Proportions and Landmarks
Proportions and Landmarks
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28:43

Introduction to Figure Construction

Proportions

Proportions and Landmarks

2.3K
Michael Hampton
An overview of basic proportion and landmarks for the human body.
Newest
@reina1999
Here is my first attempt at the Proportions and Landmarks exercise. I will try to fit it in with my other regular drawing practices from now on. I can already notice what I need to improve on. I think I could have made the rib cage bigger to fit better within the boxes. I used a ruler to make the guidelines across the page. I had a bit of difficulty making them as accurate as I could. Overall that, I’m satisfied with my attempt on the assignment.
Michael Hampton
Nice work
Zander Schmer-Lalama
My attempt at the proportions and landmarks.
Josh Drummond
Notes from the lesson. I really took notice of how the torso box starts at the top of the scapula and ends at the bottom of the floating ribs. I couldn't find this specific information in figure drawing books I've studied.
@fpi1337
2mo
One thing I'm wondering about when it comes to the whole proportions thing: I get how it is important to have a sense for proportions when it comes to drawings from the front/back/side without any extraordinary perspectives. However, as soon we begin to draw in perspective, these proportion guidelines become distorted. So how do we use these landmarks in perspective?
Michael Hampton
While it doesn't apply directly in the same format, having an awareness of what is correct does help when pushing different angles as you have a better sense of those landmarks and their relationships.
Josh Fiddler
@Michael Hampton I like this version of the map a bit better than Loomis' version for proportion. Simpler and easier to remember. A couple questions on the legs: (I know they weren't covered and it's not about skeleton properly) Loomis puts the width of the lower legs at the calves at about a head wide. Where would you place the ankle bones? Loomis doesn't seem to explicitly say but looks like around 1/3 up from the heels. would you say the same for these? Quick question about the base of the neck in front and back view. I noticed that the back of the neck in front view isn't as high as it is the back view. Was that just an oversight? Should the first subdivision of the second segment of the body be divided into halves twice to get the back edge or is the back view incorrectly placed and should be lower at that first halving like in the front view?
Michael Hampton
What fantastic questions 1. I break the last half head into thirds and place the medial ankle at the first and lateral at the second third. 2. I always put the 7th cervical at an angle.to the pit of the neck (in side view). If there's a discrepancy that you notice it might just be an inconsistency or error on my end.
@jianmi
3mo
Whenever I'm drawing the rib part, it kinda goes a bit roundish, making it a bit bulky, so i redraw it many times. Other than that i'm getting a hang of it. having fun!
@aub
3mo
Proportion and landmarks.
Potion
3mo
Had a blast with this once again :D Super fun.
Potion
3mo
Is there a jpeg or psd file you can share that shares the landmarks you did as a template for reference? Screen capping the lecture again and again is a bit hard XD
Piyush LALWANI
sir in anatomy we study that for male shoulder area would be a bit broder then pelvis and for female we study that pelvis would broder then shoulder. based on this chapter how can we make that rule in practise here ?
Michael Hampton
This is a generic skeleton. If you'd like to change body type feel free to distort those distances.
@steady
5mo
Two things: Any tips on accurate head shapes? If I make the head too skinny or wide early on, the rest of the body will have the wrong width. Second, we seem to be missing the part for the legs. This was very helpful and the top half of the body is definitely the most complicated, but I feel like it's still important to have the rough lengths of the legs included here. It looks like some folks may have already known these proportions or got the rest of this from the book?
Michael Hampton
The head shape should determine the rest of the build. In the proportion lecture I begin with the head and build everything out from that measurement. The torso width, in other words, is directly related to my starting proportion. I only give the rough proportion here for the legs as this isn't intended to be a skeleton lecture, just something to support construction. Otherwise, I always put the knee 1/2 between the bottom of pelvis and foot.
Kevin Patel
Should we be able to draw this from memory?
Michael Hampton
I think you'll be able to eventually!
@lucastoonz86
thought I’d share these here, need to work on my draftsmanship I think
@boltart48
8mo
I wanted to try this again, I'm trying to relearn proportions and landmarks so that I have a better time with my figures.
@lucastoonz86
Hello I like the diagram one thing I noticed from the lesson is the scapula should start on the third below the neck that may solve your arm length problem as the total length should end at the bottom of the pelvis
sara keyes
8mo
@bumatehewok
I tried to follow along but it got a bit messy. I think my head was too wide to start and I needed readjust things. This was very helpful though. I am going to start practicing breaking down individual parts in the way you showed. Side note once you add the spine to the ribcage it kind of reminds me of a popsicle or a sign.
Michael Hampton
Oh cool! A like that! I never thought of a popsicle or sign before. Thanks for that
Martin Vrkljan
I followed along, and a lot of this just made so much sense. The "1/2 & 1/3" system is such a nice simplification of what usually feels like a daunting thing.
Michael Hampton
That's great! Well done
@jamesdraw
10mo
My 1st attempt at this exercise and one I definitely will return to for further improvement. Although I was not looking forward to doing something ' scientific ' I really enjoyed doing this and I can sense the benefits going forward.
Michael Hampton
Great job!
@amaka45
11mo
Might need to do this assignment again at a large scale to get a better feel for the human proportions. What do you think?
Michael Hampton
Looks like you have the basic idea! I still have to do these occasionally to refine and remember everything. It takes repetition. So ya, try one at a different size now and see how it feels.
@boltart48
11mo
Proportions is still something that haunts me when it comes to fundamentals, I'll most likely come back to this with the rest of the parts. using your book as reference.
@boltart48
11mo
I used the Landmarks Chapter from your book to apply the landmarks to the proportions. I'm going to do one more of this before moving on to the next chapter.
Michael Hampton
Good start!
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Educator, painter, writer, and art historian. Author of Figure Drawing: Design and Invention.
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