In this tutorial, we’re going to add the arms and legs to the schematic drawing that we completed in the previous tutorial on drawing the axial figure from a front, eye-level view. If you haven’t completed that tutorial, you’ll need to do so in order to get started with this one.
Tutorial 03: Adding the Limbs to the Schematic Figure from a Front, Eye-Level View
Most people refer to the arms and legs as the limbs of the body, but in anatomical terms they make up the appendicular skeleton. So just as we used the term axial figure in the previous tutorial, we could also call the arms and legs the appendicular figure. When we’re done here, however, none of this will matter–we’ll have a schematic drawing of the figure, plain and simple, and be well prepared to begin fleshing it out in the next tutorial.
There are 8 steps in this tutorial. We’re going to start with the legs in order to give our figure something to stand on, and then finish the drawing by adding the arms. So be sure your pencil is sharp, and let’s get started…
Fig. 1. Prepare to draw the legs by dropping the plumb lines from the nipples through the bottom of the figure.
Step 1: Preparing to Draw the Legs
To begin drawing the legs, drop the vertical lines that run through the nipples (anatomical feature 1 in fig. 1) down almost to the bottom of the eighth head length.
These very useful plumb lines are about 1/2 of a head length to the left and right of the core axis, and also run through the bottoms of the thoracic arch (feature 2) and the ASIS points (feature 3).
Fig. 2. The lines of the femurs angle inward from the outside of the hips to the top of the knees.
Step 2: The Upper Legs
To the outside of the pelvic region, about 1/4 of a head length above the crotch, draw a steep inward-sloping line on each side that crosses the plumb lines from the nipples, about 1/3 of a head length above the sixth head unit (fig. 2). These lines approximate the angles of the femurs, the large bones that run through the upper leg.
Below these lines, in the lower third of the sixth head unit, draw a simple oval to indicate the position of the knees. As with the head and rib cage, these ovals should have roughly the proportions of an egg, around 2:3. They should also be slightly tilted at an opposing angle to that of the femurs.
Fig. 3. The greater trochanter of each femur lies in the lower quarter of the fourth head unit.
Fig. 4. The lines of the shins curve slightly outward from the knees to the ankles.
Step 3: The Lower Legs
Extend the outward angle of the knees down into the seventh head unit, slightly curving the line as it goes (fig. 4). It should project out no further than the greater trochanters or the outside of the rib cage, 2/3 of a head length from the core axis. These lines represent the shins of the legs, which have a subtle curve in the fleshed-out figure.
As these shin lines cross into the eighth head unit, begin curving them back inward very slightly, ending about 1/3 of a head length above the ground.
Fig. 5. The line of the ankles should be 90 degrees to the angle of the lower shin, causing the inner ankle to be higher than the outer.
To draw the ankle bones, first draw a short cross-axis at 90 degrees to the bottom of each shin line (fig. 5). Draw the ankle bones as small ovals on these cross-axis lines, no higher than 1/2 of the way up the eighth head unit.
Because the lines of the shins are slightly angled, the cross-axis lines are also angled, causing the inner ankle to be higher than the outer. This is the correct relationship of the ankle bones.
Fig. 6. The ground plane may be drawn as a foreshortened circle 2 heads wide by about 3/4 of a head length from front to back.
Step 4: The Feet
Because the core axis runs through the figure rather than in front of it, the bottom of the eighth head unit crosses beneath the arches of the feet, not through the toes (fig. 6).
Before drawing the feet, it can be helpful to define the ground by drawing a circle in perspective around the intersection of the core axis and the bottom of the eight head unit. This circle–which appears as a narrow oval–should extend outward about one head length to each side of the core axis.
From an eye-level viewing height, the distance from the front of this foreshortened circle to the back is about 3/4 of a head length.
Fig. 7. The feet flare outward slightly, and lie within the foreshortened circle that defines the ground plane.
Fig. 8. Each collar bone rises upward slightly as it moves away from the pit of the neck, then joins to the acromion process, which steps back down.
Step 5: The Collar Bones
From the pit of the neck, the collar bones or clavicles rise slightly upward, reaching about 2/3 of a head length to each side of the core axis (anatomical feature 5 in fig. 8). In a view of the figure from eye level, the collar bones appear as nearly straight lines (in actuality, they have a subtle S curve).
To the outside of each collar bone, step the line back down to the level of the pit of the neck and continue it a bit further, but not as far as the vertical lines one head length to each side of the core axis. This stepped-down line is not part of the collar bones, but represents a bony projection from the shoulder blades known as the acromion process (feature 6).
Fig. 9. The upper arm bones angle outward slightly toward the elbows, which lie between the bottom of the rib cage and the level of the navel.
Step 6: The Upper Arms
Below each acromion process, about halfway down the second head unit, draw a small circle representing the top of each upper arm bone, or humerus (anatomical feature 7 in fig. 9).
From the center of these circles, draw two steep lines sloping outward. End these lines with an even smaller circle between the bottom of the thoracic arch and the level of the navel, touching the vertical lines one head length to each side of the core axis. These circles represent the points of the elbows, although they won’t be visible from this view.
Fig. 10. The lower arms angle inward from the elbows, with the wrists falling on the same level as the crotch.
Step 7: The Lower Arms
From the elbows, draw two steep lines sloping inward, and crossing the level of the crotch about halfway to the outsides of the hips (fig. 10). These lines represent the general axis of the lower arms.
On the level of the crotch, draw two short lines crossing the axis of the lower arms at 90 degrees. These lines represent the angles of the wrists. If you wish, you can indicate the protuberance of the skeleton at the outside of the wrists with a small circle.
Fig. 11. The hands overlap the upper legs, and are about 2/3 of a head length in height.
Step 8: The Hands
Finally, draw the hands as simple mitten-like shapes beneath the wrists (fig. 11). The hands should descend about 2/3 of a head length beneath the crotch. The thumb side of the hand should reach to the plumb line descending from the nipples, and overlap the line of the upper legs.
The line of the knuckles has a slight upwards curve across the back of each hand. Draw it a little more than halfway from the wrists to the ends of the fingers.
You now have a finished schematic figure, as it should appear from a front view at eye level. In the next tutorial, we’ll take this framework and flesh it out, turning it into our first model drawing in the StArt System.
Leave a Reply