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The figure in seven steps

From the line of action to a complete academic study.

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  1. 1

    The gesture

    Give yourself two minutes per drawing and one single line: head to chest to hip to the foot that carries the weight. Nothing else.

    Peasant — Camille Pissarro Peasant Camille Pissarro Studie van een man, wijdbeens zittend, ten voeten uit, RP-T-1954-15(V) — Rijksmuseum Studie van een man, wijdbeens zittend, ten… Rijksmuseum Study of a Man with Hands in His Pockets — Gustave Caillebotte Study of a Man with Hands in His Pockets Gustave Caillebotte Study for the Mother in The Fisherman's Family — Pierre Puvis de Chavannes Study for the Mother in The Fisherman's Family Pierre Puvis de Chavannes Portrait of a Seated Woman — François-André Vincent Portrait of a Seated Woman François-André Vincent Zittende man, het hoofd rustend op de linkerhand, RP-T-1976-104-22 — Rijksmuseum Zittende man, het hoofd rustend op de… Rijksmuseum
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  2. 2

    Proportions in head-heights

    Measure the head, then step it down the body: chin, nipples, navel, groin, knee, foot. Seven and a half heads is the average — check, do not assume.

    Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue) ; (avec le concours de Jean-Léon Gérôme) — Bargue, Charles (1826?-1883). Dessinateur Gérôme, Jean-Léon (1824-1904). Dessinateur Cours de dessin - estampe - (Charles Bargue)… Bargue, Charles… Academic Male Nude with Staff — Eugène Delacroix Academic Male Nude with Staff Eugène Delacroix The Lamentation — Ludovico Carracci The Lamentation Ludovico Carracci Academic Study, seen from the back — Carlo Innocenzo Carloni Academic Study, seen from the back Carlo Innocenzo Carloni Serpent Attacking a Naked Man — Thomas Rowlandson Serpent Attacking a Naked Man Thomas Rowlandson Ariadne Abandoned by Theseus — Thomas Rowlandson Ariadne Abandoned by Theseus Thomas Rowlandson
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  3. 3

    Weight and balance

    Drop a plumb line from the pit of the neck: it must fall on the supporting foot. When shoulders tilt one way, hips tilt the other — draw those two axes before anything else.

    Standing Nude with Draperies — Auguste Rodin Standing Nude with Draperies Auguste Rodin Standing Male Nude — Anonymous, Spanish, School of Seville, 17th century Standing Male Nude Anonymous, Spanish, School… Study for Obsession — Auguste Rodin Study for Obsession Auguste Rodin Male Figure Running (recto); Three Pen Studies of Male Heads (verso) — Micco Spadaro (Domenico Gargiulo) Male Figure Running (recto); Three Pen… Micco Spadaro (Domenico… Study for "Poseuses" — Georges Seurat Study for "Poseuses" Georges Seurat Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Périgord (1754–1838), Prince de Talleyrand — Pierre Paul Prud'hon Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Périgord… Pierre Paul Prud'hon
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  4. 4

    The back

    The back is two boxes joined by the spine: ribcage and pelvis. Find the shoulder blades as flat plates sliding on the ribcage, not as outlines.

    Female Nude Seen from Behind — Albrecht Dürer Female Nude Seen from Behind Albrecht Dürer Seated Nude Seen from Behind — Berthe Morisot Seated Nude Seen from Behind Berthe Morisot Nude statue, seen from behind — Auguste-Louis Lepère Nude statue, seen from behind Auguste-Louis Lepère Young Couple Seen From Behind — Hippolyte-Omer Ballue Young Couple Seen From Behind Hippolyte-Omer Ballue Lucas Cranach d.Ä. - Rückenakt eines stehenden Mannes — Lucas Cranach the Elder Lucas Cranach d.Ä. - Rückenakt eines… Lucas Cranach the Elder Seated Woman, Seen from Behind — Anonymous, French, 18th century Seated Woman, Seen from Behind Anonymous, French, 18th…
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  5. 5

    The body in movement

    Sequences show you what a single pose hides. Draw three frames of the same action in a row and you will start to feel where the weight is travelling.

    E. Muybridge "Animal locomotion", plate Wellcome L0018593 — Unknown artist E. Muybridge "Animal locomotion", plate… Unknown artist E. Muybridge "Animal locomotion", plate Wellcome L0018592 — Unknown artist E. Muybridge "Animal locomotion", plate… Unknown artist E. Muybridge "Animal locomotion", plate Wellcome L0018599 — Unknown artist E. Muybridge "Animal locomotion", plate… Unknown artist E. Muybridge "Animal locomotion", plate Wellcome L0018591 — Unknown artist E. Muybridge "Animal locomotion", plate… Unknown artist E. Muybridge "Animal locomotion", plate Wellcome L0018588 — Unknown artist E. Muybridge "Animal locomotion", plate… Unknown artist
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  6. 6

    Feet and support

    A figure only stands if the feet do. Draw the foot as a wedge on a triangle of support — heel, ball, little toe — before any toes.

    Torso of a Bodhisattva — Sahri-Bahlol Workshop Torso of a Bodhisattva Sahri-Bahlol Workshop Three Standing Figures (recto); Seated Woman and a Male Hermit in Half-length (verso) — Stefano da Verona (Stefano di Giovanni d'Arbosio di Francia) Three Standing Figures (recto); Seated Woman… Stefano da Verona (Stefano… Studies of Hands and Feet — François Le Moyne Studies of Hands and Feet François Le Moyne Woman Drying Her Foot — Edgar Degas Woman Drying Her Foot Edgar Degas Spinario (boy pulling a thorn from his foot) — Antico (Pier Jacopo Alari Bonacolsi) Spinario (boy pulling a thorn from his foot) Antico (Pier Jacopo Alari… Benjamin Robert Haydon - Anatomical Study of the Heel of a Foot - B1977.14.2619 - Yale Center for British Art — Benjamin Haydon Benjamin Robert Haydon - Anatomical Study of… Benjamin Haydon
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  7. 7

    A complete study

    Take one of these and give it an hour: gesture in two minutes, proportions in ten, everything else is refining. Keep the first line visible under the finished drawing.

    The Intoxication of Wine — Clodion (Claude Michel) The Intoxication of Wine Clodion (Claude Michel) Ugolino and His Sons — Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux Ugolino and His Sons Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux Study for Obsession — Auguste Rodin Study for Obsession Auguste Rodin Pierre de Wiessant, Nude Study — Auguste Rodin Pierre de Wiessant, Nude Study Auguste Rodin Studies for the Libyan Sibyl (recto); Studies for the Libyan Sibyl and a small Sketch for a Seated Figure (verso) — Michelangelo Buonarroti Studies for the Libyan Sibyl (recto)… Michelangelo Buonarroti Male Figure Running (recto); Three Pen Studies of Male Heads (verso) — Micco Spadaro (Domenico Gargiulo) Male Figure Running (recto); Three Pen… Micco Spadaro (Domenico… The Prophetess Deborah Ordering Barak to Take Arms against Sisera — Francesco Solimena The Prophetess Deborah Ordering Barak to… Francesco Solimena The Virgin and Child with Saint Joseph, Attendant Angels, and a Group of Supplicants — Federico Zuccaro (Zuccari) The Virgin and Child with Saint Joseph… Federico Zuccaro (Zuccari)
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