Drawing the Human Figure chapter 12
Using a pink pastel as the main color to which some ochre pastel was added, the artist began his drawing with a rough out-
line of the figure in charcoal. You can see that he was trying to get the right shapes and proportions by using several lines
instead of just one perfect line.
Using charcoal allows you to easily wipe away something that you don’t like in your drawing. You can always replace the pas-
tel underneath if you need to erase a lot of charcoal. In the beginning, keep your marks light and do not press down hard on
your charcoal or graphite. Patiently work out your model’s proportions at the start of your drawing. If you do not do this, the
problems you have ignored will plague you as you continue drawing. It is best to lay down a solid foundation in order to feel
free to explore more creative possibilities. Drawing the correct proportions of anything, especially a human figure, takes time,
patience, and practice.
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