How do you draw a basic body structure?

[26NinjaFishy26]

I really need to know but, I can't seem to get it right.... stressed  

[Errol McGillivray]

Start by learning about the skeleton. Then you learn about the muscles. It can be really complicated and imposing, but if you break it down into simple shapes, it's easy.

Have you read any books about drawing people?  

[26NinjaFishy26]

Some books, but they really did not explain what to do.....  

[Errol McGillivray]

Name the books. Also, don't make new threads for these questions. There is a thread specifically for asking questions like this.

OMG HELP  

[26NinjaFishy26]

I don't own any of the books I have read.  

[Vena]

Honestly, the best way to learn how the body works is to watch people. A lot. Draw people- start really sketchy, get the proportions down. And build from there. Books should be something to refer to for extra help - supplemental information really - but there is no 'how to' that is going to be better than studying from life.  

[26NinjaFishy26]

Vena

Honestly, the best way to learn how the body works is to watch people. A lot. Draw people- start really sketchy, get the proportions down. And build from there. Books should be something to refer to for extra help - supplemental information really - but there is no 'how to' that is going to be better than studying from life.

Thanks for the truth XD  

[oSAKApower]

A lot of the time, when I'm trying to draw someone in a certain pose and can't seem to get it right, I look in the mirror and draw what I see. Sites like posemaniacs.com are helpful, but my drawings tend to turn out best when I look at a real person.  

[Hade Ceyn]

Oh-
learning basic shapes to form the body ( like rectangles for bodies, circles for heads) can help you get an idea of where to draw out features and other stuff  

[C r y o l i]

Can always use your own body as a reference and start from there.  

[Kieden]

Andrew Loomis Figure Drawing for all it's Worth

Right click link, click save as, save to desktop, enjoy the book. This is how I learned better anatomy and figure drawing.

For more books by loomis click this link thing thing.  

[Lixae]

Vena

Honestly, the best way to learn how the body works is to watch people. A lot. Draw people- start really sketchy, get the proportions down. And build from there. Books should be something to refer to for extra help - supplemental information really - but there is no 'how to' that is going to be better than studying from life.

This is how I learned. I would just go to the library and sit infront of the doors and draw people as they walked around. Or I'd go to the park and draw the people playing soccer or on the jungle gym. It helps a lot. Or even go to Starbucks and sit down and draw peoples expressions.  

[Mistreena]

I often use my own body, as odd as that may sound (since I can't see myself without a mirror, and most of the time I'm at school anyways). I basically try to place myself in the position I want and see how my body moves, in order to get the feel of motion or the flow of the body.

Also, pictures. I found a book called "Anatomy for Fantasy Artists" at a local bookstore, and it has both the guidelines for drawing as well as many pictures of a male and female posing in various ways. I often use this as a guide now, because it is so much easier to draw people when you are looking at people. If you are able to, get pictures of the pose you want. I hear there are some pretty good stock photos on DeviantArt as well.  

[Yamiko]

I make several stickfigure thumbnails with a pose I want.

Then I chop up people into basic shapes in space, depending on the angle I'm going for.
At the same time, I'm trying to keep anatomical proportions in mind.
Loomis books are a good place to start for basic human proportions.  

[0Doidle0]

There are a few different components to body structure
Like:
muscle structure
bone structure

I might suggest a book called
"Drawing cutting edge anatomy"
by Christopher Hart
It talks about bones, veins, body types, muscle groups and things like that