A wooden artist's mannequin may be used instead of a human model.
The key to drawing an advanced human figure is to start with light, feathery strokes and a soft drawing tool, such as any B-grade graphite pencil or charcoal. You will make many marks to form the structure, but most will be unnecessary for the final product, so a soft, kneaded eraser is useful. The best results come when you use a high-quality paper designed for the medium you use. The best way to draw an advanced human figure is from an actual model, so find someone willing to sit still with you for at least an hour. Mark the model's position with tape, or document it with a camera, considering that he or she may need a break.
Instructions
1. Position yourself and your model in favor of comfort and good lighting. Focus on accurate proportions and pose by drawing a stick figure and adding volumetric shapes to it to make the different structures of the body. Use cross hairs within major structures, like chest, hips, and face to determine each of their centers and vantage points. Do not pay attention to detail at this point, since many of these lines will be erased later.
2. Look at all the negative space in your drawing and compare it to the shape and size of negative space within your model's pose. For example, if your model's legs are bent to form a 90-degree angle between them, then the negative space between the legs of your drawing should form that same 90-degree angle. You will need to do a lot of erasing and reconstructing to make proportions exact. Looking at each body part in relation to another will help you define the figure's proportions and perfect its pose.
3. Refine the shapes of the joints and extremities by connecting their shapes with curved lines. For example, a line can be added behind the circle you may have drawn for the knee to connect the two shapes that make up the thigh and calf areas. Some shapes do not need to be erased completely, like the circle used for the knee joint. Just erase enough to make it look more natural and less volumetric.
4. Apply details, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, etc. along the sections of the cross hairs in the face. Calculate their shapes and proportions the same way you did for the body.
5. Add clothing, and any other details you want to include, to the body of the figure. Erase all guidelines and cross hairs once you have done this. Darken the lines that appear closest to you, and fade the lines furthest away to add depth.
