Poses can be drawn through numerous sources as a reference. These include existing picture, action figures, 3D models, and even a live model. However, if you don’t have access to any references or you’re stuck finding the right one, you can also draw from stick figures. As funny as it may sound at first, it is one of the foundations to drawing the human figure. Think of it as the skeletal structure that supports the body. For this part, we’re going to draw a character from a stick figure, and then we’re going to make a character from there. I’m going to be doing this digitally in Photoshop, but you can also do this on paper.
We start by drawing the stick figure in the desired pose, with circles for the head and joints. While most stick figure drawings are as simply as long vertical line for the neck and torso, four short lines for the limbs, and a circle for the head, we need to add more lines for the shoulders and pelvis. We also need to make sure it’s properly portioned. I like to mark the torso line for the number of head lengths. Other things to remember are the upper arms and forearms are the same length of each other. The same goes for the thighs and calves of the legs. The only time any of the limbs are shorter than the others is if the pose calls for foreshortening.
Once the stick figure is drawn, an early rough sketch is drawn over it. You can start by adding circles and shapes for the chest, limbs, hands, and pelvis to help give you an idea of how the figure will look. You can also start adding lines around the head for the face. We are basically forming the human figure.
Next, we draw another rough sketch, but in more detail this time. This requires more eyeballing and foreshortening to get the figure looking right.
Don’t forget to add any additional details, like hair, clothing, and accessories. If you’re using a paint program like Photoshop or Gimp that support layers, it helps to color code them, so it’s easier during the inking/cleaning phase. Once you got all the rough details, it’s time to ink/clean up.
Draw over the lines you want shown in the final, and avoid any unnecessary lines, including the stick figure, the circle joints, and any guide lines. When finished inking, that’s pretty much it. If you’re drawing on paper, you can erase all of you penciling underneath the inking so they don’t show up when scanning to a computer. On the other hand, if you’re using a paint program (i.e. Photoshop or Gimp), you can hide or delete the other layers before saving a finished copy. With that said, drawing from stick figures can come in handy, regardless of what art style you’re doing it in. Once you get the hang of it, you may find yourself drawing fewer lines in your pose.
Bonus: Action Lines
Something I want to share before I go. You can also try drawing poses based around a single curved line. This is called an action line, and it is something I’ve learned from other artists years ago. It is used to portray actions effectively, including fight scenes and movement. Notice they do not go in an S or squiggly line.
Once you master implementing poses with action lines, you will be able to create powerful poses with ease.
Tomorrow, we will finish up with lighting and shading, and maybe even coloring.
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