Learning to Draw Different Body Types | Style - Anatomy - Loomis - Comics - Manga

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How do you learn to draw Stylised Characters with Different Proportions?

Learning to draw Anatomy can be one of the most challenging tasks as an Artist! But it can be even more complicated to figure out how to take all of the "anatomy how to draw" info out there and make it relate to drawing cool stylised characters.

Especially when those characters don't match normal human proportions!

I spent a lot of time learning to use The Loomis Method (Or at least I just read his book Figure Drawing for All It's Worth, and followed his ideas) But even though that helps a lot with drawing stylised characters it doesn't give a lot of advice for drawing fantasy characters or really exaggerated figures like I saw in Manga and Comics and Video Games etc...

The trick is to understand the logic behind Drawing Mannequins (using stick figures and super simple versions of our character) and how they help us draw and construct the figure from imagination.

The Key is that the mannequin exists to help us pose things easily and effectively.

Whatever you can do to modify it to help it be more easy and effective at posing YOUR character (the thing you are drawing) the better it becomes.

Try to think of the standard Mannequin found in a book like Figure Drawing for all it's worth as an easy effective way to pose a normal human.

If you want to create a character with massive overdeveloped musculature... you might need to adjust the initial mannequin to help you sketch out and pose the figure... whatever is easy and effective is what you should work towards.

Try not to get stuck on 'proper' or 'correct' ways of doing these things. As long as you understand the purpose behind a system and set of ideas for posing the figure... you can then apply it to your own drawing challenges.

Some characters will need to have bits added to their mannequin or proportions drastically changed. Because those elements and shapes play a big role in making the character look and feel right.

When you are posing your character you just need an easy quick way to draw them so you can explore different poses... it's that simple.

Applying these ideas is obviously a challenge and will take time. But The fundamental principals are quite basic and easy to understand.

Good Luck!

With most types of stylised types of art - There is often a mix of structure and perspective and technical drawing.... combined with symbols and abstract features.

Once you get good at blocking in proportion and posing with the Loomis Method you can use it to suit your own style.

It's just a tool you can use to help you draw cool stuff!

Happy Drawing!

Tim Mcburnie

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