Basic Principles of Drawing People from Imagination
A course by Tom FoxDrawing Instructor and Storyboard Artist
A course by Tom Fox, Drawing Instructor and Storyboard Artist
Learn how to translate people and places from your mind into lively scenes on a page
Illustrate detailed scenes filled with realistic characters using just a pencil and your imagination. Drawing instructor and storyboard artist Tom Fox has over ten years of experience in the animation industry and has worked for studios such as Universal Studios, Axis Animation, and The BBC.
In this course, he shares his expertise in reducing complex subjects like anatomy and perspective into manageable stages. Learn step-by-step how to draw realistic human figures in action and bring any scene from your imagination to life.
What will you learn in this online course?
14 lessons & 13 downloads
What is Form - Thinking in 3D
10 minutes, 52 seconds
How to Draw a Simple Box Mannequin
12 minutes, 52 seconds
How to Draw the Advanced Mannequin
13 minutes, 23 seconds
Silhouette and Contour Lines
12 minutes, 37 seconds
Positioning Your Mannequins
13 minutes, 7 seconds
Clothing Your Figures
11 minutes, 15 seconds
What's included in this course?
Get to know your teacher, Tom Fox. Discover what motivated him to start drawing and how he turned his hobby into a career. He shares the artists who have inspired him and the different ways in which they have influenced his work.
Learn what form is and how to use it in your drawing. Tom introduces the two questions which you’ll use as a guide throughout the course to create realistic 3D mannequins. Then he takes you step-by-step through the process involved in drawing a box mannequin and transforming it into a more advanced illustration using the human anatomy, silhouettes, and contour lines. Find out how to use basic folds to add realistic clothing to your figures.
Use the techniques learned so far to practice drawing people from your imagination. Begin by positioning your mannequins. Learn how to set up your scene and how your figures fit within it. Then add muscle and contour to your figures to make them look like real people. Dress them using your knowledge of folds, then learn how to create realistic-looking hands and heads.
Finally, it’s time to add depth and realism to your scene. Create a more realistic background by adding layers and lighting to your setting. Add the finishing touches to your drawing using a combination of hard and soft edges to suggest form.
What is this course's project?
Draw a scene from your imagination that features multiple characters in action.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone with an interest in drawing people and places can take part in this course.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is necessary.
You will need a pencil and paper or an iPad with Procreate.
Reviews
- 9 days ago
Mejore bastante bien en el dibujo 10/10
- 15 days ago
¡Me ha encantado esté curso!
- 2 months ago
Great course, structure and length. Sadly lack of teaching, sometimes I got the feelings of wanting to know how to do stuff instead of just watching him draw...
- 2 months ago
Me ha gustado desde la presentacion el curso ya que ha abordado desde el inicio como se planteo una meta de las 10 000 horas de practica para lograr desarrollar cierta habilidad en el dibujo.
- 2 months ago
¡Me ha encantado esté curso! ¡Se va a mi top de favoritos! La manera simple en que Tom Fox ve el dibujo, me parece excepcional, ya que como dibujantes a veces nos tomamos demasiado enserio algo que deberíamos darnos la oportunidad de disfrutar más y no solo que sea una fuente de estrés y frustración. Me gustaría que Tom Fox comparta en más cursos su conocimiento en el futuro.
As well as working as a professional storyboard artist, Tom focuses on reducing complex subjects like perspective and anatomy into an easy-to-follow process for teaching online.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
The Fundamentals of Drawing and Positioning Figures
- What is Form - Thinking in 3D
- How to Draw a Simple Box Mannequin
- How to Draw the Advanced Mannequin
- Silhouette and Contour Lines
- Basic Folds
- U3
Drawing Your Figures from Imagination
- Positioning Your Mannequins
- Adding Muscles and Contours
- Clothing Your Figures
- How to Draw the Hands
- How to Draw the Head
- U4
Finishing the Scene
- Adding Background
- Adding Lighting
- FP
Final project
- Basic Principles of Drawing People from Imagination
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate artists who want to develop their figure drawing skills, learn advanced construction techniques, and enhance their understanding of three-dimensional form.
You can use traditional drawing tools like pencil and paper, or digital tools such as an iPad and Procreate. No advanced software is required; both analog and digital artists can benefit.
You’ll learn to construct figures from basic shapes, master line economy, add depth and volume, draw convincing folds, use perspective, and build portfolio-ready art for concept art jobs.
Yes, the course includes strategies for building your art portfolio online, showcasing your work, and preparing for concept art job opportunities.
The course provides guidance on networking, reaching out to art directors, posting your work on Instagram, and building a professional portfolio to help you land concept art jobs.
Yes, simplification techniques are emphasized to make the drawing process more approachable, allowing you to focus on essentials and enjoy your art journey.
Some basic drawing experience is recommended, but you don’t need advanced figure drawing skills. The course helps you build strong fundamentals and progress to more complex techniques.