Nov 2015
14 / 14
Dec 2015
Dec 2015
realSean_Murphy
Nov '15

When you draw a character do you usually start with the head and draw it heads down or do you split it into sections?
Normally I split it into sections, but perspective can make it difficult but that's normally when I'm trying to picture it in my head, that's why I asked with a earlier thread or part of the reason I asked in another thread of any software or web app one could use to move a animated figure to position it in a different angle, like a different camera angle and such.
So when you draw say a character do you draw them heads down, or a specific way of doing it, also for certain positions people may have difficult with can you leave any advise as to a easier way to draw it? Like I learned when drawing a character front facing if you draw the head and neck just bring it down twice and you'll reach the top of the person legs or pelvis area in short which I found useful.
Also, usually when it comes to a odd angle I try to split it into 'sections' to try and help but it can sometimes get quite confusing and difficult.
Though drawing down to me is easy, drawing outward to the left or right is quite difficult for some reason, does anyone have any advise that could help in that area?

  • created

    Nov '15

  • last reply

    Dec '15
  • 13

    replies

  • 954

    views

  • 14

    users

  • 8

    likes

  • 1

    link

mac
Nov '15

id probably start w/ the head first,,, if i start anywhere else i think id accidentally make the head disproportional to the rest of the body

AnnaLandin
Nov '15

I usually start with a quick, stick-figure like sketch of the pose - a circle for the head, and then a few lines to plan out neck/shoulders/spine/arms and legs. Then I go back up to the head and start filling it out with details, now that I know where all the arms and legs are supposed to go, and how big everything is supposed to be in comparison to everything else.

Like so:

Akane-sketch-example.png416x509 28 KB

Akane-sketch-example2.png416x509 83.9 KB

Proportion rules are nice to learn and good to keep in mind, but they aren't always true. For example, when drawing small children, the proportions are different than for adult human beings - the head is comparatively larger, the limbs are shorter, etc.

Here's a quick sketch I did for a friend of mine, explaining adult proportions. Unfortunately, the scribbled notes are all in Swedish. but the gist of it is that it helps to think of the hips as a box, and the ribcage as a slightly oval sphere, one on top of the other.

The little dotted lines on the figure on the lower right are proportion lines. In a symmetrical human body, the distance between the eyes to the center of the collar bones/top of the sternum is equal to the length between top of the sternum to the bottom of the sternum ( orthe center of the ribcage), is equal to the length between that central point to the bottom edges of the ribcage, is equal to the length between the bottom of the ribcage to the top of the hip bones, etc., etc.

Again, these proportion-rules aren't always true, but they're a nice rule of thumb to check your figures against if you're struggling with the shape and proportions.

Anatomitips.jpg1700x2300 463 KB

Doubtcent
Nov '15

I start with an idea of what kind of angle I'd like to see my characters in, usually exaggerated. I then draw basic skeletal forms, add a few details, then I add something of a scene behind them.

However, I do the opposite once I start inking.
I draw the backgrounds first, then layer the characters on top, eventually erasing the layers beneath them.
Then I color.

EPSexample2.jpg205x637 75.4 KB

Kura
Nov '15

I don't really think about it, images seem to start out differently all the time with no real definite creation structure or order.

kazukitakamura126
Nov '15

I usually start with a doodle of the scene in each frame, then I finalize it with the help of perspective. For a character start with the torso, then the mid section then the lower torso. After that I draw the legs and then the arms. Finally I draw the character's head. After the construction of the character I just fill in the details.

MannyMelancholy
Nov '15

It depends on your approach to comics. For example I would hopefully have a script done for Et Spiritus Divino1 because you should know how the scene will/should fit into the grand scheme and flow of your comic. Your script should have notes or quick mapped out thumbnails of word bubble, panel, character placement and background notes. I like to build up the scene too with gestural placements of the characters and environment on the page usually in it's entirely (i know it wastes time but I like to see it all on the page prior to the applied word bubbles or panels covering it. Once it's all on the page gesturally/sketched take a step back for a better view and make any last minute arrangements decisions, BUT before you make a change make sure it doesn't affect the following or prior pages because you might have had a reason in the developmental process for drawing it a particular way which why WRITTEN NOTES are important. Once it's decided you start penciling and building up with details from there smile

FixerTheWise
Dec '15

I don't think about it much but, mostly I seem to start out with the head, then draw a basic skeleton similar to what was shown above.

Roxane
Dec '15

I often start with the characters (head first). After that I draw the necessary props... and that's basically all I draw ^^

shaylafarley5
Dec '15

I start out with a stick figure then draw the head in for action and perspective poses, but when there just standing by or looking on I draw the head first with a stick body

Starfestival
Dec '15

I usually start with the side of the face if I know the character well enough, then go from there to add in hair eyes nose lips etc.

Mharz
Dec '15

In a scene I set up the background first (I'm pretty guilty of using a 3d software) so that I'll be able to get the character's perspective right. In characters I always start with the head. I'll draw it in stick figure first if I find the pose pretty challenging.

Edowado_Fujji
Dec '15

I Always start from the head, later I would draw the body of the character, and finally the background.

Ankur
Dec '15

First, I imagine how the scene will look in the panel and choose a view (Bird's eye, worm view, etc.).
Next I scribble in basic details, to get a good idea how the character/s will look in the scene.
After that, I select a new layer and outline the character, adding details, and even adjusting the size of the the character if I need to.
I usually work with an angle which I'm comfortable with and put the emphasis on character expressions.