How to Draw Hands, Faces & People in Action

The Left Hand as a Model – Holding the left hand in any rigid position that is most convenient and using it as a model is fine exercise. The hands are among the most difficult objects to draw, but by continued practice and observation much of the difficulty is overcome. The blocking-in method is particularly required in drawing the hands and feet.

Here is shown the effect of drawing faces by means of horizontal and vertical guide lines and by means of blocking-in lines, and also the effect of drawing without these aids. See how “out-of-drawing” the faces on the right appear!

Line Variations – Fig. 3 – Two big crayon faces. Pupils may be given a subject, together with instructions to make one drawing in which ordinary lines are used, and then to treat the same subject with extremely heavy lines, using a broad-pointed pencil or crayon. The lines in the latter exercise should be made broad, with single, modulated strokes in order to make the lines sufficiently broad, instead of going over and over in order to obtain breadth.

The same subject may be treated with accentuated line:” and with shaded lines to give the impression of form.

Human Figures in Action – In portraying figures in action, the principles of equilibrium may portray various forms oi action other than falling, but a figure out of balance conveys to the eye the impression of falling. Thus:

In the upper drawing the figures have no “visible means
of support.” In the lower part the deficiency is supplied.
As a general rule, if a vertical line is drawn from the feet upward, and half of the figure lies on each side of the line, the figure will appear balanced.