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Importance of How the Body Works When Figure Drawing and Drawing Faces
When learning to figure draw and drawing faces, it can sometimes be a challenge to the artist to understand how the body is structured and how it moves. This knowledge is essential to make great figure drawings. By having this awareness, the artist is able to capture accurate depictions of the human form by knowing what’s going on underneath.
There is an important rule to remember when studying the human form and dealing with anatomy. It is that as important as it is to know the anatomical make up of the figure, by no means should it ever become the formula for every figure. Every figure is unique and individual and should be drawn that way. Another fact to consider is that the way muscles appear on the surface is not always obvious and also varies from person to person depending on how they use their body. So just remember that you will need to pay close attention to the figure you are drawing and remember the individuality of each person.
Artists who draw the figure can find it advantageous to know the structure of their subject. This helps them reduce the biases and tendencies of drawing “over-literal.” It will greatly enhance your drawings to have this knowledge.
So let’s get to some basics of how the body works and the focus on the head and face.
The skeleton is a framework the muscles attach to. The skeleton has the important function of protecting vital organs. Most bones are held together by muscles that are attached by tendons. The muscles define our movements by linking together the various bones.
Muscles connect from one bone to the next so that when the muscle is tensed it can pull those bones together or push them further apart. Every time a muscle is pulled or pushed there is another set of muscles that do the opposite. This is done through extensors and flexors. The extensor is a muscle that contracts to straighten a joint and the flexor brings together the two parts it connects.
The muscles in the head and neck can help the artists understand what creates the facial expressions. Each of us use our facial muscles differently and so certain muscles of the face are more developed than others. Artists can take advantage of this and capture expression well. Some people smile a lot and there muscles in the face around the mouth will be more developed than others. Artists who focus on seeing their subject well will be able to show these individual differences and capture personality.
In the neck, there is an important muscle for artists to be aware of. It is the sternocleidomastoid. It connects behind the ear to the collar bone and is the anchor of the head to the shoulders. It’s important to artists because it is prominent and can be seen on most everyone. By knowing these few key muscles of the neck and head, the artist will see further refinement in their drawings.
Learning the structural makeup of the human form will enhance your drawings if you remember that they are a starting point. Remembering that everyone is individual and has uniqueness will help you from your starting point and take you to greatness in your figure drawings. Seeing your subject correctly is important to the process. With these two key components to your drawing arsenal, you will see great improvement to your drawings.
If you have any questions on figure drawing, please feel free to email us at: info@learning2draw.com.
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