Basic Structure

Just some basic structure. I showed the ball and joint method, with some muscle work as well.

I also wanted to show basically (though I could be off, then again every body is different) structure and the heads high rule.

As notes:
-I might have mispositioned the groin area, making it a little too high.
-This is structure for an adult male. Doesn't mean that it can't be modified for other uses.
-Yes. I know. The pose is really bad and stale. It's suppose to be.
-I know. He's bald. Deal with it. ^_^
-This is just roughly done. I'll probably be adding to this as well, or post more parts as separate postings.


When working on...
-Don't let the structure under the figure dictate what you're going to draw. The structure is just for reference to help, not to dictate.
-Draw your structures light and loose. It's not the focus of the picture and should be erase/removed when you are nearing completion of the picture.
-Your waist should be the mid point between the top of your head and the bottom of your feet. It is the middle of the figure.
-Structure becomes more and more useless as you add in foreshortening, but it can still be helpful.
-Structure should be placed before you even start to draw muscles, with maybe the exception of the neck.
-The groin is probably going to be the hardest part to draw. I use two methods when I draw them. I use either a broad circle with two more circles to show the hip joins (where the legs really connect), or make a "V" and have the circles for the hip joins on either side.
-I would suggest, even if you're not going to be drawing something because clothing or whatever, that you still draw the structure and basic outline of the whole body. The legs are still there, even if a skirt or dress is covering them. The knees will still pull on the clothing making wrinkles near where they are.
-This is just one of SEVERAL possible sketch/structure methods you can use. I'll probably post up a few more, but take a look around and use what you can. Every person's structure looks different from another person's.
-It's alright to change the structure from person to person. Not all people are built the same. Some might be more stout, with longer arms, others might be "All legs". It's okay to work within the structure.
-Normal people are considered 5-6 heads tall, with maybe a half head difference for feet. Super heroes can be as tall as 7-9 heads tall! Their heads will look small compared to their massive bodies. Children will have completely different proportions, and will possibly be from 3-4 heads tall (they grow, so the heads tall changes by age). Baby's are only a mere 2 heads tall... and their arms and legs are very short. (Completely different structure.)

Gender Differences:
Though I didn't add it in, and I might make structure for a girl, women have very similar proportions to guys. They might appear to have longer legs by some, but the largest changes are as follows:
-Shoulders are less broad. Though I didn't show it (and not all guys are like this, actually, very few are), guys are told to have shoulders 3 heads wide. Women have narrower shoulders on average, by less than a half head to a full head difference.
-Women's hips are much wider. Some can have hips as wide as their shoulders. There are reasons for this...
-There is actually even a difference in the gap between a women's legs and a man's legs. This is due to the wider hips. Though this will under most cases be useless information for you (unless you draw a perfect straight on picture with the legs just right), a women actually has about a 5 finger width between their legs, and a man 3 fingers. Groins and hips are hard... but for the most part this small gap isn't going to make a difference and isn't even going to show. Just a FYI kinda thing...


I could go on about more tips and stuff... but I can't keep you reading a novel here. Go! DRAW! I COMMAND YOU!