The fundamentals

People are always asking how to get better at poses. This is what I end up saying constantly… the answer isn’t sexy, but if you do it, your skills will grow quickly.

“If you can’t draw without reference, it’s likely because you haven’t study shape and form enough.

You have to draw circles into spheres, circles into cylinders, squares into cubes, etc. Then you have to get good at lighting them. Then you have to get good at doing those shapes in perspective.

You have to study ALL individual major body parts, from ALL angles.

So an arm straight, an arm bent, an arm turned etc etc. From various angles. Legs, torso, head, hands, feet, etc etc.

If you can’t draw an arm completely without reference from any angle, then you sure aren’t gonna be able to do a whole body.

If you’re spending all your time trying to do finished full body figures, you’re going to struggle.

You should be spending 80% of your time practicing the fundamentals. And 20% of your time on finished final pieces.

I also recommend drawing 5-6 times per week for at least 20-30 min.”