Drawing the figure - where do you start?

[Jodo]

Just a quick question.

Which body part do you usually start with when drawing a figure?

[Latu]

I start with the head first. But to get things more in proportion it might be a good idea to start with the spine & chest (rib cage), hmmmm I think I'll try that see if it works better for me.

[Josef Sy]

Jodo, I usually start from the head and then the spine. If the figure is standing, a good rule is that the head to hip section will roughly occupy half of the page.

Sometimes if I am doing movement studies, I would do from the feet up. Also depending on the line of action.

[Runteh]

Most start with the head, but Hogarth (spell?) of whom I have not had a look at, starts from the chest/rib cage. I have been studying loomis recently, and he goes from the head.

Personally, I prefer the head, because you can measure off points below it. Nipples/Navel/Crotch/Leg Halves/Just Below Knee/Shin Halves/Foot. That is of course if your character is 8 heads high.

So most people go from head/chest I am guessing. There is no magic involved, just get yourself over to saveloomis.org and pencil to paper. There are plenty of resources if you look.

[briggsy@ashtons]

Hi Jodo and others - a few of us have just been discussing this on another thread:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=70088

[the_allejo05]

start with the torso..but have already in mind the pose of your figure..