Students of all ages who are artistically inclined, tend to ask me one question: "Miss how yuh draw people an' mek dem look real?" (How does one draw people realistically). To be honest, what we think we see and what people actually look like, are two different things. When we look at a person, our first instinct is to criticize or pick out a flaw: "Laaawwwd, shi shape bad eeh! How har foot dem look suh?!" First thing, that is nooootttt cool. We sould always appreciate the differences we see in others. We are all uniquely different and we must truly try to understand the body of the person we are about to draw by paying close attention to details.
Tip # 1 STUDY YOUR MODEL
Observe every line, every curve and every contour of the person in front of you. You cannot draw well if you are not OBSERVANT.
Tip # 2 PAY ATTENTION TO PROPORTIONS
Ensure that all the parts of the person's body are accurate in terms of size in realtion to the rest of their body. Nuhbody nuh waah nuh big ole head pon top a one likkle body please! Annuh ANIME.... tanks.
Tip # 3 DRAW TO FIT THE SIZE OF THE PAPER
The body must be laid out from head to toe in a quick sketch first on the paper so that when you are ready to put all the details in, every part of the body fits comfortably. This also has to do with PROPORTION that was mentioned above.
Tip # 4 DO NOT TRY TO DRAW LIKE AN EXPERT AT FIRST
Appreciate the skill level you currently master and try to enjoy the process. Art is subjective, which means, everyone comes away with a different point of view after seeing it. That, of course, makes it hard to assess! However, trust your skill and do what YOU can. Whether it looks good to you or not.
Tip # 5 DON'T SPEND ALL DAY ON IT
Draw, take a break..... Draw some more, take a break. Never treat drawing like it is brain surgery but rather, a method of relaxation.... a form of therapy... because it is! Most times you psych yourselves out because of the grades you want. Listen, tree nuh grow overnight. Everyting inna life tek time. SUH STOP STRESS OUT YUHSELF AN' JUS' DRAW. Have fun while doing so. An' stop seh yuh cyaa draw..... YOU CAN DO IT.
Here's a video TUTORIAL on how to draw the human body, which will really help the 3rd FORMERS greatly right now but, practice all of you. I promise it will come in handy for class.
Written and Compiled by:
Mrs. N. Harris- Williams,
Visual Arts Teacher.