Copyright 2006 Todd Harris

Drawing people and faces is not very hard to do. Well, thats not one hundred percent accurate if you want to achieve a likeness to the person that you are drawing. This is very challenging and hard to do because each person is unique and poses their own individuality. Figure drawing and drawing faces is an artists ultimate challenge because of this uniqueness, everyone is different. Mastering the human form can be difficult but with these tips, it may be a little easier.

First, when you are starting out, draw everyone you know. Draw your friends and family. Draw at church, the baseball diamond, the park, a funeral, a wedding, wherever you go! Take a sketch pad with you everywhere.

Another good tip is to copy an old masters painting. Take a Bougereau or Da Vinci or some other masters painting and copy it. This is a tip that a lot of artists find the most useful when trying to master figure drawing. What is it that makes their work great? Study their technique and line usage, make notes so that you are able to incorporate these into your drawings. Observe the boldness of their lines, what about their hatching and cross-hatching, or shading? Make notes!

Do a self portrait. Check yourself out in the mirror and get drawing. The reoccurring theme with these tips are get drawing people.

Do studies of the hands, eyes, mouths, and noses. Draw hundreds of each of these trying to get the anatomy right and also focusing on the likeness of the persons or illustration you are sketching.

Do several gesture drawings every day. These will help you in your efforts to bring life and vitality to your drawings. Gesture drawings help in capturing the emotion of what you are trying to convey in the portrait.

Take a digital camera with you everywhere. This will help you when you come across something that strikes your eye for a reference. I use mine also for interesting textures or if I see a piece of clothing that would make an interesting practice piece. Never go on a trip without one!

Finally, you know where you struggle. Look at these areas carefully and practice, practice, practice. Go back to the basics. Get a good look at your weaknesses and turn them into your strengths. Is it drawing hair? Drawing clothes? Or is it mastering eyes, or capturing a likeness to your subject? Whatever it is, study it out and get drawing. You can do it. These tips will help you get started.