How to draw a Simple Figure Fast and Effective! 👆
Grab pen & paper so you can follow along. That’s the best way to learn! Let’s go.
Proportion = King
It is super important to get your proportions right. That’s what makes it ‘recognizable’ and therefore CLEAR.
Pro Tip: Start with the head and then the rest of the body. Draw that ‘zero’ first so you know where your eye-level is. This is a different order then I showed in the video above. Use what works best for you!
The brown paper visual with Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. 👇
The visual overview I showed in the video. Actual work from Jefta, with examples of Level 1 – 3. 👇
It's all about proportions
Where is this coming from? From pattern recognition. Our mind can identify a few simple lines as a figure.
We are so good at it, that Google asks us for help.
Recognize this ‘select all images with xyz‘ ?
To make this simplification work your proportions should be ‘good enough’ for our minds to recognize you drawing as a figure. What you draw is anyway an illusion.
Go for Clarity not Art.
Our mind is trained to recognize human figures. See how they change in the distance. As if you squint and look through your almost-closed eyes. 👇
2 Examples of Simplification
Male figure, from photo to Level 2, to Level 1 (on the right)
Female figure, from photo to Level 2, to Level 1 (on the right)
Most Common Mistakes
Avoid these! See my red notes.
This is how you draw simple figures – Level 1. Now you've got a solid basis, let's figure out how to use them to solve our spaghetti mess!
Let’s get to it!
See you in the next lesson.