Exercise 4.4 • Form and Proportion in the Figure

Aim
When describing the form of the figure and creating the illusion of three dimensions on a two-dimensional plane, it’s useful to think in simple basic shapes: squares, rectangles, triangles, circles and ellipses. The head is a sphere, the torso, arms and legs are cylinders, and the feet and hands are ellipses.
For this exercise, you are making quick studies, looking at the basic shapes of the figure. You’ll get a chance to look at detail later in the course. When looking at the model, look at the large masses - the torso, legs, and so on. Try to catch key details like the tilt of the head and hips rather than the eyes, fingers, toes, and so on. The first few drawings will be relatively simple but should carry enough information for you to fix the general pose with some accuracy.
Method
Familiarise yourself with the figure and composition by making some quick preliminary sketches in charcoal or graphite. First, draw five two minute sketches of the model in your sketchbook, paying particular attention to the proportions and just using the basic lines that describe the figure.
Having something in the background helps identify the space and will help you place the figure so that it doesn’t appear to be floating in space. Position yourself so that you’re facing the model with an interesting viewpoint.
After completing the five two minute sketches (or more if you want), produce two larger 10 minute drawings. Be free in your use of medium and don’t erase any incorrect lines. Keep drawing over and over until the lines and marks begin to work.
Use a mixture of line and tone to establish the basic shapes of the figure - trunk, limbs, head - and how they relate to one another. This isn’t easy, so be prepared to erase and edit as you work. Keep stepping back from your work to compare the drawing with the figure as a whole and be prepared to radically revise your work. Common faults are to make the head too big, the legs too short and the hands and feet too small. Keep your marks loose and light to start with; as the image begins to come together you can begin to fix a few of the key areas.
Make one more drawing, taking a little longer - approximately 20 minutes.
Tip: Scaling up
When scaling up the size of the page, consider scaling up the media too. Use a thicker piece of charcoal, a bigger brush, or a softer pencil that leaves a blacker, thicker mark. This will help to preserve the energy captured in small quick sketches. You may find that you have to scale up your gestures too. Drawing from the elbow and shoulder rather than the fingers and wrist.
Do some more drawings of this pose, moving to a different position and changing your drawing medium. Try oil sticks, charcoal, conté sticks, pens, ink and brush.
Make written notes in your learning log about the planes and shapes of the body and about any challenges you experience with measuring or media.
Arrange your model at a slight angle in a chair. Establish that they will be comfortable to sit in this pose for an hour or so (with breaks). Before you begin your drawing consider the angle of the central axis that runs through the seated figure. Notice any twists or bends.
Block in the basic shapes and don’t get bogged down in detail. Look carefully at which planes of the body are receding and which planes or lines are parallel to the edge of your picture plane. This will help you establish the bulk of the drawn figure in relation to the space around it. Blocking in the figure should also help you situate the drawing on the page.
Identify a measured unit that will help with the scale and proportions of the figure. Draw the model from different angles and positions. Remember to look and measure with each pose. Another way to measure is to use the negative space that surrounds the model to act as a ‘check’. It may be that you can see space between arms and the torso; drawing this can help, too.
Identify the possibility of foreshortening and make written notes. Foreshortening is what happens when things like arms or legs (which you know are long) appear short because they are pointing towards or away from you. Is there more than one line of movement? The torso may have a slight twist to it.