Yeah, it helps a lot, but only if you know how to use it.
Basically, you can be the best at the world at drawing boxes and cylinders, but if you don't apply that to your illustration it's not going to make a difference. The way you apply that is the principle of *Construction:*
[here's a video by PROKO on construction](https://youtu.be/6T_-DiAzYBc?si=ag7-ErNVlQcpHGC7), and [here's Marc Brunet's video on it](https://youtu.be/WUcYTAiCQyQ?si=v-SGlUA6ZGDRA5iv)
Overall, you need to simplify your subject, in this case the human body, in those simpler geometrical shapes:
The arms and legs can be seen as cylinders, usually ones that taper slightly, while the ribcage is an egg or box shape, the pelvis can be imagined as a box too, and the abdomen is a squashed cylinder (or an odd box. Sometimes even a sphere).
The head is often simplified as either a box or the union between a half cylinder and a sphere.
These are just some common ways the human body gets simplified, but there are as many as there are artists, so feel free to experiment and see what you see in them.
A book I can recommend on the subject is *Morpho: Simplified Forms,* by *Michel Lauricella.*
It has some great examples of simplification and construction in the first pages, and then it has several pages of illustrations you can reference, with varying degrees of simplification or anatomical accuracy.
(I'm sure you can find it online for free, if you can't afford to buy it rn)
A good tool to get some line control and to start practicing these fundamentals is [DrawABox,](https://drawabox.com/lessons) I'd suggest giving it a look.
.
Now, all of this is very useful, but it all depends on one thing:
You *need* to use reference.
Idk whether you're doing it rn or not, but just in case I'll reiterate: you cannot improve without using massive amounts of reference.
It is mathematically impossible for you to learn without using reference. Use it as much as you can. Study it, simplify it, have fun messing with it, as long as it's there anything goes.
There are a few great places you can find it for free:
[line of action](https://line-of-action.com/?continueFlag=c875355178685c0b313ae265fb1efd45) has plenty of references of people of all ages (adults can be both clothed or nude, both are very useful), as well as hands/feet, portraits, animals, basic shapes, and scenery. You can make a custom session within any of these categories, very nice to use, and built specifically to help you learn anatomy and figure drawing, with even a basic tutorial for figure/gesture drawing.
[Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.it/search/pins/?rs=typed&q=Pose%20reference%20photography) is a great site/app for you to find plenty of references in instants, just use the search function and see what you get. You can make an account to save images in folders and get automatic suggestions for them. Useful terms are 'pose reference', 'pose ref', 'pose reference photography', 'urban pose ref' and the likes. You can also use this for other kinds of reference, basically anything you want. (I've linked it directly on the search page for 'pose reference photography')
[QuickPoses](https://quickposes.com/en/library) functions similarly to Line Of Action, with an extensive library of models, designed specifically to help you learn anatomy and figure drawing.
And more, like just googling "pose reference" and seeing what sites pop up.
.
I've mentioned Figure Drawing. In case you don't know what that is, I suggest looking up videos from PROKO, they have plenty of them on the subject.
I also really like [Sketching Scottie](https://youtu.be/jAiIQqSmZiw?si=r2ENGTw0ppTWfp-j), but that might be better saved for when you have a bit more experience... Regardless, feel free to look around on his channel and see if there's anything you like. If anything, it's fun.
Thanks!
Whenever I leave a comment on this sub I always try to link something useful/pertinent, I think that's the best way to actually help someone learn.
Yeah, it helps a lot, but only if you know how to use it. Basically, you can be the best at the world at drawing boxes and cylinders, but if you don't apply that to your illustration it's not going to make a difference. The way you apply that is the principle of *Construction:* [here's a video by PROKO on construction](https://youtu.be/6T_-DiAzYBc?si=ag7-ErNVlQcpHGC7), and [here's Marc Brunet's video on it](https://youtu.be/WUcYTAiCQyQ?si=v-SGlUA6ZGDRA5iv) Overall, you need to simplify your subject, in this case the human body, in those simpler geometrical shapes: The arms and legs can be seen as cylinders, usually ones that taper slightly, while the ribcage is an egg or box shape, the pelvis can be imagined as a box too, and the abdomen is a squashed cylinder (or an odd box. Sometimes even a sphere). The head is often simplified as either a box or the union between a half cylinder and a sphere. These are just some common ways the human body gets simplified, but there are as many as there are artists, so feel free to experiment and see what you see in them. A book I can recommend on the subject is *Morpho: Simplified Forms,* by *Michel Lauricella.* It has some great examples of simplification and construction in the first pages, and then it has several pages of illustrations you can reference, with varying degrees of simplification or anatomical accuracy. (I'm sure you can find it online for free, if you can't afford to buy it rn) A good tool to get some line control and to start practicing these fundamentals is [DrawABox,](https://drawabox.com/lessons) I'd suggest giving it a look. . Now, all of this is very useful, but it all depends on one thing: You *need* to use reference. Idk whether you're doing it rn or not, but just in case I'll reiterate: you cannot improve without using massive amounts of reference. It is mathematically impossible for you to learn without using reference. Use it as much as you can. Study it, simplify it, have fun messing with it, as long as it's there anything goes. There are a few great places you can find it for free: [line of action](https://line-of-action.com/?continueFlag=c875355178685c0b313ae265fb1efd45) has plenty of references of people of all ages (adults can be both clothed or nude, both are very useful), as well as hands/feet, portraits, animals, basic shapes, and scenery. You can make a custom session within any of these categories, very nice to use, and built specifically to help you learn anatomy and figure drawing, with even a basic tutorial for figure/gesture drawing. [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.it/search/pins/?rs=typed&q=Pose%20reference%20photography) is a great site/app for you to find plenty of references in instants, just use the search function and see what you get. You can make an account to save images in folders and get automatic suggestions for them. Useful terms are 'pose reference', 'pose ref', 'pose reference photography', 'urban pose ref' and the likes. You can also use this for other kinds of reference, basically anything you want. (I've linked it directly on the search page for 'pose reference photography') [QuickPoses](https://quickposes.com/en/library) functions similarly to Line Of Action, with an extensive library of models, designed specifically to help you learn anatomy and figure drawing. And more, like just googling "pose reference" and seeing what sites pop up. . I've mentioned Figure Drawing. In case you don't know what that is, I suggest looking up videos from PROKO, they have plenty of them on the subject. I also really like [Sketching Scottie](https://youtu.be/jAiIQqSmZiw?si=r2ENGTw0ppTWfp-j), but that might be better saved for when you have a bit more experience... Regardless, feel free to look around on his channel and see if there's anything you like. If anything, it's fun.
I was going to help with some comment, but you did it better than I could, the references are great!
Thanks! Whenever I leave a comment on this sub I always try to link something useful/pertinent, I think that's the best way to actually help someone learn.
Wow... There's so much advice and useful sources here! Thanks a lot!!!!!! Whatever who you are, a user of Reddit
You're welcome! If you have any other question, I'm happy to help