How to Draw a Man

Step 1: Define proportion Draw a vertical line, and then a horizontal line crossing its midpoint. The intersection marks the man’s center, located just above the space between the legs.
Step 2: Rough in head and torso Rough-in the head and torso with basic shapes. Draw an oval head, a large triangle for the chest, and a smaller triangle for the hips.
TIP: Male shoulders are broader, the hip space is smaller, and the hands and feet are larger than those of females.
Step 3: Add arms, legs, hands and feet Draw cylinders for arms and legs, placing circles at joints and connecting limb sections with straight lines. Add circles for hands and triangles for feet.
Step 4: Refine contour and erase guidelines Refine the figure’s contour, keeping in mind the male body tends to be muscular and angular. Erase unwanted guidelines.
Step 5: Add features Add ears, nose, mouth and eyes and sketch in hair, emphasizing desired personal characteristics.
Step 6: Add clothing Draw clothing over your figure, paying attention to folds at points where the body bends and to the curves of the body.
TIP: Clothing styles provide clues to the figure’s age, status, and profession.
Step 7: Add shading Add shading to shadowed areas, building form and texture. Even if you aren’t the perfect man, or don’t even know one, you can at least draw him.
FACT: In 2009, at 8 feet 1 inch, 27-year-old Sultan Kosen of Turkey was crowned the world’s tallest man.

Lessons in this Guide