How to Draw Realistic People - Proportions, Hands, Feet & Other Tricky Features

Do you like drawing people but have trouble making your legs and arms look the right size? Do you struggle with features like hands, eyes, noses, mouths, ears, or hair? Join us for step-by-step directions, techniques, and pro tips!

⭐New to Outschool? Message me before you enroll!!!⭐

⭐ Get $10 off your first class with coupon code BFAMANEW10 until Jun 21, 2025. Enter the coupon code at checkout. ⭐

Each week, we will learn about a different figure drawing technique or practice drawing a human feature in detail using a new, provided reference photo. Through practice and instruction, students will improve drawing the whole human figure, learn to focus on shading and textures, and practice various pencil techniques.

This class designed for students who like drawing people and have a desire to learn some basic techniques. While beginners are welcome, this class is better suited for early intermediate-level students who have had a little practice trying to draw from observation.

Students will follow along with me as I demonstrate step-by-step how to draw a new pose or detailed feature each week with reference photos to guide our sketches. Learners are encouraged to ask questions, socialize, and share their work as we draw together. Students are welcome to add their own creative flair, costume, and background to each drawing.

As we rotate through topics, the reference photos will be different each time. At the beginning of class, students will vote to select from 2-3 different reference photos. Students are encouraged to give suggestions and request reference photos and topics (kinds of hair, body poses, eye expressions, etc.) We'll alternate between full figures and detailed feature drawings; our reference photos will include a variety of poses, cultures, activities, ethnicities, body types, and ages. There will be many timed speed drawings (1-5 minutes) as well as a long-pose drawing (10-15 minutes) at the end of each class.

Schedule of Topics:
Week of 3/10: Human proportions - Side View
Week of 3/17: Gesture drawing 
Week of 3/24: Ears
Week of 3/31: Human proportions - Seated figure
Week of 4/7: Hair
Week of 4/14: Human proportions - Portraits & Faces
Week of 4/21: Gesture drawing 
Week of 4/28: Feet
Week of 5/5: Skeleton-style figure drawing 
Week of 5/12: Eyes
Week of 5/19: Human proportions - Front View
Week of 5/26: Noses
Week of 6/5: Hands
Week of 6/12: Oval/shape-style figure drawing - measuring
Week of 6/19: Mouths
This topic list will repeat.