DRAWING BASICS
A GOOD MANGA ARTIST UNDERSTANDS WHAT REAL-LIFE OBJECTS LOOK LIKE AND CHOOSES TO DRAW THEM USING ONLY A FEW LINES.
FACES
To draw a character’s face, start with an egg shape, and then lay crosshairs over it to represent the head. Place the facial features within these guidelines, shrinking or stretching them as necessary according to the angle of the head. Then shape the hairstyle around the head.
SHAPES & RATIOS
Look at the objects around you, and simplify them into basic shapes, such as spheres, pyramids, and cylinders. Imagine that you are sculpting an object from clay. What shape would you start with? Then look for ratios that divide your subject into sections, which will help you place the subject’s features. Is a certain element positioned halfway or a third of the way down from the top?
BODIES
In order to get the proportions, balance, and movement right in a character, try drawing it as a stick figure before adding any additional details. Adding shapes over a stick figure is a great way to flesh out its large muscle groups and joints. Then add clothes on top.
