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Neil Fontaine

Do you want to be a professional comic artist, concept artist, or storyboard artist, etc?

Then you need to be able to draw the human figure quickly. Most artists can’t do this because …

They never learned Anatomy for Figure drawing.

Read more

Do you want to be a professional comic artist, concept artist, or storyboard artist, etc?

Then you need to be able to draw the human figure quickly. Most artists can’t do this because …

They never learned Anatomy for Figure drawing.

My course teaches you anatomy for figure drawing in an easy to understand way, but don’t take my word for it.

Scroll down and watch some of the free lectures. I offer a few hours free so you can see that my teaching style is for you.

In this course, you will learn the basics of proportions, and how to simplify the skeleton. You will learn the draw the skeleton and learn where all the muscles attach, which is key to drawing figures from imagination. You will learn a simplified muscle map, simplified mannequin and more.

You will even learn how muscles change when in different poses. You will also learn where fat builds up, and all the different body types. This is the last and only anatomy for figure drawing and comics you will ever need. Money back guarantee, upheld by Udemy’s high standards.

I also have bonus videos, like how to draw breasts and a quick sculpting of the human video.

This is a huge course, but well worth the time. 65 hours, but ...

you are ready to draw figures like a pro, so simply scroll down and watch some of the free videos.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • To learn anatomy for the human figure.
  • Learn the skeleton.
  • Learn the muscles and where they attach so you can draw the figure from imagination.
  • Learn all about how to draw breasts and their mechanics, how they squish, attach, etc.
  • Learn to draw skin and fat, where fat builds up.
  • Learn to draw, heads, faces, hands, and feet.
  • Putting it all together. learning specific parts of the body on motion, to better understand some more difficult muscles.

Syllabus

Proportions- Please Start Here

Get an idea what the course is about by watching this short intro.

In this lesson, we learn to draw the stick figure as 7.5 heads tall, which is a great starting foundation.

Read more

In this lesson, we learn to draw the basic proportions of the human figure as 8 heads tall.

Here are many of the images created during the course. You can use them as references during the exercises.

Skeletons to use.

Skeleton - The Important Foundations you must know
Simplified Skeleton Images

In this lesson, we learn to draw the skeleton from the front view.

In this lesson, we draw the skeleton from the back view. We learn some important ideas about bones that are useful for drawing the human figure.

In this lesson, we draw the skeleton from the side view.

In this lesson, we draw the skeleton from a 3/4 angle view.

Muscles and where they attach - Needed to draw any pose from imagination

Now we get into all the muscles and where they attach. This knowledge will get you drawing the figure from imagination, but without having at least the basic skeleton down first, there is no way this information will help. The skeleton is the foundation for the muscles.

We learn about the pecks and where they attach to get the best understanding of how to draw this area of the body once we add skin.

Knowing the insertion points of the deltoid and triceps will greatly help with drawing the figure from mind.

The obliques can be difficult to learn, but the way I teach, you will get it in no time.

Back muscles seem difficult until you learn the very few muscles and where they attach. Suddenly, drawing back muscles from imagination seems easy.

We learn the thigh muscles and where they attach.

We continue to learn about the thigh muscles and where they attach.

Really take your time with the forearms. They are complicated. They take time to master.

We continue to learn about the forearm muscles. This is the hardest part of the course, so take your time.

Learning the calves isn't as hard as the forearm, so the hardest part is out of the way. Now let's break down the muscles in the lower leg and where they attach.

Structure of Man

In this lesson, we learn to draw the mannequin of the female front view. This is important to drawing the figure in any pose easily.

In this lesson, we learn to draw the mannequin of the female in side and angle views. This is important to drawing the figure in any pose easily.

In this lesson, we learn to draw the mannequin of the female back view. This is important to drawing the figure in any pose easily.

In this lesson, we learn to draw the mannequin of the male front view and angle view. This is important to drawing the figure in any pose easily.

In this lesson, we learn to draw the form of the male figure from the side, in a simplified way that you can use to quickly sketch poses.

In this lesson, we learn to draw the form of the male figure from the back, in a simplified way that you can use to quickly sketch poses.

How to Draw Hands, and Anatomy of hands

Hands are like learning to draw some alien figure. Seriously. They are hard, but these hand lessons will get you drawing hands like never before.

We continue to learn the hands, this time learning the few muscles in them. The skeleton of the hand and two major muscles make up the shape of the hand.

Adding skin to the hand is simple once you have mastered the skeleton and the few muscles.

Now that we know how to draw the anatomy of the hand, let's draw several poses of the hand, to learn more how it looks and works, so you can draw hand gestures and poses from your imagination.

Let's continue to draw more hand poses.

We are now going to draw some elegant hand poses.

And now for some final hand drawings to sum things up.

Feet - The Anatomy of Feet

Feet aren't as difficult as hands, but they still might take a while to master.

The muscles of the feet are few, so we can relax a bit here and learn them.

We draw the feet from a few angles and poses.

In this lesson, we learn how to draw the feet from the side views.

In this lesson, we learn how to draw the back and bottom views of the foot from imagination.

Skull, Head, and Face

You might not realize it, but learning to draw the skull is a very important foundation to understanding how to draw heads and faces from your imagination. You will be surprised how much better your faces and heads are after learning this.

Let's learn the sideview of the skull, so you can better your profile drawings.

I know that learning the skull seems tedious, but this is the last lecture for skulls.

And now we learn how to add the skin onto the face.

We draw different faces to learn more about the head.

Adding on the skin

In this section, we learn how to draw skin. This is the final details you add to a figure.

Now we draw the skin on the profile view of the male figure.

Finally, we learn to draw the skin on the back view of the male figure.

We draw the skin on the female figure, both the front and side view.

We conclude with drawing the female skin from all views.

We learn the basic muscle map for the back view, then how to shade the skin. Adding skin onto the figure, drastically changes how the figure looks, so this is important to learn. However, it is not hard to learn how to shade the figure once you know the forms of the muscles.

How muscles move and look when flexed, etc

Now we are going to go deeper into poses that are often hard to draw from mind because we never learned how the muscles look in those views, but if you keep in mind where the muscles attach, you can logically figure it out.

We are now going to learn how muscles change shape when flexed, stretched, etc. This is muscles in action.

We continue to learn muscles in action. Of important note here, we are going to learn how to draw the cords in the neck that we see when someone flexes their neck.

The elbow and knee can seem very difficult at first, so we go over them in more detail, like how they look when bent at different angles.

Finally, we go over how the torso looks when bent at different angles.

Learn where fat builds up and different body types and how to draw them

There are many types of bodies, so to make your figures more diverse, we are going to learn all the body types, and how and where the fat builds up to create those body types. It isn't enough for a teacher to just say, here is this body type, and not explain how and why we get that body type. Once you understand the fat system and where fat builds up in the different body types, not only will you be able to draw all body types from imagination, but you will be able to invent new body types.

Yes, males also have more than one body type, because fat doesn't build up in the same proportions on every male, so in this lecture, we will learn all about male body fat.

We Will learn the different types of female bodies and where the fat builds up.

Drawing Heavy Set Figures in Pose
Putting it all Together -- Drawing Poses

In this lecture, we are going to put all the knowledge we learned in this course and draw some figures in different poses, and all from imagination, without any references. We are going to create!

Drawing Awesome Poses 3
Drawing Awesome Poses 4
Drawing Awesome Poses 5
Bonus Lessons
This lessons shows how and why breast move the way the move and are shaped the way they are shaped, especially why they are shaped differently depending on the pose do to gravity. 

In this bonus video, I show how to draw the figure at different ages, from baby to adult.

This bonus video shows how to properly draw breasts in 3/4s view.

This is the end

A brief overview of everything we went through in the course. Thanks for watching.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Teaches anatomy for figure drawing, which is needed to draw characters from imagination
Provides hands-on practice drawing poses from imagination
Covers a wide range of topics, including proportions, muscles, and fat distribution
May require students to come in with some background knowledge of figure drawing
Includes bonus videos on topics such as drawing breasts and sculpting the human form

Save this course

Save Anatomy for Figure Drawing: Mastering the Human Figure to your list so you can find it easily later:
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Reviews summary

Detailed anatomy instruction

Learners say this Anatomy for Figure Drawing course is well-organized with clear explanations that help with memorization of muscle origins and insertions. Although the instructor's pronunciation may sometimes make it harder to locate supplemental materials, learners say the effort is worthwhile to solidify their learning.
Supplemental materials recommended to help solidify understanding.
"My one recommendation is to use supplemental materials like anatomy textbooks and Google to help solidify the material in memory."
Course is very well organized, making learning easier.
"The course is very well organized and Neil’s explanations of the muscle origins and insertions helped me memorize them faster than I could have imagined."
"The organization of the course is well thought out, which makes learning the material even easier."
Clear explanations help with memorizing anatomy.
"Neil’s explanations of the muscle origins and insertions helped me memorize them faster than I could have imagined."
Instructor's pronunciation sometimes makes it harder to find supplemental materials.
"some of Neil’s pronunciations make it difficult to look up the supplemental material."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Anatomy for Figure Drawing: Mastering the Human Figure with these activities:
Proportions
Understand the basics of human figure proportions to prepare for drawing the figure.
Browse courses on Proportions
Show steps
  • Review the concept of proportions in figure drawing.
  • Practice drawing simple figures using the stick figure method.
  • Learn to draw the figure in different poses using the mannequin method.
Drawing Muscles
Reinforce your understanding of human anatomy by practicing drawing muscles from different angles.
Browse courses on Muscles
Show steps
  • Draw the muscles of the front, side, and back of the body.
  • Identify the major muscle groups and their functions.
  • Learn how to draw muscles in different states of contraction.
Character Sketching
Develop your ability to create unique and expressive characters by sketching them in different poses and expressions.
Browse courses on Character Design
Show steps
  • Choose a character to draw.
  • Sketch the character in different poses, capturing their personality and movement.
  • Add details to the sketch, such as clothing, accessories, and facial expressions.
Show all three activities

Career center

Learners who complete Anatomy for Figure Drawing: Mastering the Human Figure will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Comic Artist
Learning anatomy for figure drawing is a fundamental aspect of becoming a comic book artist. With an understanding of skeletal structure, muscle placement, fat distribution, and how these elements work together, a comic artist can create unique characters that captivate readers and bring the comic book world to life. This course will provide an in-depth look at these elements and help aspiring comic artists build a solid foundation and hone their skills.
Concept Artist
Concept artists play a pivotal role in bringing ideas to life, visualizing characters, and creating worlds for games, films, and other entertainment mediums. A deep understanding of human anatomy is essential for concept artists to design and develop captivating and believable characters. This course will help concept artists master the human form, capturing its dynamics, proportions, and details, and translate them into captivating and imaginative concept art.
Storyboard Artist
Storyboard artists visually translate scripts into a sequence of images that guide filmmakers and animators. A strong grasp of human anatomy is essential for creating believable and engaging characters and conveying emotions and actions effectively. This course will equip aspiring storyboard artists with the anatomical knowledge and drawing skills to bring characters to life on the screen, enabling them to excel in the competitive and dynamic field of filmmaking.
Medical Illustrator
Medical illustrators combine artistic skills with an in-depth understanding of human anatomy. They play a critical role in creating visual representations of medical concepts, diseases, and procedures for educational and research purposes. This course will provide learners with a solid foundation in human anatomy, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the field of medical illustration and contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge.
VFX Artist
VFX artists bring visual effects to life in films, television, and video games. A solid understanding of human anatomy is essential for creating realistic and believable characters and animations. This course will equip learners with the anatomical knowledge and digital sculpting skills necessary to excel in the VFX industry, empowering them to contribute to the creation of captivating and immersive visual experiences.
Prosthetic Designer
Prosthetic designers create artificial limbs and devices to restore mobility and functionality to individuals. A thorough understanding of human anatomy is crucial for designing and fitting prosthetics that mimic the natural movement and appearance of the human body. This course will provide learners with the anatomical knowledge and skills necessary to excel in prosthetic design, empowering them to create life-changing solutions for those in need.
Forensic Artist
Forensic artists play a crucial role in law enforcement, helping to reconstruct faces, identify individuals, and create composite sketches of suspects or victims. A high level of anatomical knowledge is essential to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of these reconstructions This course will equip aspiring forensic artists with the necessary understanding of human anatomy, providing them with the skills to create accurate and detailed drawings that can aid in investigations and bring closure to families.
Plastic Surgeon
Plastic surgeons reshape and repair body parts to improve functionality and aesthetics. They rely on a deep understanding of human anatomy to make precise incisions, manipulate tissues, and achieve optimal results. This course will provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy, giving them the foundational knowledge to pursue a career in plastic surgery, where they can make a significant difference in people's lives and enhance their well-being.
Fashion Designer
Anatomy is a fundamental element in the world of fashion design. Understanding the human form, how it moves, and how different fabrics drape over the body empowers fashion designers to create garments that flatter and enhance the wearer's silhouette. This course will provide a foundation in human anatomy, teaching learners to observe and analyze the body's proportions, allowing them to design clothes that are both stylish and functional.
Industrial Designer
By understanding the human body's form and function, industrial designers can create products that are both user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. This course will provide learners with the foundational knowledge of human anatomy and ergonomics, enabling them to design products that enhance the human experience and improve people's lives.
Commercial Animator
An understanding of muscles, anatomy, skin, hands, feet, breasts, and body types is critical to the work of a commercial animator. Knowing how and why the body moves the way it does, allows a commercial animator to create realistic and engaging animations that resonate with the audience. This course teaches learners the foundational elements that will give them an edge and help them develop a successful career as a commercial animator.
Tattoo Artist
Tattoo artists create permanent designs on the human body. An understanding of human anatomy, including the skin's structure and muscular system, is crucial for creating tattoos that complement the body's contours and enhance its natural beauty. This course will provide learners with the foundational knowledge of human anatomy, enabling them to design and execute tattoos that are both aesthetically pleasing and respectful of the human form.
3D Modeler
3D modelers create digital representations of objects and characters for use in various industries such as film, video games, and architecture. Understanding human anatomy is beneficial for creating realistic and detailed models, especially those featuring human characters. This course may be useful for aspiring 3D modelers interested in specializing in character modeling or creating models for medical or educational purposes.
Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with medical knowledge to design and develop medical devices, implants, and treatments. Understanding human anatomy is crucial for designing and testing devices that interact with the human body. This course may be useful for aspiring biomedical engineers interested in specializing in areas such as prosthetics, tissue engineering, or medical imaging, where knowledge of human anatomy is essential.
Zoologist
Zoologists study animal behavior, physiology, and evolution. While this course focuses primarily on human anatomy, it provides a foundational understanding of anatomical principles applicable to other species. This course may be useful for aspiring zoologists interested in comparative anatomy and understanding the diversity of body forms and functions across the animal kingdom.

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Anatomy for Figure Drawing: Mastering the Human Figure.
Classic text on figure drawing. It provides a detailed overview of the human body in motion, with hundreds of illustrations and diagrams. This book valuable resource for artists who want to learn how to draw the human figure accurately and dynamically.
Comprehensive atlas of human anatomy. It provides hundreds of detailed illustrations of the human body, making it a valuable resource for artists of all levels.
Comprehensive guide to human anatomy for artists. It provides a detailed overview of the human body, with hundreds of illustrations and diagrams. This book valuable resource for artists of all levels, and it would be a useful addition to the reading list for this course.
Comprehensive guide to figure drawing. It provides a detailed overview of the human body, with hundreds of illustrations and diagrams. This book valuable resource for artists who want to learn how to draw the human figure accurately and dynamically.
Classic text on figure drawing. It provides a detailed overview of the human body, with hundreds of illustrations and diagrams. This book valuable resource for artists who want to learn how to draw the human figure accurately and dynamically.
Classic text on human anatomy. It provides a comprehensive overview of the human body, with hundreds of illustrations and diagrams. This book valuable resource for artists of all levels, and it would be a useful addition to the reading list for this course.
Classic text on drawing. It provides a step-by-step guide to the fundamentals of drawing, including perspective, composition, and figure drawing. This book valuable resource for artists of all levels, and it would be a useful addition to the reading list for this course.
Comprehensive guide to composition. It provides a detailed overview of the principles of composition, with hundreds of illustrations and diagrams. This book valuable resource for artists of all levels, and it would be a useful addition to the reading list for this course.
Comprehensive guide to human anatomy for artists. It provides a detailed overview of the human body, with hundreds of illustrations and diagrams. This book valuable resource for artists of all levels, and it would be a useful addition to the reading list for this course.
Classic text on perspective. It provides a detailed overview of the principles of perspective, with hundreds of illustrations and diagrams. This book valuable resource for artists of all levels, and it would be a useful addition to the reading list for this course.
Classic text on drawing. It provides a unique approach to drawing that emphasizes the importance of observation and practice. This book valuable resource for artists of all levels, and it would be a useful addition to the reading list for this course.
Comprehensive guide to painting. It provides a detailed overview of the painting process, with hundreds of illustrations and diagrams. This book valuable resource for artists of all levels, and it would be a useful addition to the reading list for this course.
Comprehensive guide to color and light. It provides a detailed overview of the color wheel, color theory, and the use of light in painting. This book valuable resource for artists of all levels, and it would be a useful addition to the reading list for this course.

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