“Vitruvian Man” by Leonardo da Vinci by Hans Bernhard (Schnobby), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Drawing people – Depicting a person through drawing is one of the special tasks of an artist. Besides correct anatomy, i.e., the basics, there are enough differences that make each person unique.
Be it the figure, the shape of the face, or even the hairstyle. If you change just one aspect, a person looks completely different.
We will cover the fundamentals of drawing body proportions and provide step-by-step tutorials for painting portraits. Whether you draw traditionally with pen and paper or digitally, you will find tips and exercises here to improve your art.
Drawing people is an art form that brings joy to many. Whether beginner or experienced artist – drawing portraits requires patience and practice.
The goal is to understand the proportions of the human body and to represent them on paper. Facial shapes and body postures play an important role in this.
With the basics of drawing people, you can create impressive portraits. There are numerous tutorials and tips for learning and practicing drawing people. There are also special books and craft kits for children to spark their interest in art.
In the digital age, there are also many opportunities to paint or edit portraits on the computer.
In this blog post, we will present step-by-step tutorials on how to prepare and sketch a portrait, as well as give tips on how to depict facial expressions and emotions.
You will also learn techniques for highlighting details such as hair, eyes or lips in a portrait, as well as common mistakes in drawing people and how to overcome them.
We hope this article helps you improve your skills in drawing people and find inspiration for your own artistic work.
Basics: Proportions, facial shapes and body postures
When drawing people, it's essential to understand the basics of the human body. This includes proportions , facial features , and postures . For beginners, this can seem daunting at first, but with practice and the right tips and tutorials, drawing people quickly becomes a passion.
Books and blogs offer numerous tips and inspirations on this topic. The digital age provides even more opportunities for creative expression through painting or crafting portraits on a computer or tablet . Children can playfully learn how to draw people and develop their artistic skills in the process.
However, it is important to practice regularly in order to master the basics of drawing.
Preparations and sketching of a portrait
Once you are familiar with the basics of drawing people, you can begin drawing a portrait. First, you should take your time to carefully observe the model and analyze proportions and facial features.
Beginners should first practice depicting body postures. Once these basic skills are mastered, one can move on to the actual drawing process. It is recommended to create a preliminary sketch and capture shadows and highlights in rough strokes using pencil or charcoal.
It is important to step back every now and then and look at the picture from a distance in order to keep the composition in mind.
Those who prefer to work digitally can also use appropriate software and paint on their PC or tablet. However, preparation is important here too: you should consider beforehand which tools and techniques you want to use and perhaps create a sketch.
In general, practice makes perfect! With patience and perseverance, anyone can learn to create impressive portraits – regardless of age, beginner or advanced student.
The head
Drawing the human head is one of the most difficult tasks for an artist. One must know the rules of perspective, and basic anatomical knowledge is also essential. The axes of the head are a great help when drawing the human head.
The shape of a head most closely resembles that of an egg. Therefore, it makes sense to use a hard-boiled egg as a model for studying the axes of the head. Like an egg, the head can be divided into two symmetrical halves along an imaginary vertical axis.
This vertical axis is also called the axis of symmetry or principal axis .
Proportions of the human head by Schnorch [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
The so-called transverse axes ultimately indicate important proportions of the head for drawing. The eye axis runs at a right angle to the main axis and bisects the head: The distance between the lower end of the chin and the eye axis is the same as the distance between the eye axis and the crown of the head.
In the following video, you can see in time-lapse how a beautiful drawing of a woman's face in profile is created:
The hair
Hair poses a significant challenge for many new artists, especially when aiming for a realistic and almost three-dimensional appearance. A major difficulty in drawing hair is the level of detail required, which refers to the sheer amount of hair we have on our heads.
If you don't want to draw each individual hair, you need a technique to simplify the subject, to only subtly suggest the hair, or to draw the hair with a reduced level of detail. The latter is probably the preferred option if you don't want to draw extremely photorealistically or hyperrealistically.
This involves focusing, for example, on drawing only strands of hair, or suggesting a few individual hairs while leaving the rest white. An extreme example of this drawing technique is the drawing of comics and Japanese manga , where hair is usually depicted very roughly.
Furthermore, the interplay of light and shadow is of paramount importance when depicting hair. The effects of light and shadow have a tremendous influence on whether the drawing is successful and whether the desired three-dimensionality is achieved.
Further instructions on drawing hair can be found at the following links:
The most mobile parts of the human body are the hands. Their two main views are the palm view and the back of the hand view. The finger joints ensure the mobility of the fingers.
The thumb consists of two joints, the other fingers of three. The thumb is the only finger that can be opposed to the others and is therefore particularly important for gripping.
The easiest way to draw a hand is to use your own as a model. When depicting variations of the fist, it's best to make quick sketches, as these are particularly good for recognizing details and characteristic lines and tones.
Suggesting the tones is part of sketching, even if they are not yet completely precise.
Study individual hand movements from different angles. Always choose the most aesthetically pleasing view for your drawing.
The naked human body (The Act)
Proportions of the human body by Schnorch [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Depicting the naked human body is among the most difficult tasks one encounters when learning to draw. It requires extensive preparatory studies and the application of all one's learned drawing skills.
Three consecutive poses of a nude model by Ingeborg Bernhard (Schnorch) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Tips for depicting facial expressions and emotions when drawing people
Drawing people is not just about accurately capturing proportions and facial shapes. Depicting emotions and facial expressions is also a crucial factor in creating a compelling portrait.
This can be a challenge, especially for beginners. Therefore, we've five tips on how to better depict facial expressions and emotions when drawing people.
Practice: As with all other aspects of drawing, practice makes perfect! Try drawing different facial expressions and experiment with different techniques and materials.
Observe : To put realistic emotions on paper, you have to observe closely. Pay attention to small details like wrinkles or facial muscles that express a particular emotion.
Try it out : Experiment with different styles and techniques to find out which ones suit you best. Perhaps soft lines or bold hatching work better for you.
Use reference images : Use photos or sketches as a template to get an overview of different facial expressions.
Visualizing emotions : Try to put yourself in the shoes of the person whose portrait you are drawing. How do they feel? What emotions do they want to express? These questions can help you put realistic emotions on paper. With these tips, you can improve your skills in depicting emotions and facial expressions and make your portraits even more impressive.
Find inspiration: Famous portrait artists and their works
When it comes to drawing people, it can sometimes be difficult to find inspiration. But don't worry!
There are many famous portrait artists and their works that are accessible to everyone and can serve as a great source of inspiration. Whether you're a beginner or advanced in drawing people, the artwork of artists like Leonardo da Vinci , Vincent van Gogh , or Frida Kahlo can help anyone improve their skills.
Studying their works can help to better understand the basics of the human body and facial proportions, as well as to learn tips and techniques for drawing and painting portraits.
Especially for children or beginners, it's a great way to gain initial experience in drawing people by crafting with brushes and paper. But even experienced artists can find inspiration and new ideas for their own creative work by studying the works of others.
Whether digital or on paper – continue to practice your portrait drawing skills and be inspired by the beauty of the artworks of great portrait artists!
Wonderful drawing tutorials in the YouTube playlist
Free online drawing courses
On the website www.zeichnen-lernen.net you will find a free online drawing course that has been gradually developed. It includes step-by-step instructions, as well as various tips and example images.
Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza. Journalist, editor, and passionate blogger in the field of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Successful completion of a degree in web design as part of a university study (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.
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