Figurative Drawing: A Celebration of the Human Form

No style of art celebrates the beauty, structure, perfections, and imperfections of the human form in the same manner as Figurative Drawings.

Why Drawing?

There is a peculiar, intimate quality to a drawing which elevates it above other mediums such as painting and photography. Here are some essentials:

Black and White: The fact that drawing is a medium which utilizes only pencil strokes eliminates the sometimes intrusive presence of color. The result is a tapestry of outlines, shades, texture; a pure rendering of a person’s essential physical form.

All Ages, All Types: Drawing finds the unique beauty in each individual subject. The notion that you must be of a certain age and adhere to a certain standard of beauty to be a subject for drawing is an absolute and irrevocable untruth. Subjects of drawings can range from childhood and teens, to mid twenties and thirties, to middle age forties and fifties to the elderly sixties and above. Also, either gender, male or female, is welcome.

Emphasis on Faces: While most figurative drawing has a reputation for being focused on the body, this does not necessarily have to be the case. The face, in all its expressive glory, provides enough contours and artistic inspiration, through expressions of the eyes and mouth.

Where Do I Find a Figurative Drawing Artist?

There are many places to find artists who create figurative drawing. The most obvious rule of thumb to follow is to follow the figure drawings themselves. Wherever there are figure drawings, there are likely to be artists who create them. Try the following leads especially:

Art galleries: Art galleries are always scouring the art world for new up and coming artists, as well as established ones. Usually, exhibitions are divided into sections for the genre of art being displayed, and this includes figure drawing. While you browse the drawings, the artists will typically be standing in the vicinity of their work, and will be more than happy to talk to you and to provide you with their business cards.

Online: Many figure drawing artists have created websites to promote their work. You can visit these artists’ websites and peruse their biography, credentials and resume, and most importantly, their digital portfolio of drawings.

Referrals: Word of mouth is always best. Ask friends where they found their displayed drawings.