Male Body Studies

I agree with ~inter-d

Don't start with such elaborate poses. Start with a basic A, T or front on stand pose, then try drawing that same pose identical in the side, front, then switch to 3/4. Matching in the heads tall, and where everything bends between them all then move onto poses where they shift slight positions so you can start to train your eye to see the anatomy and how it should bend/look. staring at references won't always cut it, and consistently seems to be the main issue for these.


A good practice as well to study proportions when you haven't been drawing them a lot and/or want to start doing elaborate poses, is take those images and try sketching over top them in photoshop..drawing in their basic shapes, silohettes, line of action, etc. Then compare with your "drawing by eye" as you practice this more and develop it, you'll start to get that mind's eye with just looking at your references and know how the anatomy is working.

I don't mean trace the poses for your final image, no: only for the initial practice stage. I think it'll show you then any words can ever describe the errors you are reoccurring across each you draw.


Before photoshop, many artists would do that but on grid paper, blocking in each block area as they saw it on the picture, that's another way you can do it to make sure you're not off.

It's a good start, practice makes perfect. However, more simple basic front, side, back and 3/4 views will help you improve your anatomy. If you are only looking to go with one body type for this particular commission, just study that one body type then but consistently. Doing a bunch of random poses will take longer to help you with.

By starting with more elaborate poses like this you are running into the errors of "shoulders look pushed forward, back and in weird angles, length of legs are not consistent in the poses given, etc" across your images, which doesn't help train your eye for anatomy as you are not drawing it consistently across them all.

That is where most of your anatomy errors are coming from i think, because you are trying to shift your mind/brain into thinking in a different pose, direction and perspective every time. Not because your skill is weak, your skill is rather good!

just some tips. good on you for the practice, soon you'll find you fill sketch books with just anatomy <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/b/b…" width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Big Grin)"/> keep up the good work.

(ignore the star ratings, they don't really apply for this sort of thing. the only thing that is accurate is the technique and vision. Vision for your referencing/anatomy, technique for your over all drawing ability )