Learn draw the human anatomy in charcoal.
Charcoal is a dynamic medium that can create expressive artwork. This medium works well for quick gesture drawings or with detailed compositions. Many artists enjoy working with charcoal because of its soft and adaptable nature. When learning draw the human figure, charcoal becomes especially handy, to capture the essence of a person's expression or movements. Learn to master the basics of figure drawing while using charcoal and other tools to create a realistic looking person.
Instructions
1. Set up your model. Ask a friend or relative to stand as a model for your drawing. Place them in a well-lit area. Allow them to sit in a comfortable position. Learning to draw figures takes time, so it is best if the model is in a position that feels natural to him. Snap a photo once your model is in place to recall his position for later sessions.
2. Prepare your work area. Set up an easel or drawing board near a strong source of light. Secure a sheet of charcoal paper to your board. Position your easel roughly four feet away from your subject.
3. Measure the head. Standing or sitting behind your work board, hold your charcoal pencil out at arm's length. Close one eye. Measure the height and width of your subject's head using the pencil as a ruler. Make a note of how large your model's head is.
4. Based on your measurements, lightly draw an egg shape to represent the head of your subject with an HB or F charcoal pencil. Draw the head in the top third of your drawing paper to leave enough room for the rest of the body.
5. Based on the size of the head, measure the length for the rest of the body. Men and women are approximately 7 1/2 heads tall, while teens range somewhere between 6 to 7 heads and children are around 5 1/2 to 6 heads tall. The width of the body varies depending on the position. Mark the length of the body with your charcoal pencil, making a horizontal mark at the bottom third of your paper.
6. Create the outline of your subject. Still using your HB or F pencil, draw the shape and stance of your model. Draw in shapes; form the neck with a small oval, the chest with an upside-down triangle, the pelvis with an oval and the arms and legs with oblong shapes. Use small circles to indicate the joints such as the elbows, shoulders, kneecaps and ankles.
7. Fill in the details around the face. Use soft 2B and 3B pencils to create the eyes, nose and mouth. Use vine charcoal to create the hair. Examine the features of your model and work to capture the general shape and expression of the face. Use the vine charcoal for the shadowed and darker areas and hard charcoal pencils such as F and 2H to create the highlights or lighter areas of the face.
8. Continue drawing and filling details, shaping the body and clothing around the framework you have drawn. Look at your model frequently to give yourself a reference point and to make the drawing look as realistic as possible.
9. Fill in dark areas where the shadows fall on your composition with pressed charcoal. Press the charcoal firmly against the paper to create dark, thick lines. Lift off mistakes by using a kneaded eraser. Blend and soften your sketch marks with a tortillon.
10. Spray your finished drawing with matte fixative to prevent the charcoal from smearing.
