I highly, highly recommend it. I know it's odd and weird, so you can start off with just models in clothing. They have those for the younger crowds! But eventually, you need to learn how the skin works at different parts of the body. If that's too much though, I'm sure you can find models online that aren't completely naked. Like, in bikinis and shorts. There's no rush! But take into consideration how much faster you can improve on your figures.AngelicSongx wrote:Wow! That's really helpful, thank you! I don't think I'll follow the advice about nude models though.
Wooden models are great for poses actually. But they're a bit short when it comes to anatomy. Sure, they're based upon basic shapes that make up a human body, but there's only so much they're going to teach you about the body. They're wooden, not flesh and bone.I do have a wooden model figure, though. Do you think that'll help me?
Yeah I intentionally made the ears big so that it was easier to see.Oh, and I put his arm over like that because I thought it would be weird just seeing his fingers and a bit of his elbow above his head. I like what you put about the head alignment, though the ears on that model seem big to me.
Well, unless he's super flexible, which is totally possible, you also need to study how the body tends to look when it is at rest.
When I do the same pose, it looks like this,
(forgive my skuzziness. I just got out of bed)
See how much my muscles on my back are deforming? How much they're pushed together? And I'm pretty flexible! This isn't a very "relaxed" position to put my arm. By how far back I put my arm with my body and head facing the direction your character faces, it's more like I'm winding up for a big punch and I'm about to take out that girl who mocks my hair
what was I talking about
oh right.
OHk so now here's a photo of me when I'm in a more "relaxed" pose.
So now, see the difference in my back? My shoulder muscles aren't contracting and defined in a way that implies my arm is going waaay back. They're looser. This is a more comfortable position.
I take photo references of myself all the time! Even if it's for a guy I'm drawing. It's more so to get an idea of how a pose would work and if feasible within the context of the drawing.
The mouse is super difficult to use but it's not impossible to master. I've seen many fantastic artists you think are using tablets but actually use the mouse!The lumpy forms (at least on the head) were possibly due to me drawing with a mouse.
What I mean by this is, notice how I redrew the girl's body. As I make out the form of her shape, I make a very simple guide as to where her ribs are. This helps me to properly draw out her body with a more convincing look rather then winging it. This relates to..What do you mean "basic lines to find ribs"?
Look at your belly when you're in a relaxed, sitting pose. Now tighten it. Notice how it changed and how it "deformed"? That's what I mean.And, what do you mean when you said "how does it deform"?
Now look at your arm, first when it's relaxed. See how the muscles and the skin wrapped around the muscles appears as and how it indicates that your arm is at rest. Now flex them! You should see a sudden change in them, with the bicep expanding and "deforming" and more veins showing on the wrist.
By understanding how the body deforms or relaxes in certain poses and muscle exertion allows you to better understand how the body works. It also allows you to make your poses look more convincing.
You don't have to be a doctor with an extensive knowledge of the bones, muscles and such, but just having a basic idea of how the muscles and body works in different body types helps immensely.
I understand you like the classic "manga" style, but those manga artists, at least the good ones, have a fairly good background in art history, studying realism and such. It's a lot of work, I do not deny this, but it is so satisfying when you see how your style changes.
