The First, EASY Step To Draw Bodies (For Beginners), by The Art Of Nemo on YouTube. 9 min 11 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 11 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Draw a light oval for the head and a small line down the middle to mark the face direction. Keep the pencil pressure soft so you can erase later.
Sketch a box or rounded rectangle for the ribcage. Tilt it slightly if the figure leans, so the torso has a clear angle in space.
Add a smaller box or oval for the pelvis below the ribcage. Leave a short gap between the two shapes for the waist.
Draw a line through the ribcage and pelvis to set the spine. This line shows how the body bends and twists.
Attach simple cylinders for the upper arms and forearms, then small ovals for the hands. Match the length of each side roughly.
Add cylinders for the thighs and calves, with small wedges for the feet. Check that the legs reach the ground line you planned.
Compare the shapes as a whole: head size against the body, shoulder width against the hips. Fix any part that looks too small or too long.
Erase the inner guide lines and darken the outer outline. Add simple joints at the elbows, knees and shoulders to show the pose.
Tips and common mistakes
Start every mannequin with the same head size so your proportions stay consistent across drawings.
Draw the whole figure lightly first, then commit to darker lines once the pose looks balanced.
Use a mirror or flip your paper to spot a lopsided pose before you add details.
Questions
How many heads tall should a figure be?
Most adult figures work well at about seven to eight head lengths. Measure your head oval and stack it down the page to check.
Do I need to learn anatomy first?
No. The mannequin is a base you build anatomy on later, so simple boxes and cylinders are enough to start.
Why does my figure still look stiff?
Stiff figures usually have a straight spine and level hips. Tilt the ribcage and pelvis in opposite directions to create a natural curve.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
