Figure Drawing Lessons 2/8 - Drawing Human Proportions Using Stick Figures

Forgot to mention this in the video, but I learned this technique from Riven Phoenix of AlienThink, so all credits goes to him. You can check out his work here: www.alienthink.com/
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This video is part of a full lesson, to view the complete lesson, go here:
mydrawingtutorials.com/drawing...
Video Transcript:
Hi, and welcome back to the second video in this lesson series on how to draw the human figure.
By the way, if you haven't watched the first video yet, I recommend that you do that right now and then come back to this one.
To watch the first video, just click on the link below...
Lesson #1: • Figure Drawing Lessons...
Just as a quick recap, in the last video, we talked about the big reason why so many artists struggle with learning figure drawing.
I told you about the story of my co-instructor Michael and how he really hurt his long term success by skipping over the fundamentals.
And I also hinted at what I believe to be a big secret to your success in figure drawing... which is a structured step-by-step approach to learning that's designed to teach you a number of critical skills, each one building on the last.
So in this video, we're going to dive deeper into this "structured approach" and I'm going to reveal the first ingredient in our figure drawing success formula.
And that is...
PROPORTION!
Not surprisingly, proportion is one of the most important skill to develop. Until you really understand how to draw human proportion, you drawings will never look right.
It's the core foundation that everything else we will learn will be based on.
But for some reason, this is also the biggest sticking points for most beginners. But today, we're going to fix that!
I'm going to show you a simple drawing exercise that will help you make sense of proportion and allow you to really lock in that knowledge and make it a part of you.
Let's go over to the drawing table and get to it!
So the key to this exercise to to construct a basic figure completely from scatch. By doing this, it's going to help you to understand the rules that governs how a human body is put together.
And it's going to help embed all those rules of proportion into your mind and make it second nature.
So let's begin.
[SEE VIDEO FOR DETAILS]
There you have it. We've just created our own human body from scratch, complete with it's own rules and measurements.
Congratulation! You now know more about drawing human proportion than 90% of beginner artists.
Now it's time to imprint what you just learned into your long term memory.
Research studies have shown that when we are first exposed to new information (lectures, articles, tutorials), the vast majority of that knowledge slips out of your short term memory within the first 30 minutes.
But there an easy way to remedy this problem and that's by employing a technique called, "Spaced Repetition"
It's basically the idea that reviewing a piece of new information over a period of time will cement it into your mind and dramatically increase retention.
So here's your homework for today:
Immediately after watching this tutorial, take out a clean piece of paper and repeat the exercise we just did.
Try remember as much on your own as you can. Even when you can't immediately recall something, try for a while.
By putting in effort to remember rather than just passively referring back the the lesson, you'll actually make the information stick much deeper.
And when you really can't remember, go ahead and refer back the this lesson.
Then repeat this again 30 minutes later. Then one more time 1 hour later. And finally once more the next day.
By doing this you will solidify everything you've learned and lock it into your long term memory.
Oh and by the way, you can apply this concept to anything you learned for maximum effectiveness.
Of course, there's a lot more to learn about human proportion, but this exercise should give you a nice head start.
In tomorrow's lesson, we'll learn about how to apply perspective your figure to make it look more 3 dimensional and interesting.

[@thunderaga]

Step 1: Draw a line - 2:17 Step 2: Find the midpoint (crotch) - 2:46 Step 3: Divide top (top chest) - 3:08 Step 4: Divide top (chin) - 3:24 Step 5: Divide above mid (belly button) - 3:34 Step 6: Divide bottom (knees) - 3:44 Step 7: 1st quarter oval (head) - 5:23 Step 8: Dot headlength topchest (nipple) - 5:40 Step 9: Half chin & topchest with V (collar bone) - 6:18 Step 10: Half collarbone and chin - 6:40 Step 11: Intersect nipple to oval - 7:26 Step 12: Dot slight below headlength at belly button - 8:36 Step 13: 2/3 and bit below between belly and crotch, dot headlength (leg joints) - 10:17 Step 14: Extrapolate V Belly to nipples (arm joints) - 12:21 Step 15: Collar V to joints curve (arm) - 12:47 Of course, create some methods in your head to remember the steps. Practice without the video and soon it'll be second nature. Hope this helps.

[@jacksmith-bf7vn]

Thanx buddy

[@bigounceofforks5735]

Thunderaga thank you so much 😊

[@dumbdelusionalstupidmofo6285]

THAANK YOUUUU

[@nimb1333]

best comment ever, timestamping the greatest tutorial ever. thank you

[@anduro7448]

As a more experienced artist than absolute begginer that wants to better learn how to draw the figure The devide line thing makes is kinda hard for me , can we just use head proportions for everything? also here are translation to head proprtions (might be wrong idk): Mid point = 4 heads top chest = 2 heads (we are counting up to down and we count the head itself as 1 head) End of chin (end of head) = 1 head Belly button= 3 heads Knees= 6 heads

[@nolinkumar6855]

I cant believe how many tutorials basically skip this part of drawing the figure. This basic simplification of proportions is the best thing I've seen on youtube so far. Not only this, you go on to explain to us HOW to actually practice and become better. This is a huge help. Thank You Very Much.

[@devanmeck6170]

Exactly so.

[@EvasGamingASMR]

agreed. The problem with being skilled is assuming everyone has the basic skills they do, and the same understanding. Newbies need it barney style please! lol

[@saayliparker5628]

Who else is here to learn something new during quarantine ? Love the video though Keep going dude

[@zele4476]

Nieva Akemi more so to refine my skills as well☺️

[@beccag2758]

Yup, my search history is now full of "how to draw perspective/hair/faces/etc"😂

[@brandichavez2024]

Me lol ✌️

[@blingbwoy]

yuppp

[@yipdog103]

im actually an art student but want a head start before I have this class next semester lol

[@meatsweats1184]

what a difficult game of connect-the-dots :0

[@lauughs6901]

meat sweats I See You Everywhere

[@drewheavens2547]

true

[@jaredhawe1066]

lol

[@theruthmyster]

😅

[@devD1967]

I am a disabled veteran that has a lot of memory issues. As much as I am enjoying the art of this. The memory part of the lesson will impact my life much more. Thank you for the videos and please keep them going. :)

[@dagrimreaper93]

I'm a musician and I'm trying to do art, too. This helps a lot, thank you.

[@MyDrawingTutorials]

+dagrimreaper93 Nice! I been wanting to learn music for a while.

[@AllDemNoobs]

+A Noble Waffle art for kid culb

[@rose2654]

dagrimreaper93 I'm trying to learn these both as well

[@Raging-Lion]

dagrimreaper93 same here.

[@lavendermarshmallowplant3229]

dagrimreaper93 but isn't music a form of art too?(ik this is a yr ago, but)

[@laurewinkelmans9501]

Can I just say thank you? This is the clearest video I have found on KZbin about proportions of the body. And the helpful tip at the end was also refreshing.

[@hyphend10]

The proportion method u shared was really helpful and not too long or too short, thank you. Many, many thank yous for sharing the method to memorizing information / lessons! :)

[@MyDrawingTutorials]

I absolutely agree. Not only does throwing in figure drawing every once in a while helps keeps you sharp, but know how to draw the human body is essential to being a well rounded artist.

[@deckard210000]

Loving this and so helpful. for a guy who drew as a kid and cant afford to go to art school, and has a job that is not artful at all, this tutorial brings me so many smiles. Thanks so much for providing your tutorials. My stress levels are going down.

[@mishnareemincey]

I always wanted to draw, and spent a couple years in middle school trying to learn, but it was from manga books and trying to copy anime. Now I'm 22 years old with an urge to draw again, but this time, I want to start back again and on to the right foot. You've helped me realize that I was going about it all wrong all those years ago, and I am very grateful for content like this, thank you so very much.

[@siddhartha_1]

Thanks for translating a right-brain skill into left-brain steps. Great teaching!

[@nothingposted9056]

I think you might enjoy the book "the Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron, it might rattle that right brain of yours

[@graysonredwood8146]

Mind= blown. I always see these stick figures in tutorials, but they're always like "Now, draw your simple stick figure reference..." Like, how dafuq do I do that, what part of "beginner" do you not understand. YOU ON THE OTHER HAND. Gah, thanks so much. :3

[@MyDrawingTutorials]

Grayson Redwood LOL, thank you! Yes, I've always found that to be very frustrating too when I was trying to learn.

[@theflyingcommander206]

wow, when i look at my sketchy drawing i feel like an artist. : )

[@glycolic001]

Thanks so much. You made drawing so easy and fun. Now I understand concepts that I struggle for some time.

[@MyDrawingTutorials]

+NoritaLinda Glad to hear that, Norita! I'll be coming out with an updated version of this series in the future.

[@emmahamilton1514]

A lot of art teachers will just say “draw what you see,” but this stuff is necessary for most people first. I think artists forget that they struggled through learning basics to get to the point where they can draw what they see. Thanks. I needed the “for dummies” version 😊

[@ARealManSpeaking]

I love this tutorial. Can't wait until I finish the exercise. This has really given me a boost in confidence.

[@DarkTwister72]

This is one of the most absolute helpful tutorials I've ever seen. I'm so sick of stuck up artists out there going out of their way to try and mislead their students simply because they're afraid that they're going to surpass them someday. Thank you so much for this. c:

[@shrekkoart4589]

I died when you said, Locate the nipples..!! xD but yeah bro,....this is exactly what i was looking for,*not the nipples*....Clear and to the point ! #Thanks!

[@RainbowLightning06]

Thank you for this. I've looked at drawing books that give the 8-head figure and show how to do it and I've seen other proportion tutorials but none of them really spell it out like you do and you give a great way to keep practicing at it. I've been painting for years but never been able to do figures and I'm taking a step back Michael and going over the fundamentals. You've made it really easy, I look forward to going learning from your next lessons!

[@martinzikmund85]

I always appreciate when somebody finds the time and energy to make a tutorial like this, so thank you. However, speaking for myself, this approach was the thing that was holding my drawing back for a long time. It was good to know where the important body parts were supposed to be, but it always came up unnatural. I guess (again, at least for me) at the beginning the most important thing is compactness of the figure, so I almost always start without measuring the proportions. I just pick a part of body I already know how I want it to look like, eg. the angle of pelvis and the hip-to-chest line, and start the drawing from that point. This, of course, needs a lot of practice and an equal amount of motivation. It's very helpful to redraw a photos from time to time. I can recommend the pin-up pictures for this. It's usually somewhere on the way between photography and drawing, so both the lines and shading are clearly visible.

[@carlyjensen8514]

Thank you so much! I'm a massage therapist so I'm happy that I'm working from a pretty solid anatomical understanding. This really helps me with the proportions and symmetry! And yes, I'm learning a new skill while quarantining lol

[@fallenpetal1188]

I started using this method sense last night and have been practicing it tonight. My figure drawing skills have improved immensely! Thank you.

[@hiroshotreplica]

this opened up a part of my brain, i swear... thank you! i know this video is old, but still, youre helping the newer generations of artists as well :) hopefully more people my age can find this

[@AgentNibbles]

This was actually the only time I got happy to hear homework. I feel like this full tutorial will help out a lot. Thanks ^_^

[@christyoshima5464]

I have always had problems with drawing the body and now that i found you, i am sure i'll succeed in no time. That's was a great lesson! Thanks so much!

[@PattyPlace]

this probably made the most sense I have ever heard. many thanks, Patty

[@erf7519]

one of the best drawing tutorials ever. So simple but so effective.

[@autietay]

Thank you so much!!! My school doesn't have any art class or program, so everything I know I just sort of figured out for myself. Thank you so much for uploading these videos!! They really help me learn the technical skills that I otherwise wouldn't be able to learn!❤️

[@miggidy85]

been a professional artist for 13 years and figure drawing has always veen a weak point for me, these will help ne improve tyat for sure. thank you.

[@Zoevandyne]

this is the greatest video about how to learn the human proportions in a tiny amount of time.

[@DrawingInHeart]

Thank you for making this.In my opinion this is the best proportion drawing tutorial on youtube

[@kimfederici2768]

I’m learning...one beginner step at a time. Thanks. It’s been many years since I attempted learning this. Now I have begun working in watercolor and realized how much I needed a down and dirty lesson in proportions. Thanks

[@reikomyles1495]

I've been drawing most of my life and am still drawing. I don't practice like I should. The plan is to put it into practice and become a better artist, specifically with human figures and portraits. That old cliche still holds true: Practice really does make perfect. Thank you for the tutorials. Now, the rest is up to me.🙂

[@awesomeness85979]

You are wonderful man. I've seen tutorial 1 and 2 so far but what you say in the end of the second one was really important. Thank you!

[@filipferencak2717]

I'm a total noob when it comes to drawing. This is the only legitimate tutorial that actually explains everything it needs to about human proportions on youtube. Thank you for making it. I would've been lost without it.

[@filipferencak2717]

Update: It's been a year and now I'm a master of the human figure. Thank you for teaching me this :)

[@YamiTheEevee]

I've been drawing animals all my life and decided to start drawing humans. This is really helpful! Each month, I'll come back to this comment and share my progress as an artist for a year. By that time, I'll be 16 years old and hopefully better than I am now. Edit: First of March (Day I started): I made an extra figure and drew a character with it. The character looked really manly, but that's probably because I've been doing my proportions wrong, and I used a more cartoon-like style before. The figure was really useful and helped eliminate issues I had previously. I'm pretty happy with it~

[@wooba849]

17 minutes in and I've already learned more on the internet than in actual classes. Thank you so much!

[@beverlyciciliano5455]

Thankyou for this clear lesson,Hope I can find more of your lessons.This was done 8 years ago.Thanks again

[@TheNickChapa]

Great tutorial. Loved the extra bit of information you gave that applies to other aspects of life as well. That knowledge alone is invaluable! Thanks a lot!

[@avoidingacedia]

I loved this video. Mastering the concepts before moving on to #3. This is so simple to understand and really helped me.

[@kenvng]

WOW, i looked at so many figure drawings and they pretty much tell you about 7 7.5 and 8 heads but never this detailed. Thank you so much.

[@zoomusak]

Thank you I love learning and your videos certainly are well thought out and easy to follow. I appreciate your effort and talent, can't wait to view more of your lessons!

[@primmecho3638]

Thank you! In the very early stages of developing my own comic book characters and story and this helped a lot! I learned this in drawing classes I took in highschool but forgot nearly all of it. Thank you for re teaching me! :)

[@MyDrawingTutorials]

+Primm Echo You're very welcome, Primm! Thanks for the comment.

[@Screamo_RC]

The best figure drawing video I've personally found. I've now got something to practice to improve. Thank you.

[@peco3806]

Not only did you show me the correct proportions of the human body, you also decided to give an amazing way of remembering how to do it! When I become a manga artist I'm gonna try recommend this series to everyone I know :3

[@blueisnotgreen7258]

VERY nice sir. and even the non drawing tips like the memory one at the end are battling my bad habits and helping me learn what i can only imagine is as fast as i could hope

[@brithanymarbunmusic]

I got so anxious seeing the thumbnail with all the detailed figures! But I decided to trust you on the previous video and I thought, "Hey, I can do this. Let's give it a chance." Sooo glad I did! Thank you so much! I'll be practicing as breaks between studying for my classes :)

[@MyDrawingTutorials]

+Brithany Marbun Thank you, Brithany. I'm very glad you watched the video too :-)

[@cultrice6869]

I just started using my Intuos Pro and Photoshop CC, and this helped a bunch. It may have taken me about 30 minutes to perfect, but I got there. Thank you, man. I subscribed.

[@davalynnopsahl6089]

Love this lesson and really appreciate the additional tips on how to retain the information and build on it.

[@MrPezzzz]

Thank you so much for this, my eyes started lighting up as I went through the process and things kinda fell into place and made sense, I've struggled with Figure drawings for so long!

[@sopasswimteam]

Thanks so much for posting this amazing tutorial video. 16 months into the pandemic and I found this gem.

[@viperdragon29]

I have been thinking on working on art for a while now. I have attempted things I should not have attempted before, and even though the works are quite alright, I know I can do better and now I have realized that I have a lot of miasing information that I really need to research on. I have saved this video to my "Watch Later" list, so that I may begin working on a figure that I have been thinking of for quite some time, a humanoid-like dragon figure. this video should give me the proper knowledge to begin on the foundation, and I will be working more as I go along. Thank you a lot for the video, I am sure this will help me understand the first thing I need to know before fully diving in.

[@zajdamily]

This was the best quick figure drawing lesson I've ever seen/heard. Thanks. Really appreciate it.

[@rainbowstarks]

thank you for making this so simple! been drawing for years and dreaded learning anatomy, but this is a great intro. much appreciated!

[@inkbyfrank]

This helps alot mate. Deeply appreciate the help you've given me. Cheers

[@MyDrawingTutorials]

+Frank holm You're very welcome, Frank!

[@Kataifi3378]

All the problems i have been struggling with for weeks your solving them brilliantly. Im pretty much in michael's situation. And excited about fixing the issues. Thank you!!

[@OpenWorldGirlMR]

I've tried so many approaches and I finally found the one that clicks in my brain! Thank you! 😭😭

[@keanepalmer2203]

One lesson in and I already feel like I know a hell of a lot more about proportion. THANK YOU!!!

[@gabriellatolin2461]

thank you so much for this lesson! It greatly helped me to understand what I didn't before :) Can't wait to take the next lesson!

[@conradreyes5391]

Thank you, Ethan, for sharing this video, this is helpful, I understood your instructions and looking forward to learning more.

[@GhostyGoldfish]

this is a great series, so thankful for the free intuitive lessons! practice practice practice!

[@juntian8434]

One of the best drawing tutorials ever. So simple but so effective. Thank you very much!

[@juanitopantuflapantufla2605]

This is the only true begginer tutorial for drawing that i found in youtube

[@stopeatingsomuchricejackson]

ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR ADVICE &TUTORIALS! !very helpful ,..helping me improve my journey towards professionalism 😊

[@robertribeiro9277]

Excellent tutorial and you make it so fun and simple to learn this. This is very important stuff they didnt teach me in art school. Thank you!

[@jukeboxg3153]

thank you soooooo much, my friend kept texting me to go to your channel, so i did and ive been doing my homework and stuff you did, now i can draw human beings!. thanks man, youre awesome :)

[@darkdeath01]

Thank you Ethan. You did great job here. Realy helpful.

[@gennelpadaon814]

thank you for this tutorial. this is the first time that I really understood how human proportion works. Hoping to apply this technique for my future drawings

[@mosiarmstrong]

Awesome tutorial Ethan! I did illustration at the Academy of Art and I don't remember their tutorials being this thorough and simple to follow, yet effective. You have yourself a new follower.

[@skypyt]

So i came across this tutorial because i wanna start drawing. I thought it was really cool, then i saw it was 9 years ago... wow, even after all this time, i find this very helpful. This deserves way more likes

[@bethreth5151]

Thanks so much! Your tutorial was concise and fun. I'll be working through the rest of them as well. Thanks again!

[@rutylevy5914]

Beautifully done, clear and inspiring. Thanks!

[@mifiamigahna]

This is probably the best tutorial I've ever seen. Thank you very much! When I'm done with my homework I'll come back tomorrow.

[@MyDrawingTutorials]

That was actually what I was thinking about doing. I am planning on making the next course on perspective drawing and how to draw cities and scenes. Thanks for the questions.

[@MrMywishlist]

This was actually fun! Thank you for your teaching!

[@brolone110]

Best basic figure tutorial so far

[@christiandance2]

thank you very much, I never knew how important this was for drawing. since I was 8yo my father taught me how to draw but I never really knew this type of fundamental basics right here. now I understand the difference in my work verses without the basics. I've always wanted to learn this because I did kinda gave up on drawing along time ago. but thank you so much, will be subscribing

[@nataliaarganaras7721]

Thank you soooooooo much for numbering your lessons! I usually have to waste so much time looking for the following video in a series...

[@calgregory5397]

thank you soooooo much! I'm doing my GCSE in art soon and part of it is drawing humans! you have no idea how much you are helping me!

[@asherkenyon]

I've decided to try and learn drawing people for the use of designing things such as game characters rather than real people. and this video has really helped especially as proportion is probably one of the most annoying things when it comes to drawing any people whether they be real or fantasy! Will be watching the rest of these vids.

[@msdeedaartist6385]

The method you shared with us really helped me make things click and now I have more confidence in my future sketches and looking at all human figures differently. Thank you so much for sharing your video.

[@Studiofaeltube]

Hi! I'm sharing this and also doing the exercises. I'm an animator like your friend Michael, and in order to get my positions drawn better from imagination, I had to start reviewing the basics over and over again. your videos are the only ones that target this. Thank you. Highly recommendable.

[@alexjjgreen]

really good video. thanks for takin time out to make it!

[@nikiwijnants6418]

Best information video I've seen till now!

[@princessexpistol]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! It was very easy to follow. Much appreciated.

[@BoneziusPilatuz]

Just drew it the second time! In 30 minutes I'll draw it again and a hour after it again, I'll try to draw the figure tomorrow, too, when I feel comfortable with the figure I'll watch your second video! Thank you so much!

[@ujjainimukherjee2267]

I just love this channel and the teaching techniques....

[@arrowmoons]

Thanks! I'm happy to relearn the basics!

[@stephaniepeake8983]

Really helpful thankyou! I was doing the chest cavity too wide the first few practices and then realised my mistake and why my figures were looking very stocky! Thankyou!

[@MyDrawingTutorials]

Stephanie Peake That's fantastic. Noticing and correcting your mistakes is the best way to improve.

[@bogdanniculae939]

Thanks for your awesome videos and tutorials. Keep up the good work!

[@theflyingdutchman787]

Best tutorial I've found so far. Thank you.

[@celena58]

Many thanks for sharing this tutorial. It is clear and helped me a lot. Keep the good spirit. Cheers

[@Elizabethd69]

thank you that was fun and I'm going to try your spaced repetition idea . thanks again !

[@Dadlee2100]

Your lesson (Drawing Human Proportions...) has been of great value to me. Thanks

[@Disirablepossessions]

fantastic lesson, Thank-you so much. I will now try to commit it to memory. it has 'opened my eyes '

[@staycsglass]

Thanks will practice this and keep watching the rest of your vids.

[@rexrevolt]

I'm watching your tutorials because I'm having to re-learn everything to be able to produce figures faster for a book and this tutorial was extremely helpful.

[@goldenheart7925]

Thanks for helping me out! i was doing the same mistake Micheal did xD i was so stubborn and too confident that i really don't need any instruction and i can figure things out.It started from artist and ppl telling me to study things around me and try to draw them and keep listening to same comment over and over...so i made this idea that a someone can learn by himself without the help of any kind source of knowledge a teacher or whatever.I really can't draw alot and i kept pushing myself out thinking i have something wrong with motivation...i kept watching shows and films to enrich my imagination but yet can't draw much but doodles and fast sketches.... Becz i gave up of my own way...and i really want to approach and reach new level of experience and kind of art i produce..i decided to listen to the right thing...i have drew with u and i am happy to do something right xD finally...!!! Thanks again Ethan :) *if i really recalled ur name hehe xD*

[@mistanesbitt6324]

thank you so much I been drawing all my life but never had a mentor but your lessons help out so much I feel like Micheal