Figure Drawing for Artists

CHAPTER 4PERSPECTIVE

We’ve learned our basic approach to drawing begins with the simple-yet-characteristic idea. Now, we need to layer on perspective. Most of us think of perspective as math pretending to be drawing. But this isn’t the old vanishing point perspective. It’s pretend perspective.

Reclining Male Nude, c. twentieth century, Nikolai Fechin (1881–1955). Charcoal on paper. University of Oklahoma/Bridgeman Images. When the pose moves into a dynamic position, proportions can change. In this case, pick a convenient structure in the pose (the head, a hand, or a foot) and use that as your yardstick—how many hands down until you reach the ...