Sketching People In Pen And Ink: The Armature Process

In this video I demonstrate how to use the armature process to sketch people. This important step allows me to break the figure down into simple volumes, and think about scale proportion and gesture without getting bogged down in details. It's a great way to start your sketch that with practice will make your drawings better.

[@atelierthhun1165]

Another clever, generous and practical approach to drawing that I look forward to trying. It is so refreshing to have achievable exercises that encourage without promising instant magic . I am still at a loss why people accept practicing sport to improve but prefer to attribute artistic excellence to something gifted rather than worked at ! Thanks for more of your inventiveness.

[@mkompan]

Thank you! Talent is involved, but definitely over emphasized. I've seen many talented yet lazy students rest on their laurels and get surpassed by those that outwork them.

[@billmccaffrey1977]

Love your approach to teaching. The examples are easy to follow and practice.

[@mkompan]

Thanks!

[@entretantosmundosgaming4974]

Great lesson, Marc. Thank you for making it. I think I’ll try to replicate it on paper just like you did.

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome!

[@davidwang3222]

This is a great demo of how to draw human in such details for the beginners. I have heard a lot of such method but no one explain why we must do so . Until today I watched your video. I also watched some of your other videos which produced recently, some of which has the photos to show when you draw , this really help the students understand much better the techniques you applied. As they can see the result by comparison. I am sure your channel will be more popular with such newly uploaded videos. Well Done ! I am looking forward to your next project! Thank you for your hard work.

[@mkompan]

Thank you so much. I'm always trying to make improvements in the way I make my videos, and I'm glad my efforts are being appreciated.

[@maryf.1956]

Thank you this was awesome information!

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome!

[@dfinchermd]

Excellent instruction and examples, again. From your videos, I gain as much or more than from all the books I bought.

[@mkompan]

Thank you!

[@lindakacer6453]

Thank you Mark. I confirm that since I used your armature process I really improved my skills in figure drawing. I appreciate a lot all the videos you made on this subject.

[@mkompan]

Thanks for the confirmation, Linda. I wish I had learned this process when I was art school. The system taught to me didn't use it.

[@TJRostas]

Thanks!

[@mkompan]

So nice of you! Thank you.

[@eric_the_egggremlin]

This is genuinely such a funny and helpful video. Thank you so much for the walk-through of how tall each section should be individually; I've never seen that explained before, every other reference just says "make it 7-9 heads tall and figure it out from there".

[@mkompan]

Thank you Eric! There's lot's of information of human proportion out there but I find it's either too complicated or doesn't;t go into enough detail. This system (at least in my opinion) is simple enough to easily remember, and yet detailed enough to get things right.

[@TheDynamite333]

This is an excellent lesson, thank you Marc.

[@mkompan]

Thanks again!

[@sjuvanet]

I used to only sketch armatures and never knew how to complete them. thank you for this insight :-)

[@mkompan]

You're welcome. I'm glad this video was helpful to you.

[@jbross9802]

Hi Marc, very useful vid
If that's a vintage nib in your kaweco sport, another good pen to try is the noodler's charlie pen (included free with some large bottles of ink) it fits some vintage #2 nibs very well and has an ebonite feed that can be heat-set. It's a small eyedropper pen with a large ink capacity, so very suitable for field kits!

[@mkompan]

Thanks!
I have vintage nibs in my Boston safety pens and the Creeper, but haven’t considered the Charlie. I’ll have to buy a big bottle of Noodler’s black and get one.

[@mayorenstein3931]

Thank you for this video!

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome!

[@audiovalet]

Вподобайка.

[@mkompan]

Дякую тобі!

[@dintoons1]

Excellent!! Thank you, Marc! :)

[@mkompan]

Thank you!

[@Kajurasu]

I’ve found the method

[@mkompan]

Glad this was useful to you!

[@thegraedler]

For me it‘s easier to start at the hips - try it.

[@mkompan]

I’ve tried every possible variation of this, believe me. Many artists start with what’s called “the bean,” which is a simplified torso.

[@dfinchermd]

Thanks!

[@mkompan]

Thank you!

[@dfinchermd]

@@mkompan figure I owe you since I screen captured your armature guide.

[@mkompan]

@@dfinchermd Well, that's very generous of you nonetheless! I'm happy you found this video useful!