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Creating Figures

 

In fashion figure design, your character should be drawn long and slim with squared-off shoulders and very unrealistically elongated legs. The figure will be out of proportion and exaggerated, but this is the correct way to draw these templates. The waist must also be drawn very slender.

 

When drawing your figure, remember that the waist is one third down from the top of the figure. It is most important to show this important aspect of the figure, which will add to the elegance of your croquis. The waist falls in between the pelvic box and the upper torso shape, and should have a nice inward curve over these two structures of the body. The figures are measured in head widths in order to ensure that you get the proportions right.

 

The true female figure measures seven to eight head lengths in height, while the fashion figure design measures nine to ten head lengths. In fashion drawing you must retain the basic proportions of the human form from head to crotch, only adding extra length to the legs to give your drawings a dramatic stylised effect and your designs more dynamic appeal. The waist is drawn tighter to emphasise the womanly form. Why do some people prefer trace templates instead? By doing so, you ensure that your proportions are correct and greatly diminish the hard work of redrawing faces and hands.

 

Try to keep as many different pose templates as you can. It becomes visually boring if you use a figure with the same animated pose over and over. Keep demure templates for eveningwear, strident ones for fashion wear, animated ones for sportswear etc. If you are using four figures on one board, use at least two different poses.

 

In the diagram below, you’ll see a typical scale for a fashion figure that generally measures nine heads tall. When drawing fashion templates, keep in mind that male and female fashion figures are the same in proportion of height, but have some obvious differences. Keep this diagram handy when practicing your figure illustration.

 

The following points of reference are noted below:

 

When illustrating a fashion template you need to ensure that the figure doesn't look askew and seem like it is falling over; you need to understand the balance line. If you always keep in mind where your balance line is supposed to be your figure pose will always look correct, even when everything else is exaggerated and stylised.

 

The line is dependant on the position of the feet and determined by the centre of gravity of your chosen pose. It must be a vertical line from floor to neck, which is a good rule to draw by. The balance line will move if the weight is placed from one foot to the other. Always bear in mind that the balance shifts between the feet as the figure moves. Take care to find the correct placement of the figure’s head in relation to the legs and feet when drawing fashion templates.

 

There are a variety of free pictures available on the site to use as inspiration. We recommend that you don’t just copy the templates, as is important to find and perfect your own style. Rather work towards using these fashion templates merely as a guideline for the pose and form, not for the detail. Use it to assist you in perfecting pose and outline; then try to draw your own faces and hairstyles or use your own techniques to create your own unique set of fashion templates. Go wild and be very creative - this is fine as long as you present the clothing properly to your audience. Also, take care to examine closely how the people around you look. When drawing clothing, be observant of how clothing drapes on a person. Take note of how collars and cuffs sit and where pleats, wrinkles, creases, gathers and folds occur in garments.

 

A great figure drawing exercise:

 

If you would like to attempt drawing a fashion template from scratch, this is a great warm-up exercise, untangling your drawing hands and freeing your mind. Figure sketching requires accurate scrutiny and can easily become stiff and awkward, but you can instil energy into illustrations by transforming your contrived line-work into longer, more feathered strokes by means of these exercises.

 

How to do it: Try to draw a quick sketch in 30 seconds. The time constraint allows for the ‘sketchy’, unfinished look which means that insignificant details fall by the wayside.

 

First look at the main axis of the body. From the top of the head to the tailbone, try to indicate with a single stroke the flow of the spine. Note with quick strokes the plane of the shoulders and hips; you might place an imaginary line through the knees and feet.

 

Experiment with using charcoal or pencil in different ways - a broad sweep using the side of the stick, or in a linear fashion. Draw using your entire arm, standing comfortably back from the easel. If working in a small and confined space, use as much arm and hand movement as possible.

 

There are two main approaches to abbreviated form – internal and external. Start internally by "seeing" the skeleton first – this is "seen" by drawing the directional lines of the spine and limbs, and indicating the tilt of ribs and pelvis. This exercise will be sufficient to capture the pose. Depict external forms by using minimal lines to indicate the main contours – keep them loose and flowing. Pressing too hard on the canvass or being too stringent with the lines will make for a forced-looking picture.

 

Find pictures of dynamic poses in magazines or use a model and convey that energy in the sketch. Remember, this isn’t a finished piece; it merely expresses the basics of the pose. When you return to poses that you spend more time on, remember the feeling of energy as you sketched these short poses. See if you can re-create some of that feeling in a more deliberately observed drawing. Once you’ve perfected a figure, you can start stylising it into a less detailed form. This is how you perfect the fashion figure.

 

It is best to measure and check your proportions. Always remember the nine heads measuring technique. Do it before you put any dark lines down on the drawing, so any mistakes will be easier to erase. If you find that you’ve made your model dumpy and short-limbed, don’t worry. You’ll soon get out of the habit of making the figure too short or the head too large.

 

Also, if you can’t remember the proper arm lengths, just check your own body! For instance, if you ever forget the position of the elbows, you only have to stand with your arms to your sides to find out!