How do I draw people without having to use references/model?
I really want to be a concept artist, and I can draw really well using a model or some other reference, but I stink trying to draw from my head. Should I study human anatomy? If I did, would I be able to draw bodies in any type of position? I really would love to be able to produce something from my head for once!
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By using references and models so much that you no longer need them. Using references of real people is the best way of studying anatomy, how the joints bend and how clothes drape over the body. Eventually you get to the point where you can fill in details without references. And yes, you’d be able to draw the human body from any angle.
Whatever you do, don’t just draw from your imagination. You’ll make mistakes without noticing it and those mistakes will become ingrained in your drawing style making them difficult to get rid of. I still connect the clavicle to the shoulder wrong in my drawings and draw four tendons on the backs of people’s hands instead of three because I drew from memory too much.
Sorry if you don’t like this answer, but drawing is a skill that has to be developed. There are no short cuts.
Make them unique from your head, perspective is yours, and doesn’t have to be perfect.
Picture a silhouette in your mind. See the curves of the body and the movement. Picture that, then transfer a simple curved line that matches the silhouette. Basically, start with gesture drawings. Then, picture the full figure, their waist, proportions, etc. and add that. Keep going, with a model in mind (could be yourself, a friend, a celebrity, ect.) until you have your drawing!
Should look something like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=dancer+drawing&um=1&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=923&tbm=isch&tbnid=IyyhjqlKiP-iFM:&imgrefurl=http://fineartamerica.com/featured/wild-dancer-christopher-williams.html&docid=I815fZ1znoFYQM&imgurl=http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium/wild-dancer-christopher-williams.jpg&w=583&h=700&ei=bjKHT5P1O4mX8AHD77mTCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=801&vpy=85&dur=209&hovh=246&hovw=205&tx=144&ty=102&sig=108305621025677107322&page=1&tbnh=162&tbnw=131&start=0&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:128
However! Maybe you want to just draw the face! Start with the eyes and work your way out. Add the details last! Eyes, nose, mouth, then dimples, hair, things like that. Shading is key! You don’t want any harsh lines.
Try observing different artists pieces: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=face+drawing&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=923&tbm=isch&tbnid=6WmEne4MU3zRhM:&imgrefurl=http://gucalovpavel.deviantart.com/art/Drawing-of-girls-face-118647207&docid=DkggDrGCbyLx5M&imgurl=http://th00.deviantart.net/fs43/PRE/i/2009/099/b/9/Drawing_of_girls_face_by_GucalovPavel.jpg&w=747&h=1070&ei=6jKHT_yHNZDqtgfnsZj0CQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=402&vpy=413&dur=246&hovh=269&hovw=187&tx=129&ty=113&sig=108305621025677107322&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=156&tbnw=111&start=0&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0,i:150
Hope I helped!
Well, what I’d suggest is getting yourself a very simple sketchbook and just spend time filling it up with poses. You could search for pictures of models and copy their positions. With practice, you’ll soon know the correct proportions and put them into your concept art.
Good luck 🙂