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Since we did the portrait series,
I have received a good deal of e-mail asking if I might assist
in the area of measurements of the human form. Seems that a good
many folks are having problems keeping the body in proportion.
Guess what; that is ALWAYS the problem. At any rate, here are
a few tips on measurements and perspective I think may help some
of you to get the proportions more accurate.
Methods of Taking Measurements
- The arm is held directly out
in front with the elbow kept rigid.
- A pencil, or the imaginary line
of the "claw" between thumb and index finger is kept
parallel (in the same place as) your face, which is in turn parallel
with the model.
If you are looking at a model
you can quickly take the distance between the top of the head
and the bottom of the chin, and then either with pencil or claw,
move down in the same parallel line to see how many "heads"
are in that pose. There happen to be slightly over seven in the
pose to the right. If the perspective were different there would
be more or fewer "heads". Tick the line to which the
feet will come. The big toe is about seven heads. Put a light
perpendicular line down the page as shown. Taking the head measurement
again go across from the perpendicular to see how many heads
the toe is from it, and tick there. It is about three and a half
on the above figure. The knee point (patella) is about three
heads across and three heads down. With only a few basic measurements
which have relation to the head and the pertinent ticks on the
page the figure can be roughed in and developed in proportion.
The image above shows how the
head measurement with the body in this position, can be used
to take relative measurements, to keep the figure in proportion.
The Three Canons Of The Human
Figure
Thanks to our predecessors, and
all they did and said on the subject, we arrive at the following
conclusions:
- There are three canons for determining
the proportions of the human figure:
- A canon of seven and a half
heads for the ordinary figure (fig.1).
- A canon of eight heads for the
ideal figure (fig.2).
- A canon of eight and a half
heads for the heroic figure (fig.3).
- The canon normally used by artists
is the eight head canon, which
corresponds to the proportions of the ideal figure (fig.2).
Let us now consider the practical
application of these conclusions:
The seven and a half canon may
be used for drawing ordinary figures taken from everyday life.
It is the anonymous figure that represents the neighbor across
the street or the man in the corner store - the man in the street.
The shortish figure, about 5'6" or 5'8" tall, on the
stout side, has a rather large head in proportion to the size
of the body, the thighs, and the legs. (fig.1) The eight and
a half canon may be used for exceptional cases, for idealized
and exaggerated legendary figures (fig.3). This is the figure
normally used by comic strip illustrators; it has a small head
in relation to its body and long legs. This is the heroic figure
who goes by the name of Superman or Batman. It can also be used
for the biblical Moses or the legendary El Cid in religious and
historical paintings.
Let us now study the ideal figure of eight heads (fig.3), using
it as the basis for our knowledge of the proportions and dimensions
of the human body. Pay great attention to the next page since,
along with our knowledge of human anatomy, it represents an extremely
important step toward a perfect grasp of the technique of figure
drawing.
See you in lesson #2! |
