4 Tips For Sketching People

Lately, I have been sketching my family. They're the ones you're most likely to get enough time to do: in the last video, sketching outside a café, I caught people in under a minute each, but in these ones I had much longer, and it was very much a leisure activity...a wonderful one.
I wrote an article for my blog on my website in which I broke down the elements I think about when I am sketching, and I thought they might be useful in a KZbin video because I had a bit of footage of the sketching in progress.
There’s something I’d like to talk about that might be a bit…underemphasised. Learning to draw is easy. Learning to draw well isn’t easy, and isn’t fast (no matter what some of the KZbin thumbnails will have you believe). But it’s worth the effort, and I have faith in you as an intelligent human with eyes, and taste, that you can learn anything you want to, and that it will be beautiful. (I’m starting to read a book on simple university-level physics, just because I want to learn more about how stuff works. And I haven’t darkened a science lecture theatre in thirty years. It’ll be a struggle…but worth it.) I get a bit impatient when I hear “You don’t need to be able to draw to make art” - of course you don’t. But if you want to draw people in a way that captures the true essence of their character (as opposed to expressing your spirit as the artist) then yes, you do need to learn to draw.
My husband commented that this video is a bit long; he’s probably right, but learning to draw people involves a lot of moving parts, and it’s not an easy thing to master - so I thought if I reiterated the four elements that are the subject of this tutorial, they’d be more likely to sink in. Besides, what’s fifteen minutes compared to the hours you’ll be putting in as a people sketcher?
So this is just a start - I will talk more about light and contrast, and, to some extent, composition (you don't always get much choice in that when you are sketching people who haven't deliberately sat for you) but there's something to be learned from that too.
If you enjoy this video, and you think you could learn from my approach to drawing and painting, then I advise you to come to my classes. I offer a 90-minute live session once a week, but there are short courses every now and then. These are also live and recorded to suit your own time availability. The next one is for beginners and runs 21st to 25th August 2023, for two hours each day, and there are still a couple of places left - as long as you have, or can get, the right materials.
You’ll find more info on my website.
Meanwhile I hope you enjoy this video.
And good luck with your people sketching!

[@lorriepaints1490]

Wonderful! I’m going to start!

[@roisincure]

@@lorriepaints1490 good for you!

[@deeraven5645]

Awesome lesson thanks! I love Reuben 😊

[@roisincure]

You’re welcome ☺️

[@luckystarpiano]

Just discovered your channel and I’m in love ❤ 🎨 soooo much creative inspiration ❤ Subscribed with pleasure

[@roisincure]

You’re very welcome! I’m delighted you’re enjoying it!

[@katjweiss]

Oh my goodness, I‘m so glad I found your channel! Your sketchbook is a joy to see, so inspiring and making me want to get out and sketch again. On top of all that, you explain everything so well (and entertainingly) which is not always easy to do as an artist. Ruben is cute and your husband is wrong! We live in the day and age of hour+ long nonsense KZbin videos, your 15m tutorial is a gem 💎

[@roisincure]

Thanks so much Kat! So you think a couple of 20 minute tutorials on the same topic, one drawing and one painting, would be okay? And I agree with you, I’m so glad you said it - the amount of rubbish on KZbin is unreal! Just padding or throwaway videos… so I’m going to try very hard to honour the time given to me by the viewer ❤️

[@handymotte9937]

Hi Rosin, sorry I found the skin tones in your book. Have a nice evening with greetings from Petra.

[@roisincure]

Happy you found it!

[@colinosullivan]

Another great video Róisín. Cheers

[@roisincure]

@@colinosullivan delighted you like it Colin ☺️

[@colinosullivan]

@@roisincure now I’ve to practice 🤣

[@roisincure]

@colinosullivan that’s the good bit though 😆

[@jessicav6670]

Oh my goodness, thank you Róisín! Watching this from NZ as a mother of 2 young sons, this just strikes me as a brilliant gift to your family to capture them in art ♡

[@roisincure]

You’re so lucky to be at that stage now. I drew my kids a good bit but not half as much as I would have if I’d discovered sketching sooner! Enjoy the ride! ❤️

[@michalnanny1098]

I love how you leave the light areas simply white. I'm going to try this too, because it looks great in your sketches!

[@roisincure]

This will make a huge difference to your work. Just remember: it doesn’t have to BE white to look great left white on the page.

[@geraldineconway1865]

Róisín this is such an informative video. I agree with Caroline above by saying how generous you are with your expertise.

[@roisincure]

Thanks Geraldine…I just love to spread the excitement of doing something really well. I am the lucky one!

[@jrsinsf]

Great info! Thanks for posting

[@babs675]

Great ❤ tutorial. Thank you. ❤

[@roisincure]

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@richardfuchs5131]

Wish I could share all my sketches of my grandkids. I’m so agreeing with everything you said here. It’s so much fun.

[@roisincure]

I’m delighted you liked it Richard! Yes…it really is the best!

[@markstrain8989]

So very kind and generous of you to create this post, Roisin. I agree with all the comments. ❤ This post is a gift (they all are actually) and I'm grateful for it. I've watched it a few times because it's helpful, obviously, but more than that because it's encouraging. In watching it, I've realized I'm intimidated by drawing people because I'm not good at it and I freeze. It's kept me from completing a couple of online classes. So, I will work on it. Thank you.

[@roisincure]

I know that everyone is intimidated…I still am! But I still do it. I sketched people today and I just figured…”never mind the spectators, just follow the line” and it was fine! And fun!

[@akalivvie]

Wonderful video! The sketch of me and Paddy reminds me so much of Paul Cézanne's "The Card Players" (yours is much better tho)

[@roisincure]

Thank you honey …I shall check it out! Excited now! ❤️❤️❤️

[@susancook1617]

Thank you Roisin, great tutorial 😊

[@roisincure]

My pleasure!

[@nottaholiday]

Fantastic video...thank you. Love your fun and informative instruction.

[@roisincure]

It's my pleasure!

[@jaimejaime1178]

Hi Róisin. Jim from Madrid, Spain (a fellow artist and a New Yorker expat living abroad). I asked you about drawing people in one if your latest videos, as well as for your Sketch bag, and you have delivered. Thank you very much!!! As I said, I'm trying to improve in my skills for drawing people (it's my Aquiles heel) from life, specially while outdoor sketching/painting. I've always loved wildlife and I've been focusing more on that, but your tips and real life examples I have a better understanding of how to approach it. Again, thank you very much for sharing. As per your Sketch pouch (I'm sorry, I can't remember the name you chose right now, but that's on me - I have good memory for almost everything, but I'm really bad with names!). From this video, I see you've included a small pocket on the outside which I believe is just great to fit a smartphone, a small wallet and house + car keys (for example) while fitting your plein air or urban sketching kit, so it can become your EDC bag for everything. If it can fit an A5 sketchbook and if you can hang it around your shoulders with some straps, I think it would be awesome. I have mobility issues and cannot carry a lot of weight, that's why I'm searching for something light but functionally sufficient to be able to carry my basic sketching materials in an orderly way. In any case, thank you for answering my previous questions and, I will be putting into use your tips, and I can't wait to see the final product for the Sketch carry all bag. Cheers from Sunny Spain! 😁👍😎

[@roisincure]

Hi Jim, it’s a SketchPocket and yes it has a padded strap. And a pocket for your phone and wallet at the front! The one in the picture is only for an A6 but the slightly bigger one will be sewn as soon as I can get a long enough zipper. So far the bag has been amazing, and remarkably light, as it’s just soft materials.

[@carolinehill6839]

Thank you so much for this video, Roisin! Lots of information, and tips, which we can use in the future. All the sketches are awesome, and you've been so generous in sharing your expertise and knowledge. 👍😃

[@roisincure]

Thanks Caroline! Much appreciated!

[@MultiPassionateCreator]

Such a wonderful idea to have your sketches printed in a book. ❤ you do beautiful work and very detailed. Thanks for sharing

[@roisincure]

It’s my pleasure! Thank you 🙏

[@64buffer]

Thank you so much for sharing and showing the steps involved in the process. It’s always a pleasure to see your work, and you’re a natural teacher. Thank you!

[@roisincure]

Thank you very much. It’s a privilege to help others on their sketching journey.

[@elainetyrrell4669]

Thank you so much Roisin they are great tips for sure. I particularly liked the sketch of your husband driving as it feels like I too am on the move in beautiful Ireland.

[@roisincure]

Ah that’s lovely Elaine…thank you so much! Ireland really is very beautiful.

[@Angela27red]

Can you show us what you take with you to sketch on the train etc? Your sketches are lovely

[@roisincure]

Sure! It’s in many of my recent videos. And thank you!

[@annipetratos9401]

Love this xx

[@roisincure]

Thanks! 🙏

[@Lesleyfish]

Such an enjoyable watch! I'm new to sketching people, so I found this really useful. Thank you for sharing, Roisin!

[@roisincure]

Good to hear it Lesley. The key is to have tons of people sketches under your belt…and have fun in the process.

[@ChantelleArts]

This is really interesting, I need to get quicker at drawing so I can catch people before they move too much ❤✨

[@roisincure]

You have to be super-fast with the face…the rest you can fiddle with a bit.

[@glennamiller8157]

I Love your sketches. Thanks for sharing your video.

[@roisincure]

Thank you very much!

[@WorldWideWebObserver]

Beautifully done!!!

[@roisincure]

Thanks 🙏 xx

[@handymotte9937]

Thank you for the good tips. What color do you take for the skin ?

[@roisincure]

I always use Cherry Quinacrodone Red mixed with yellow ochre.