Introduction to Figure Construction

My university lectures on foundation drawing practices and figure construction recorded as a course.

I have taken the curriculum I use teaching figure invention and construction for universities and gathered it here. In this course I share my drawing processes and explain how the steps I use to construct a figure are supported and dependent on foundation drawing skills.

Based off my book Figure Drawing Design and Invention

What you'll learn

1. An explanation of the abstract components of drawing (line, shape, perspective) and exercises for building confidence in their use.

   

2. An exploration of form intersections, modifications, and additional exercises to allow for the development of complex organic forms.

   

3. A description of how even the most advanced subjects is reducible to a basic drawing vocabulary.

   

4. How to build from a gestural start into a 3D construction

   

5. A step by step process for constructing a figure from reference

   

6. Hand and Foot Construction

   

   

7. Foreshortening hands and figures

8. The proportions of the figure and landmarks of the rib cage, and pelvis

   

Sample Lesson

What's included

1. 5+ hours of lecture
2. Step by step demonstrations
3. Detailed walk through of a figure turnaround
4. Photoshop files of all example drawings

What this course is

This course is an intensive overview of figure construction, an approach I use for inventing figures in perspective and as foundation for interpreting anatomy. This material represents what I teach at private universities and workshops around the world, and I’ve chosen to gather it here as I find it to be one of the more challenging stages for students. For this reason, I go into the details of drawing mechanics and perspective to provide as much support to students working through this stage.

The benefits of having these lectures recorded is that they can be reviewed and worked through at your own pace. I have organized my workflow and approach to be broken down into a step-by-step sequence to help support the way you practice and think through your own drawing. I have also included suggested assignments to help support the information and its practice.

Unfortunately, this is not a replacement for a figure drawing workshop, or a magic course that will make you draw exactly like me. However, I have described a road map and set of steps that if practiced often and understood will get you on your way to inventing figures in space.

Who am I?

My name is Steven Michael Hampton and I've been teaching figure drawing and anatomy for the past 25 years. I've taught at places like Art Center, Anatomy Tools, LCAD, Blizzard Entertainment, and Lucas Film to name a few.

I've been passionate about drawing my entire life studying it as a technician/illustrator, a fine artist, and as an art historian. I remain fascinated with how the technical “how to” of drawing facilitates conceptual practices (in both an entertainment and a fine art sense), and ultimately how drawing, always considered a “lesser” genre, has been historicized. To this end, I have pursued degrees in each field (illustration, fine art, and art history) and am nearing the completion of my PhD. For me drawing is an infinitely malleable language which allows one to access any number of conceptual outcomes if a foundation is embraced.

I published a book titled Figure Drawing: Design and Invention, going through a step-by-step process for figure drawing, which has now been translated into Japanese and Korean. My forthcoming book on the practice of gesture drawing will be available late 2024. 

FAQ

1. Do I need photoshop?
   1. No, this course can be done using any drawing materials. In this course, I use the default round brush and a Wacom tablet.
2. Is this for beginners?
   1. This is meant for everyone! The concepts I cover can be applied at both basic and advanced levels and are always good to brush up on.
3. Do you recommend I follow along?
   1. If you are a beginner, I recommend going through the entire course from start to finish once. From there, you should review lessons as needed for things you're struggling with.
4. How do I get the most out of this?
   1. Take your time! Learning this stuff doesn't happen overnight. Be patient and kind to yourself. This can be challenging! These are still things I'm practicing.

Reference in course from Bodiesinmotion.photo