How to Draw a Female Figure

You can learn to draw female figures by following a simple formula. Get ready to devote some time, practicing, erasing and re-sketching until the figure looks realistic. Follow these steps.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Paper
• Eraser

Instructions

1. Begin by placing 8 light dashes as guidelines spanning from the top of the paper to the bottom. They should be evenly spaced. This will be the height of the female figure. The feet will reach to the bottom dash, and the head will graze the top dash.

2. Roughly sketch in the egg or oval shape of the head. This should take up the space between the dashes 7 and 8. The head of the figure will be proportionally one-eighth of the entire height.

3. Place 2 dots indicating the points of the shoulders roughly halfway between the dashes 6 and 7. The shoulders will be wider than the head, but not too wide since this is a woman's figure.

4. Put another 2 dots indicating the waist at the fourth dash. The waist for a woman's figure should be more narrow than the hips, but not as narrow as the head. Drop down halfway between the dashes 4 and 5 to place the dots for the hips. They will be almost as wide as the shoulders.

5. Place 2 dots indicating where the knees are, around dash 6. Then place 2 dots at dash 8, indicating where the feet will hit.

6. Lightly connect the dots to draw the outline of the figure. Round the edges. Fill out the thighs, calves, and feet.

7. Add the arms. The elbows should hit about waist high, and the distance to the wrist should be about the same.

Tips & Warnings

• Once the proportions are correct, move the dots around to modify positions and postures. This can be done by raising one hip and placing a fist on it, bending the arms or stretching one leg out.

• Remember that every body has different proportions. Begin with this guideline, and then make modifications to add distinctions.