Dynamic Anatomy (Head, Torso and Hands) - Shape Building Tips

Hey everyone!

Building body parts is a broad topic in the art community. If you search enough, you will find plenty of content on how to make a proper anatomy interpretation by simplifying reality into geometric shapes. I've done one myself, which is not strictly focused on one body part, but more on a general idea of shapes in human anatomy and their application in perspective:

 https://www.patreon.com/posts/anatomy-meets-2-84952708

The problem I'll be addressing in this article is not how to make an exact copy of human anatomy, but rather how you can bring dynamism to these simplified body parts. I'll be sharing three tips I applied to the most challenging and attractive points of interest in human anatomy, in my opinion: face/head, torso, and hands.

Head and Face

Tip

Choose to present faces using two-point perspective, allowing the head to be viewed from the top or bottom. Regardless of your character's gesture, positioning the head under these conditions will not only give the viewer a sense of three-dimensionality but also eliminate the stiff pose that a straight, military officer might have when standing, unless that is the intended effec, there is no need to maintain this gesture otherwise. For instance, imagine the character is judging you or looking at you with shame; this will help you visualize the top/down view.

Execution

As an execution tip, from the perspective point, create an imaginary line on which both eyes will be positioned. From that point, you can start building up the rest of the face and head by following the perspective lines. I often do this intuitively, but if you are struggling, consider making a box as a guide from which the shape of the head can take perspective.

Torso

Tip

Choose to present your characters inclined to the front or back, unless the piece is concept art-oriented, in which case you must ensure a clear read of the character's outfit. Add some dynamism by inclining your character's torso in one direction. I often position them leaning forward because I feel they stand out from the canvas, but feel free to choose a different inclination.

Execution

Imagine the torso as a concave three-dimensional rectangular form that you are viewing from the top. This is how the character's torso would appear to you as a geometric shape with volume. Atop this, you can define the shoulders, back, ribs, and the connection of the stomach with the hips. Refer to the provided reference for more specifics.

Hands

Tip

Avoid clumping fingers together. Yes, I know this is tough. There are some tips out there suggesting leaving fingers together and splitting the pinky – a kind of old-school tip for dynamism. However, I challenge you to separate those fingers unless they are holding something. Extended fingers create the illusion that the character is conveying an idea through their hands. Hands are a tool of communication and a form of expression as well; they are very effective and appealing when used appropriately.

Execution

Imagine the palm of the hand as a rectangle, with the side facing the fingers not straight, but curved instead. This same curve will define the tops of the fingers as well, which, if you think about it, are also rectangular. Apply this same rule no matter what perspective the hand is being positioned in; the point is to have an imaginary line coming out of the palm that acts as a guide for building the fingers. Check the attached image for a reference.e

Conclusion

The straightforward approach is to choose a process you find most efficient and repeat it until you develop an intuitive way to build body shapes. However, that's not enough; unless you are creating a medical book, part of the challenge is not to replicate reality, but to reshape it according to your ideas. This involves a certain level of understanding of gesture. Try some of the tips I've shown you today and share your results in our Discord group! I look forward to seeing your progress.

Tomorrow, I'll be sharing the process video of this piece along with the files and insights. They will be available for Mastering Maestro tier and above. Feel free to upgrade if you want more insights about my work.

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