Figure Drawing For Dummies

Your hands-on guide to drawing the human figure and bringing it to life
Want to draw the human body? This step-by-step guide gives you clear instructions and examples coupled with expert tips that show you how to draw the body in a variety of poses. Whether you're a professional illustrator, an art student, or a hobbyist, you'll find the techniques you need to capture the human form. -
Get a grip on the basics — drawing exercises show you how to work with lines, curves, shapes, light, shadows, and blending -
Off to a head start — draw the components of the head, facial features, muscle structure, and hairstyles -
Build the body — examine bone structure and shape, create stick figures, depict muscles, and draw the body in motion -
Strike dynamic and casual poses — from running, jumping, and climbing to sitting, stretching, and more -
Accessorize your figures — draw textures, patterns, and folds, and add basic clothing and shoes
Open the book and find: -
The drawing supplies you need -
How to set up your studio -
The differences between drawing adults and children -
Step-by-step illustrations and examples -
Tips for forming facial expressions -
Advanced drawing techniques, including shading -
How to work with composition and perspective -
Advice on fixing mistakes -
Places to present and archive your work

Kensuke Okabayashi is an award-winning professional artist. His work can be seen in everything from comic books to graphic novels to advertising storyboards. Okabayashi has taught illustration courses at Mercer College of New Jersey.