How to Draw Models for Clothing

Figure Reference

Learn to use a framework that will allow you to draw models for fashion clothes. Learn to use reference to add accuracy to your drawings. You can use the same model drawing and template over and over by photocopying your final line drawing.

Things You'll Need

• Pencils
• Fine-liner or Ballpoint Pen
• A4 White Paper (Standard printer paper available everywhere)
• Eraser
• Pencil Sharpener

Instructions

Reference and Framework

1. Find reference images. Look for images of men and women standing facing towards you. The best pose you want will be one with the figure facing you, one arm on their hip and the other hanging loosely by their side. One leg will be straight whilst the other will be off at an angle making a distorted "V" shape, much like in the picture that accompanies this article. If you can't find this, any natural pose will do.

2. If you can't find any good reference images, take photos of yourself, or photos of your friends. If you can, either find reference images or take photos yourself of men and women in the pose mentioned above from the side and from the back.

3. Take your pencil and begin drawing the human figure, it should be fairly large, but don;t fill up the page. Anatomy books can be of help as well as the reference images. Break the body down into basic shapes to use as a guideline that you can build on later. Cylinders for arms and legs work well, circles for shoulders, knees and the head are also good.

Sketching

1. Build up the body, using the reference images for accuracy, by joining the shapes together and adding the curves and muscles that the human body has. Keep your pencil lines very faint and erase sparingly.

2. The head does not need to be detailed. You want to keep the the figure anatomically accurate, but loose. Don't take time to draw the details or shadows. Just the basics need to be done here.

3. Draw the figure from the side and from the back, to complete a 360 degree view of the body, in the same manner as described above.

Line Work

1. Take your fine-liner pen and draw, using care, over the pencil lines that you want to keep. Before you erase the pencil lines, wait a few moments for the pen ink to dry as it can smudge.

2. Do the same with the side view and the rear view images, remembering to take care with the pen.

3. Once complete, photocopy your model templates as you can use them over and over again to draw clothes on top of. If done correctly, you will have a clean line drawing of the human figure, male or female, in a loose pose.

Tips & Warnings

• When drawing a man or a woman, take care to notice the differences between the sexes, beyond the obvious ones.

• Proportions are slightly exaggerated when one draws the human body. The male body is usually 7-8 heads high and the female is 6-7.

• Try using a mechanical pencil for clear lines.

• Pens can leak so be aware of this.

• Drawing the body without using reference will give poor results.

• Don't be over detailed. Accuracy is the key here, not details.

References

• eHow: How to Fashion Sketch

Resources

• Fashion Era: Fashion Drawing Tutorial Tips