How to Draw a Character Running

Though some artists scoff at using guidelines, they become essential when drawing characters in action poses. Unless you frequently draw characters running, you will probably not be used to a character's limbs moving in this sort of way. Guidelines must be used to ensure that these limbs are anatomically correct.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drawing pencil
• Pencil eraser
• Drawing paper
• or
• Graphics program
• Graphics tablet.

1. Draw the head first. The head won't play a huge role in the drawing other than helping to determine where the rest of the body will go.

2. 
    

   Draw a curving spine with the bottom curving out in front of the character. Draw two curving horizontal lines where the arms and hips will go.

3. 
    

   Start fleshing the character out. First, draw out a basic outline for for the body. Then, draw the limbs. Draw the upper arms and upper legs first before determining the angle of the lower arms and legs.

4. 
    

   Draw the clothes over the character.

5. Erase the lines you used for guidance.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are using Photoshop, use the rectangle marquee and the rotation feature to adjust the angle of the limbs.
• You can always draw clothes in a way that will mask mistakes you made with the character's anatomy until the anatomy is mastered.