4 fun ways to practice drawing people
I used to be so intimidated by drawing people that I avoided it altogether and I convinced myself that I had no interest in it at all. A couple of years ago, however, I attended my first figure drawing event at Happy Medium, and I was hooked! Even though it was challenging, I had so much fun and I realized how inspiring people are as subjects. It launched a new curiosity in me and it’s now one of my creative goals to develop my people-drawing skills. I still have a long way to go, especially when it comes to hands and faces, but I’ve definitely improved since I first started. If drawing people feels a bit scary to you or you’re just looking for fun ways to improve your skills, I’m sharing a few of my favorite practices in this week’s post:
Go to a figure drawing event.
Let’s start with the obvious one because it’s also my favorite. Unless you have a very patient friend who will agree to stay still for 30 minutes, a figure drawing event is probably the only time you’ll get the luxury of observing a real person in the same pose for an extended period of time. It’s also just always a good time to draw in a room full of other artists and have the opportunity to see what everyone creates. You’ll probably be surprised at how many places offer figure drawing sessions. It’s worth checking out local artist clubs, Meetup groups, art studios, and art schools. Here are some of my favorite places to attend figure drawing events in New York (but there are SO many more!):
Location: Two Bridges, near Chinatown
Price: $35, includes materials and a beverage
Drawing America/Drawing Brooklyn
Location: Gramercy (Fri-Wed) or Bushwick (Thur)
Price: $25-35, limited materials available, includes snacks (+ wine at the BK events)
Location: UES
Price: $20, materials not provided and beverages available for purchase
Go to a park or another public space to sketch.
I find this one really challenging but I love that it gets me outside and it’s a great way to practice quick sketching. It’s also free! The weather is starting to warm up here in New York, and the parks will soon be full of people again, so I’ll be doing a lot more of this in the coming months. People-watching is fun in its own right, and drawing in a public space gives you such a wide range of inspiration to choose from. There are people wearing all sorts of outfits, doing all sorts of activities, and you never know what you’re going to see. I often pull out my sketchbook when I’m at an outdoor concert or other event and we’re waiting for the performance to begin. In addition to being a useful drawing exercise, this practice helps me feel more present and more connected to the people around me. It’s an intimate thing to observe someone and draw them, even if they’re a total stranger, and it feels like I get to know them a little bit in that moment.
Sketch sculptures at a museum.
I think there is something so romantic about sketching in a museum. I recently tried out the drop-in drawing night at the Met and I found it so soothing and lovely. I find this to be a great way to practice because the subject has already been somewhat simplified by the original artist, so it feels more approachable than drawing a live model. Plus, they definitely won’t move, so you can really take your time. Treat yourself to an afternoon at your favorite museum, choose a sculpture that intrigues you, and get sketching! I would just suggest checking the museum’s guidelines beforehand, as some will only allow the use of pencil in their galleries.
Draw characters from your favorite movies or TV shows.
I find drawing so much more fun when I’m excited about the subject, so I love taking inspiration from my favorite fictional characters. Put on one of your favorite movies and pause when a frame looks interesting to you. I recommend setting a timer to avoid getting too wrapped up in the minute details and to allow more time to capture different poses. This is extra fun if intricate costumes are involved! I would love to hear who your favorite characters are in the comments!
People are such compelling subjects, and drawing them has made me notice so many wonderful details about the people around me. It would have been a shame if I had never given it a try simply because it felt scary. If you haven’t tried drawing people before or it makes you a little nervous, I hope this inspires you to give it a go and have fun with it! Happy drawing!
Posted March 23, 2023
