggestions are taken into consideration then the task may seem less daunting. So let us have a look at some basic rules and guidelines which can make the task of drawing human bodies a little simpler.

First of all you will have to gain an insight into the proportions of the human body. You can achieve this by drawing the body in different positions. This can also help you in noticing the common shapes of postures and body parts. For experimenting this, you can take the help of a doll or a toy which can serve the purpose of being a model for your drawing practice. Just try and keep your attention on drawing the basic shapes and do not emphasize too much on surface detail. Remember to leave the face blank.
After having gained an idea about the basic proportions of the human body, you can shift your attention towards addition of slight variations to these shapes. It is worth mentioning here that if you just add longer legs or foreshorten the torso, you can observe amazing changes to the character of the figure. You can also try out certain variations in the form of elongation of neck or enlargement of feet. The aftereffect is quite visible to the artist’s or the viewer’s eye!
When you realize that you are now comfortable with the various adjustments of the proportions of the human body, you can then focus on surface detail and body form. This can be done by experimenting with different muscle articulations and contours of body parts. For example, a pot bellied stomach with a strong upper body can speak volumes about a person’s lifestyle. It has to be kept in mind that any minute change that you bring about in the surface detail and body form, you can expect huge changes in the subject’s behavior and background.
Now we can focus on the most important and hardest aspect of the body- the face. Make sure that you are drawing a face that matches with the body that you have already drawn. Drawing a perfect face can only be achieved by persistent practice. There is no hard and fast rule about drawing of faces and you should be ready to take chances while drawing them. No human face is perfect; it has their unique and exclusive imperfections that set it apart from other face.
Last but not the least; you will have to place the body in context. Incase you have the context ready, you shall need to use it to improve the specific proportions and personality of your body types.