How to Draw People Fast: Sketch Quickly and Accurately
In a Life Drawing class, being able to sketch people quickly and accurately is an essential skill. Because time just disappears! Mastering the art of drawing people quickly can add so much to your life drawing experience.
In this article, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to draw people fast, ensuring that you achieve both speed, accuracy and originality in your sketches.
Master Basic Proportions and Anatomy Fast
I know, its the last thing you want to hear, anatomy! But to draw people fast, you must first understand basic human proportions and anatomy.
Familiarize yourself with the fundamental proportions of the human figure, such as the head being approximately 1/8th of the total height and the alignment of limbs and hips/shoulders.
Knowing these proportions and angles allows you to sketch people with realistic body positions, creating a solid foundation for your drawing.
Start with a Simple Framework: Use basic shapes like circles and lines to outline the head, torso, arms, and legs. This SIMPLE framework will help you establish the overall proportions and posture of the figure. Caution against getting too detailed too quickly, which is a common beginner mistake.
Use Guidelines: Draw LIGHT guidelines to map out the figure’s position and proportions. Start with one defining line that really accentuates the primary movement of the model. These guidelines can be easily adjusted as you refine your sketch, this movement line and initial foundation make the drawing process faster and more efficient.
Drawing Rhythm Will Help You Draw Faster
Here is a video I love outlining how to get that rhythm in your drawing. This is going to speed up your drawing process while also bringing uniqueness and brilliance. Because its not just about drawing quick, but also about having a unique result.
Gesture drawing is an excellent technique for capturing the essence of a pose rapidly. Focus on the movement and flow of the figure rather than detailed anatomy. Gesture drawings are done quickly and easily, helping you capture dynamic poses and proportions with minimal effort.
Set a Time Limit: Challenge yourself by setting a timer for each gesture drawing session. This practice will help you become more efficient and improve your ability to draw people quickly.
Use Loose, Fluid Lines: Draw with fluid, continuous lines to capture the overall movement and rhythm of the figure. Avoid getting bogged down with details at this stage; instead, focus on the gesture and action.
I hope you enjoyed our guide to drawing faster, the next step is mastering Light and Shadow.
Happy Life Drawing!