ABC of LIFE DRAWING I

The anatomy of the human body has only changed a little in thousands of years. What has changed, is the way artists see and depict the human form. In Western Art, the great change in perception and artistic interpretation started in Renaissance Florence. The body was no longer seen as the mere shell of the eternal soul, but became a beautiful, solid form with real proportions and expressions.

Today, the portrayal of people has changed in many ways. Artists have moved away from realistic and literal interpretations. The camera has replaced the need to portray the figure in a totally realistic way and the cartoon figure has become a part of modern life. However, before a cartoon or abstract figure can be drawn, we need to understand and be able to draw "to life". We have to know what a body really looks like and how it moves and works. We are following in the footsteps of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, the first artists to actually study human anatomy and form.

There are some handy rules to help us on our way. Firstly: PROPORTIONS of an IDEAL FIGURE.

Human beings come in all sizes, shapes and colours, the MALE figure is different to the FEMALE and so on. But, a STANDARD figure which relates naturally to and is based on the average human anatomy, can be a WORKING RULE. None of the following "rules" should replace minute observation, and as with all rules, they are made to be broken! They do, however, help when "stuck".

Proportions of a Standard or Ideal Figure:
The STANDARD figure can be divided into EIGHT equal parts. The HEAD, from the crown to the nape of the neck, is approximately an eighth of the total figure and the other seven-eighths the body and legs. The following diagram shows the divisions with corresponding body parts:

1. Top of erect head to the chin or nape of neck (back)

2. The neck to bosom / chest / armpits or shoulder (back)

3. From nipples to waist / shoulder  blades to waist (back)

4. From waist to buttocks / hips / crotch. Armpit to elbow, which is usually at waist level. This is HALF the total figure

5. From buttocks / crotch to two thirds of the thighs

6. Knees / knee caps

7. From below the knee to lower calf or sock level

8. Thinnest part of calf and foot / sole / toes

The Ages of Man
Naturally when a baby enters the world, the head is very big in comparison to the arms and legs. A baby is about "three heads big". That is one part head, two parts body and legs. As the child grows it stretches out, so at one year the length from neck to feet is about three-and-a-half times the head. The legs and arms are comparatively short. The middle of the child is about the height of the stomach or navel. Later, the arms and legs grow. At eight years, the middle is just above the hips. At age twelve, the middle has dropped lower again and although the child will grow taller, the proportions will stay the same. The diagram above shows the comparative size of the child through to grown adult. Notice whereas the head only changes slightly the arms and legs grow considerably.

The Structure of Man and Woman
Male and female bodies have a different structure. The man tends to have broad shoulders and narrow hips, whilst the woman has narrow shoulders and wide hips. However fat or thin, this is an anatomical fact that cannot be denied! Although somewhat exaggerated, the diagram left shows the general principle. Once again there are many exceptions… Just think of female Olympic swimmers. Their neck, arm and chest muscles are so well developed they would make this "rule" very difficult to apply.

The Head
The basic shape of the head is a solid oval, rather like an egg. Divide this oval equally into two horizontally and vertically and you have the position of eyes and nose (see below). The eyebrows are immediately above the eyes.

Notice the nose is half way from the eyes to the chin.
The mouth is approximately one third of the distance from nose to chin.
Hair is added to the upper THIRD of the head. By adding light and shade to the basic divisions, the head looks dimensional.

Three Quarter Profile
Turn or rotate the oval to one side and apply the same rules as above.
However, the nose now extends beyond the central vertical line. A part of the furthest eye and cheek are now partly hidden by the nose. Minute observation is needed to capture exactly how much or how little can be seen and should be drawn.

Always remember, do not make up what cannot be seen!



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