How to Draw Foreshortening for Comics - Video Narrated by Robert Marzullo

Get my Figure Drawing Course here - gum.co/dPDEp - In this video I go over some foreshortening techniques that I use when drawing my comic book. This is a basic to intermediate understanding of how to construct your forms to make drawing characters in perspective easier to accomplish. I draw a few different poses and narrate my thoughts while working through the forms.
In this video I am using Manga Studio 5 EX and a Wacom Cintiq. These techniques can be used with any software and/or traditional drawing methods. If you have any questions then please fell free to comment in the section below. I do my best to answer all questions in a timely fashion.
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Robert A. Marzullo
Ram Studios Comics
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[@RobertMarzullo]

If you enjoyed this lesson get my full course on Udemy on How to Improve Your Figure Drawing here - www.udemy.com/how-to-improve-your-figure-drawing-step-by-step/?couponCode=YTPINDISCOUNT101

[@fabianamullaly5086]

Robert Marzullo where can I get lined pages to make comics, I got this really cool idea for a comic book and I want to finally start my own story. I love your work btw

[@beauisrael9724]

InstaBlaster.

[@SpiriTracE]

"The bicep usually lines up with the thumb." I first watched this video a few days ago and I didn't even pay much attention to this. Today, during practice, I kept trying to figure out what I've been doing so wrong with my poses. Those words replayed in my head, and I realized the bicep I drew was in a palm up position in a palm down drawing. Thanks for the tip...I feel like it was one of the missing links in my actual understanding. Still struggling to figure out better arms, but this trick should help me move forward. The arm twists and turns in complicated ways, so trying to make them dynamic is taking a bit of a steep learning curve.

[@RobertMarzullo]

You will get there. It is funny how things like that really need to be push into the thought process. I struggle with things like that from time to time as well. That is what made me think to mention it. Good luck with your art and more on the way real soon!

[@grownmangamer942]

Robert you truly are the man. I use a lot of different drawing tutorials but I always keep coming back to yours. Maybe it’s your humility or maybe it’s your way of explaining things but I do enjoy your tutorials the most.

[@LASERline14]

Great video, man. Foreshortening is definitely one of the things I struggle with and this was very enlightening.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+LASERline14 Very happy to hear this video helped you. I struggle with it too so I try to practice it often. More on the way real soon!

[@harmangindra4049]

@@RobertMarzullo ihighiiihihi hi

[@BoyKagome]

I been learning that its easier to draw hands if you focus on drawing the empty space around the hand instead of the fingers themselves. That might just be a crutch for beginners though.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+BoyKagome No, it is actually a really useful technique. I use that same method a lot when I am doing a recreation study of a portrait or still life. Not a beginner technique at all in my opinion. Thanks for your comment!

[@forgingaheadinart]

Great video!! Thank you for a good explanation of foreshortening!! Would like to see a video with the light table and how you do corrections. Anyway good job!!

[@fredgerd5811]

Great tips on balancing scenes in this vid! Most people stop short of that and just teach basic perspective.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Bryan Runyan Thanks! I am glad you enjoyed the video. More on the way real soon!

[@Kira14ish]

Time to take my drawings to the next level with this videos. Thank you!

[@oKingLexx]

thank you taking the time to make these. I appreciate your help.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+blindsay21 Your welcome and thank you for watching!

[@EricVasquezDesign]

Great video on foreshortening - it's something I have struggled with for a long time in my drawings. Thank you for putting this together.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Teach Me To Design No problem. I agree, it can be a very touch topic so I will be sure to add more videos in the future as I learn new techniques. Thanks for watching!

[@stevemccracken5856]

These are techniques I can use immediately. Thank you. Robert, you rock, friend.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Steve McCracken You're welcome Steve and thank you for watching!

[@Kentaloupe]

You make it look so easy! I've been struggling with perspective ever since I started drawing-5 years ago!

[@RobertMarzullo]

Well, I started 25 years ago so you have plenty of time! ;)

[@fun4drj2009]

This was a really great video. Great fundamental tips on 4shortng

[@hotrodhalo]

Fantastic tutorial I need to watch this a few times - stopped so much in between.

[@vajranurse]

I really really appreciate you sharing your thoughts and skills... its totally helping me with inspiration and advice!!!

[@ryanwalker1341]

I think you're great man, you make it look easy. I've been drawing since I was a kid, got a lot of decent raw talent, but faces tend to really give me a hard time, I'm working on starting up my comic now, but I think I'm going to have to find an artist, just no time for art school. You explain things pretty well that make my brain click and go, "Ooh, okay", lol keep them coming.

[@TheBasqueWasp]

Very helpful, and very generous of you to share It here. Thank you very much.

[@carolynmcbeth5263]

This was super helpful and very inspirational, thank you!

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Carolyn McBeth I am glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@BabyKrogan]

This is really helpful, thank you for sharing your expertise with us!

[@RobertMarzullo]

+BabyKrogan You are welcome and thanks for watching this channel!

[@bstoner8614]

Thank you so much for doing this! I was so lost but had so many idea's, you are helping me so much.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+bradley stone Very happy to hear that!

[@aroxe4u]

you are the best artist i now

[@DeadpoolPlayz]

you deserve more attension! these tutorials are good

[@RobertMarzullo]

Thanks very much! :)

[@matthewrichardson8006]

I absolutely love your videos Robert your technique to me anyways is flawless! I've learned quite a good bit from you! My art at its roots is very comic book style and I only recently just found your KZbin channel but I've learned so much from you!! You've got a fan in me lol

[@Antonioprophoto]

Hey man I appreciate all your videos.. you offer real helpful information compared to other bigger channels that just do things for the views. Keep it up man.

[@thiagodiniz6136]

Wow! Very good!

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Thiago Santos Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@angelcrespo528]

can you make a video on how to draw vains and we're to put them on the body please that would really help

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Angel Crespo Will do. I will add it to my list now. Thanks for watching!

[@niftyrosa1958]

+Angel Crespo cool idea

[@infinitesimotel]

a god way to measure is to notice that if the arms are held out dead horizontally, and rotted in the vertical say 45deg, the arm coming towards you is the same distance from fingertip to centre as the arm going into the frame is

[@chariots8x230]

I’m glad to have found this foreshortening video. It was helpful. Can you make a video with some tips on drawing objects from different angles? I have a hard time with that.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+chariots8x I sure can but what types of objects are you talking about? Thanks for watching this channel!

[@chariots8x230]

+Robert Marzullo I just want some tips that apply when drawing any object from different angles. Some object examples are a sword, a shield, a handgun, a fork, a guitar, a flag in the wind, and large angel wings. It doesn't matter what the object is as long as you give us some tips to capture different angles more accurately. You may want to talk about rules that we should keep in mind when changing the angle of an object and how to troubleshoot.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+chariots8x Sounds good! I will work on that in future videos. Thanks!

[@chariots8x230]

Robert Marzullo Thanks! That would be a big help for many of us.

[@judihopewell2499]

Dont mind long if I’m learning. Thanks for the lesson

[@jayyalbert522]

Awesome video

[@RobertMarzullo]

Thank you! :)

[@edwineddy3888]

Hi Robert thanks for vids ,coulld you explain how to use a window as a light box please ,learning a lot from you cant thank you enough, Regards George in the UK

[@RobertMarzullo]

You just tape your art with another sheet of paper over the window. Using the sunlight and window as a light box. You can also make a box with a sheet of glass or clear plastic and mount a small lamp or led light inside of it. Good luck to you and glad you enjoy the videos! :)

[@kevindouglas6120]

That was a good video . Helpful.

[@TheBony79]

That is great! Thank you!

[@RobertMarzullo]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching this channel! :)

[@FunArtWithDavidAnimator]

Awesome my bro thanks for your helpful

[@RobertMarzullo]

Anytime! :)

[@thomasvasta3688]

Enjoyed the video, it helped a lot. Thanks.

[@Sketchrcat]

U nailed this foreshortening beast; well done, Robert! Very informative and presented in simple straightforward language. Is the next foreshortening video going to be on foreshortening the female figure? (Wink; wink - nudge; nudge). Oh and may I humbly suggest; perhaps you could also sketch out several different female poses - ya know, just randomly fired out - to also really give the learning audience a very solid, good grip on foreshortening as it applies to the mainly used comic book character's poses that comix artists consistently use. I remain just one of your many loyal subscribers, looking forward to your next video. ~SKETCHCAT

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Sketchrcat I am very happy you enjoyed this video. I never know which ones will really be excepted and go over well so it is nice to hear when one does work. I can make sure to address the female figure in the upcoming videos. I will be sure to do some popular poses in foreshortened perspective. Thanks very much for taking the time to leave a cool comment and being a loyal subscriber to this channel! More on the way very soon!!

[@davidphilipsmusic]

Great video, thanks

[@RobertMarzullo]

You're welcome!

[@larrybell1684]

Robert I love your videos some of the other good artist on you tube make thing over complicate for me but you doit in a way that keeps me interested and feeling excited to continue I plan on subscribing as a Patreon on your web page as well I had a quick question when you needed to fix the hand you mentioned a traditional artist could use a light box could you elaborate please or recommend where I could find more info on that subject I've been drawing for years but just. decided to get.more serious and find my own style thanks alot man

[@bSquared1221]

Thank you so much I have needed to learn this for so long and now I finally now how thanks! 😄😁😀😃

[@RobertMarzullo]

You are very welcome and thank you so much for the AWESOME comment! Really makes it worth it when I read some of these. :)

[@TheWolfeMonster]

Hey Robert, I was wondering if you could make a video explaining how to draw based on age. Such as face wrinkles, height, and build from the age of Children, Teens, Young Adult, Middle Age, and Elderly? I have a huge difficulty of drawing teenagers because Im used to drawing adults and elderly type characters. Could you help me out with this?

[@RobertMarzullo]

+LaDarius “LadderGamer” Livingston Sure will. I will add that to the list and try to get that video out in the next month. Thanks for commenting and good luck with your art!

[@TheWolfeMonster]

Robert Marzullo Haha whenever I need help, I come straight to your channel! :) I will be waiting patiently for the video. While I wait I will continue to practice. Thank you so much!

[@RobertMarzullo]

Glad to hear it! Your welcome! :)

[@T1000-j6d]

Bro, this video really helped. OMG!! It made everything so much simpler. I'm already getting better. Thanks!! I don't have a mac but would you recommend any other manga/comic art/drawing digital software for a PC. Oh and not sure what you meant by "get a window" but I'll google it :) Thanks again.

[@brayvon98]

nice video man

[@RobertMarzullo]

+DaVon Duane Thanks very much!

[@badroantiworld20xx60]

i like your method to draw hands, , but idk why i still draw unrealistic drawing, i ever try to draw my charachter in 3/4 view, the head was good, but the body was so bad, and no harmony with the head, what is my problem?? and another question, did foreshortening have principles??

[@RobertMarzullo]

+badro antiworld20xx It just takes time. Drawing the human form over and over again makes it stick in your mind. I have drawn thousands of poses and I still have trouble on certain ones. That is why I do it every day. I will keep making videos like this and try to elaborate further when I can. Thanks for watching!

[@angelcrespo528]

hey Robert is it ok of I use the man swinging from a rope pose, for a comic book cover.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Angel Crespo Sure thing. Just do a good redraw over top and I am good with it. Thanks for asking!

[@angelcrespo528]

Thank so much your a great inspiration

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Angel Crespo Thank you! :)

[@SlayerFan961]

Subscribed. Nice work.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+SlayerFan961 Thanks very much for subscribing and glad you enjoyed the video! :)

[@CyberKoto]

Damn glad I found this, I'm doing some fight club fan art, and this helped me come up with some pretty dynamic poses. I know this is off topic, but did you have any influences from other comic artists when you were learning to draw?

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Cybernaut Major influences for me are Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Dale Keown, David Finch, Marc Silvestri, Michael Turner, Ed Benes and Leonardo DaVinci. And the list goes on and on. I just love anyone who can draw dynamic figures really well. Oh and I almost forgot, my mentor through books Burne Hogarth!! Thanks for watching and more on the way real soon!

[@CyberKoto]

+Robert Marzullo Gotta love McFarlane and Jim Lee, two of my idols, alongside Darick Robertson for his work on Transmetropolitan. One more thing I was wondering, then I'll stop buggin ya ;) I'm 18 right now, and I've been trying to learn to draw since I was about 12. The thing is, I have a bad habit of starting and stopping, because I sometimes doubt that I could ever reach the level I want to get at, and since my work hasn't been consistent, I haven't made much progress. So I was wondering, did you ever have self-doubt throughout your development? And if so, how did you overcome it? I always tried looking to comic artists for inspiration, but sometimes I find that it uninspires me, because I compare myself to them.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Cybernaut I know exactly how you feel. I hit a rough patch a few years back and almost quit drawing completely. Mainly because I kept seeing artist struggle financially and I didn't wan't to be a broke artist so I started a business. My business became successful but then I wasn't happy. I set out to be an artist and no longer was dedicated to my craft. So I recently shut down my shop and went to art full time. I couldn't be happier about it. I am still working on making good money with it but either way I am back doing what I love! Don't compare yourself to other artist. Learn from their style but don't compare. We are all very different from each other in the way that we excel. You may be better at faces and I may be better at scenery but no one is amazing at all of it. If the most amazing artist struggle with certain aspects of their work. I believe the race is only within our selves and not with others. Strive to be better each day and you will succeed at anything. IMO I hope that helps. And by the way, the stigma of artist not being successful is a thing of the past. So your generation is very lucky! :)

[@CyberKoto]

+Robert Marzullo Thanks for the advice! I am also gonna get some sketchbooks and try to fill up at least one a month, I heard that that can be useful for being consistent with your practice.

[@sadarquran6558]

Its helpufff thank RM

[@jbray34]

what app are you using?

[@joakydp]

To me, the hardest thing is to short the chest, like when the chest hides the stomach, cool video as always :D

[@peacebewu]

how about a dressed one? I can draw poses, but naked. When I put clothes on em it looks whack.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+peace bewith u I will add that to my video request list now. Thanks for watching and good luck with your art!

[@indy9529]

You have probably been asked this a hundred times. Wondering what you are using to do you digital art? Mouse, Wacom ect ?

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Andy K Wacom Cintiq most of the time and sometimes an Intuos 5.

[@renetorres1896]

wow hey #RobertMarzullo... I wishh I had at least half you're knowledge you're a Beast aka Great art work hey if it's not to much to ask but what's the link or website are you using idk I've been doing art for yrs since 9 I'm now 33 but my specialty is Graff & Graff Charcthers & I'm just starting to get into comic art..ohh & Thanx for sharing your art skills I hope you respond back I've been using #Adobe but on my cell phone but I want to use what ever you are using cause it looks like u have more access to tools etc again Thanx

[@vedkedia]

Rene Torres manga studio

[@anguiba]

robert i don't understand yet the real meaning about foreshortening, would you explain me what is exactly? ☺

[@RobertMarzullo]

+anguiba Foreshortening : to shorten by proportionately contracting in the direction of depth so that an illusion of projection or extension in space is obtained Simply put, you make an object appear to get smaller away from the viewer/camera ; the illusion of 3D space on a 2D environment.

[@AGPerry-go3xk]

You're great artist, Robert Marzullo, could you help me with my comic art?? You make it look so easy.

[@max3734]

What software do you use to draw on, please answer, thanks.

[@RobertMarzullo]

+maximus cheetah Manga Studio, it says it in the top left corner of the video. Thanks!

[@max3734]

Thank you so much.

[@RobertMarzullo]

Your welcome!

[@bobgood6649]

what does foreshortening meen?

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Bob Good Foreshortening : to shorten by proportionately contracting in the direction of depth so that an illusion of projection or extension in space is obtained Simply put, you make an object appear to get smaller away from the viewer/camera ; the illusion of 3D space on a 2D environment.

[@StreamerGuy_]

Imo foreshortening arms are kinda easier then foreshortening legs

[@L4D_Enjoyer]

Damn son that left leg THICC

[@Andrew-qs6ml]

oh yea and i was trying to realise like why does evrything sombody draws look soo good then i realise oh soo that is why 80% of the sceen is gone 1 person took all the screen soo i realised that i jsut need to draw things bigger

[@kodyhunter5566]

Sometimes I just need to see how it's done

[@FunArtWithDavidAnimator]

Plouk

[@smokelikeahippi4538]

Is there any way you could send me these as references through my gmail?

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Quentin Mills Just follow this link and you can download the sketches fromm this video. Thanks for watching and please share the videos when you can! robertmarzullo.deviantart.com/art/Foreshortening-Sketch-Sheet-by-RAM-566707749?ga_submit_new=10%253A1445098055

[@smokelikeahippi4538]

Thanks, keep up the good work, your drawing on a level I wish I could lol

[@RobertMarzullo]

You'll get there. Just stay at it!

[@dmasterbu5115]

boi

[@calisteniabb]

them thighs, did he got implants?

[@RobertMarzullo]

+Jonathan Blazquez I know. My proportions need work. Thanks for watching!

[@calisteniabb]

No need to explain, I've got a long way myself until I get somewhere. And no problem, always willing to learn :)