FIGURE DRAWING
SURFACE PRESENCE
Although muscle and its connective
tissue covers almost all of the body
beneath the skin, it shows its
presence in some places more than
others. When we are drawing a fi gure
from life, the shapes that we see in
our model’s body are governed by the
balance of bone, muscle and fat that
make up their physique.
Genetics and lifestyle combine
to create a unique combination of
volumes. While the shape of an adult
skeleton is relatively similar, the
balance of muscle and fat creates
very different shapes from one fi gure
to another. A person’s regular activities
sculpt their body: a dancer will have
a different distribution of muscle to a
swimmer, who will in turn be different
to a weightlifter. A model’s pose will
also affect the visibility of muscle.
When a model goes into pose in a
life class, notice which muscles are
involved in that action and which
are holding it in place.NTEXT: MICHELANGELO
angelo’s drawings of the muscular
orso display a clear sense of attention
tomical details. In the chalk studies
de for his Creation of Adam fresco
Sistine Chapel ceiling, the multiple
ur lines show him searching for the
f his subject.