Character Sketch

CHAPTER 1CREATING THE SKETCH

CREATING THE SKETCH

PROPORTIONS OF THE FIGURE

One common way to understand the proportions of the body is to map out key points in the figure using the length of the head as a unit of measure. By comparing the length of the head to other distances on the body we begin to train our eye to see the proportions of the figure. The height of the head then becomes a “ruler” by which we can begin to understand and compare the rest of the vertical measures in a body.

Many figure drawing texts declare that the human figure is typically 8 heads tall. In my experience, this results in a long and idealized figure appropriate to fashion illustration. I prefer to utilize a more realistic sense of proportion and work with a ...