How to Draw People

Co-authored by Renée Plevy

Last Updated: September 10, 2024 Fact Checked

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Drawing a person may sound difficult, but it's really a simple process if you approach it systematically. The easiest way to draw people is with the 'Ball-and-Socket' technique, a method in which the artist sketches several conjoined ovals to form the body parts of the human figure and draft the figure's pose. It may seem basic, but many professional illustrators routinely use this technique to make their artwork, and this technique is both versatile and easy to learn.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Drawing People in a Scene/Background

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Sketch a scene. Don't be too focused on how it looks, but make sure it matches what your people are wearing and style.
Remember that this is not the flesh, but just a kind of skeleton.^{[1]
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Research source} Don't forget to add ovals to bends.

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Sketch the details for the faces, clothes, shoes, features, etc. Don't forget to match the weather in your scene! Keep it simple, but not too simple. Changes are made for women and men. Women have larger hips, but thinner torsos and waists. Men have more angular faces and features, while women's are more round.^{[2]
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Research source} Women also tend to have thinner necks.
- Make sure that you aren't sketching the people in your drawing at eye level. This looks very unrealistic; instead, try to adjust their head and/or posture a little bit.
Smooth out each straight line to be more curved and humane. You don't need a square-bodied person walking around!^{[3]
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Research source} Make sure to add creases or lines coming out from the joints for more depth.
You can use a marker, pen or just push harder with the pencil.
Add color to the drawing. Sign your name if you wish. Keep true to your shading and scene. Make sure to sign your name on the bottom right and not anywhere else!

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Drawing People in Action

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Sketch the wireframes to create the pose for your people in the scene (sketch different colors to prevent confusion between figures).^{[4]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Drawing A Single Person (Male)

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1
Start with the upper body first. For the head, sketch a circle, and then add a sharp curve at the bottom of it to form an upside-down egg shape.
- Draw the head so it's slightly turned or angled a bit, as eye-level drawings don't feel realistic.
You can usually just draw two short, straight lines roughly ears-width apart.
This is a guideline for the figure's collar bone. It should be about two to three head widths in length.
The circle should be at either end of the collar guideline. These will be the shoulders.
Ensure that they are attached to the underside of the shoulder circles. These will be the upper arms/biceps.
This can be achieved by drawing a kind of upside-down trapezoid shape for the chest, and two vertical lines for the abdominal trunk. Beneath that, draw an upside-down triangle for the pelvic area.
This is the belly button. To ensure your figure is proportionate, adjust the bicep ovals so that their bottoms are even with the height of the belly button. Draw a guideline if you need to.
They should each be halfway inside the pelvic triangle. These are your hip joints.
These are the thighs.
These are the feet.

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Question

Should I use a pen or a pencil to draw people?

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Use pencil for the wire frame and the details so that you can erase as necessary, then go over the details and outline with something more refined and not eraseable so that when you erase the wire frame you only erase the wire frame and not the actual details.

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What does it mean to "refine the drawing"?

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Refining (in art terms) means to "clean up" the sketchy mess underneath what's going to be the proper piece. This usually involves erasing sketches, darkening outlines, etc.

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How do I know when to make a creases on the clothes?

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Study photos of people in various poses, and note where the crease are. In general, they appear at the joins: ankles, wrists, knees, and elbows.

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Tips

Don't rush things, but be prolific.. Practice makes perfect!

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Get in the habit of sketching lightly. This will make your eraser marks less obvious, as well as put less strain on your hands. You can always go back and darken your lines later, once you're satisfied that you've sketched out what you want.

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It can help to work with an art teacher as you learn how to draw faces and people. A teacher can help you develop more of an artist's eye.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Reframe the setbacks you experience during the learning process as a positive; it's room for you to grow. Your artistic skills will improve with consistent, regular practice over time.
Lightly sketch basic shapes like circles or squares first when proportioning figures. Clean lines can then be drawn over these foundation forms.
Tracing finished line work onto fresh paper will keep drawings crisp with clean outlines instead of being smudged from erasing work underneath.
Observe live people in various poses rather than stylized images. Drawing from real life will better train the eye for anatomy and dimension.
Loosen up with freeform doodling when you're feeling creatively blocked before starting serious drawing. Spontaneous play sparks inspiration.
Break complex compositions into multiple sessions, periodically stepping back with fresh eyes. This allows new ideas to percolate.

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Warnings

Don't feel like you have to draw it exactly like the drawing. Get messy, and make mistakes, that's how you learn!

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Some people may find nude figures or adult subject matter offensive. As an artist, you have the basic freedom to draw whatever you want, but be mindful of whom you are drawing, and where.

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You may find yourself getting frustrated. If this is the case, take a break and come back to your drawing later.

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Don't be disappointed if you don't believe that your drawings are good. Not everyone has the talent to be able to draw, but you will get better with practice.

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