Resources for Understanding Proportions of the Figure

Understanding the general proportions of the human figure can be helpful, but can also be confusing particularly if we want to draw dynamic figures in different poses. If we're drawing from imagination, creating illustrations, or telling stories it's highly unlikely we'll draw the figure in a stiff standing soldier pose. To really understand the human proportion I recommend developing your observation skills through regular life drawing, while drawing people from imagination using some of the resources below.

Measuring using the sight method I taught in class is a great way to develop your observational skills. The more you do it the more you'll start to see relationships in the human figure and start to understand proportion intuitively. Meanwhile the resources below may help you develop an understanding, and it's always good to draw a lot from imagination too.

Loomis proportions

The proportions laid out in Andrew Loomis' book "Figure Drawing For All it's Worth" are well known and popular. Loomis measures the body in "head units", according to these diagrams the human body is 8 heads tall, men are two and one third heads wide while women are two heads wide.

The problem with these diagrams is they assume a very stiff soldier pose, which is unnatural and you're unlikely to see real people adopt. They are also very idealistic proportions, notice how the female proportions shows the figure wearing heels. As if all women were born wearing heels... In real life people come in all different shapes and sizes, with different body types. While these diagrams are useful as a general guide, it's still important to observe real people and come to your own understanding of proportion.

Average Human Proportions - Dr Paul Richter

Dr Paul Richter came up with a similar system of anatomical proportion, similar to Loomis but based on 7 and a half heads. Proko breaks this down simply on his YouTube channel.

Average Human proportions - the 7 and a half head system by Dr Paul Richer - Proko

I personally think this system has similar issues to the Loomis system, but it is good context for learning general proportions. The video is worth watching for Proko's advice on using proportional systems at the start of the video. These systems can be useful, but we are artists and we can take some creative license with these systems. When I draw I tend to focus more on making my figures look believable instead of trying to make them look accurate. It's worth remembering that after a drawing session is over, people will see your drawings but they will not see the model posing to compare it with. Drawing is supposed to be fun, it's not an exam.

Robert Beverley Hale - Using the Cranium to measure proportion

Robert Beverley Hales system of measuring proportion using the cranium focusses on accuracy, and can be used to measure proportion in any pose, not just stiff unnatural looking soldier poses. This makes it a preferred system for many artists and illustrators and worth studying.

Human figure proportions - Cranial units - Robert Beverley Hale - Proko

This system while useful is very advanced and complex, and requires a very good understanding of volume, form, and perspective. I wouldn't recommend it for beginners as it can be confusing and requires a strong understanding of anatomy. You don't need an indepth understanding of anatomy to do successful figure drawings.

Love Life Drawing - The problems with proportional systems

Love Life Drawing have a great video describing the problems with all of these systems, and how we can simplify them to something that's much more practical and simple to use.

More general, approximate, and larger measurements are easier to remember and more useful as a guide, giving us more creative freedom and accounting for different body types. For understanding proportion this is the guide I would recommend to beginners. It's also my preferred approach for drawing the human figure from life and from imagination.

The problems with proportional systems and how to simplify them - Love Life Drawing

Measure, practice, draw a lot

There's a lot of information on out there on human proportion, and a lot of different systems which can get very complex and technical. The human body is a very complex subject to draw, and everyone's body is different. There is no average human figure in reality. If you're a beginner my advice would be to learn something simple for context, and use it as a guide. 

Really the best way to learn is to make your own observations and draw a lot consistently. Life drawing sessions are a great way to focus on drawing the human figure, and will provide a safe space for you to learn, draw, and meet other artists to learn from. You can also draw and observe in public. Coffee shops, the MTR, and even sitting out in parks are good ways to quietly observe and draw.

The more you measure, observe, and draw the more you'll develop an intuitive understanding of proportion. Drawing is like any other skill, it requires consistent practice to learn and master.