3 SIMPLE TIPS FOR PROPORTIONS

CHARLIE PICKARD continues his ten-part series of quick tips on anatomy to improve your figure drawing; this month, he explores effective proportions

- CHARLIE PICKARD

One of the first, most important difficulties a student will face as they begin their figure drawing journey is the problem of setting up consistent and solid proportions for every figure. As such, much has been written about ideal proportion systems for the human figure.

Many of these systems are based primarily on the relative size of the head to the figure. These systems, while immensely useful and worth learning, can be limited in their application, only working when the figure is in a full, un-foreshortened view. Alongside this they can be too complex to check quickly, with the most common proportion being an eight-head tall figure.

In this month's article, I will discuss three simple proportional relationships that I have found very useful in my own work. These three relationships, based more on comparisons to the torso, are simple to remember, easy to control and very effective.

Charlie Pickard is a classically trained fine artist and illustrator. Recently awarded the Philip de László Award for excellence, Charlie continues to work, exhibit and teach out of his studio in London. www.charliepickardart.com

1 Pubic bone is a useful halfway point

The first of these three proportional relationships, and the one that is most consistently among the first marks that I make in most figure drawings. On any standing figure, this proportion is extremely easy to find and track.