Human figure study and anatomy for artists
Domain 6 - Human figure study and anatomy for artists. The exam tests proportion, gesture and the ability to capture a pose quickly. It rewards structural understanding: masses, landmarks and weight, not surface anatomy copied from a chart.
Core rules
- Canon: an adult is about 7.5–8 heads tall. The midpoint of the body is near the pubis; the elbow is near the waist, the wrist near the crotch; the knee is roughly midway between hip and heel. Hand length is close to face length; foot length is close to head height.
- Gesture first: in 30 seconds to 2 minutes, draw the line of action, then ribcage, pelvis and limb cylinders. Look for tilt, twist and weight-bearing.
- Contrapposto: the weight-bearing leg is straighter; its hip rises, the shoulder on that side drops, and the spine curves. Both feet flat with equal weight looks stiff.
- Landmarks: clavicle, acromion, iliac crest, patella and malleoli help place forms in any pose. Use simple cylinders for limbs and check foreshortening.
Worked example
A standing figure with weight on the left leg and the right arm raised. First draw an S-shaped line of action from the left foot to the head. Mark the head unit, count down 7.5 heads, and place the pelvis higher on the left; tilt the shoulders the opposite way. The left leg is vertical and straight; the right knee bends and the foot rests forward. The raised arm is foreshortened, so the forearm is shorter and the hand larger. Reasoning: gesture and weight explain the pose before muscles are added.
Traps
Too-small head or elongated legs; stiff symmetrical stance; drawing both legs straight; adding anatomy before gesture; shading to hide proportion errors; symbol hands and feet; ignoring the raised shoulder; making a quick study look like a slow contour drawing.