How to Draw People

How to Draw People

Step by Step Easy to Follow Tutorials

Do you want to learn how to draw realistic people? Here you'll find a growing collection of free tutorials with step-by-step instructions and example drawings to help you follow along. Whether you're just getting started in drawing people or have been drawing them for years, there's always room to improve.

17 Tutorials on Drawing People

Learn How to Draw People Step by Step

In the tutorials of this series, you will find step-by-step instructions with example drawings that explain precisely how to draw a human body.

We start with simple circles and lines, which we develop into a basic framework for drawing human proportions. The shapes are refined with the help of simple tips and tricks and before you know it, you have drawn a human!

Practice Makes Perfect

Drawing is all about translating what you see onto a piece of paper. Like with learning a new language, you just have to know how to apply specific rules.

If you practice drawing people regularly, then one day you may even be able to do without circles and guidelines altogether, because you’ll develop a sense of spacing and proportion over time. Things that seem complicated, like drawing portraits, will then come easily to you. Through repeated practice, you will become more and more confident in drawing and also experience much more joy in doing so.

If you have not yet painted with watercolors often or want to refresh a few things, I recommend you take a look at the basics of supplies and techniques of watercolor painting. Much of it can become helpful to you when painting people.

Can Beginners Learn How to Draw People?

Of course, the tutorials are also suitable for beginners! You only need three things: a pencil, paper and a little time.

Those who are blessed with talent will be able to learn faster. Those who think they have no talent can make up for it with enough diligence and become good as well. After all, we can all learn how to draw.

Tips for Drawing People

  • The first attempts will be the worst, but don’t let that discourage you! Your next drawing will always be better than the one before.
  • It is worthwhile to take a photo as a reference in addition to the tutorials for practicing.
  • Asymmetry is not a flaw, it is part of nature (even if we have become accustomed to almost flawless people through media).
  • It doesn’t matter if you practice in a sketchbook or on various loose pieces of paper: The main thing is to keep practicing and keep making mistakes you can learn from.
  • Drawing people is not necessarily easy, but with patience and diligence, anyone can learn how to do it. So keep at it and don’t give up!