Details of the Mannikin Frame

Details of the Mannikin Frame
Copied from Figure Drawing for All It's Worth
Graphite Pencil on Paper

I've spent the last the three weeks away from home - working near Chicago. Last weekend, I took the opportunity to take another look at the mannikin frame from Andrew Loomis’ Figure Drawing for All It's Worth (see The Mannikin Frame - Part One and Movement in the Mannikin Frame)

On the third page of mannikin frame drawings, Loomis adds more refinement to the frame – the whole figure appears more solid and realistic.

I struggled with the hips and the egg of the chest, but I am sure I these will get better with practice and that is what comes next.

Movement in the Mannikin Frame

Movement in the Mannikin Frame - 1
Copied from Figure Drawing for All It's Worth
Graphite Pencil on Paper

This is my second post about the mannikin frame from Andrew Loomis’ Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth (see The Mannikin Frame - Part One).

On his second page of mannikin frame drawings, Loomis stresses the importance of incorporating life and action into the figures. His drawings on this page are looser and more dynamic than on the previous page.

Movement in the Mannikin Frame - 2
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Graphite Pencil on Paper

The first two sets of drawings on this post are copies of Loomis’s drawings. The third set is based on gesture drawings of Elaine.

Movement in the Mannikin Frame - 3
Wax Crayon & Graphite Pencil on Paper

Elaine took three 1 minutes poses while I made scribbled gesture studies in coloured crayon. Subsequently, I drew the mannikin frame on top of the gesture drawing. I had to use the male frame because I haven’t reached Loomis' explanation of the female mannikin.

The drawings haven't turned out quite as well as I had hoped for, but this leaves plenty of room for practice and improvement.

The Mannikin Frame – Part One

Mannikin Frame - 1
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Graphite Pencil on Paper

In Figure Drawing For All It’s Worth, Andrew Loomis uses the idealised human proportions (see Proportions of the Figure) as the basis for a quickly drawn stick figure.

Over four pages of illustrations, he introduces one of the most interesting concepts in the book.

Loomis presents the mannikin frame as a tool for drawing figures in preliminary sketches, an important step in learning anatomy and an approach for drawing figures from life.

It also seems to provide a method for developing a hurriedly scribbled gesture drawing into a more complete drawing.

Mannikin Frame - 2
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Graphite Pencil on Paper

The drawings on this post are copied from the Loomis’ first page of mannikin drawings. For the first two sets of drawings I drew a vertical line and carefully divided it into eight with a ruler. For the last set, I divided the line by eye.

Mannikin Frame - 3
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Graphite Pencil on Paper

Loomis stresses the importance of practising with the mannikin frame and even over the few drawings on this post, my copies of his figures became more interesting and animated.

Proportions of the Figure

Ideal Proportions - Male
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Ink on Paper

Since the ancient Egyptians, artists have used different idealised systems of body proportions to create pictures and sculptures that are realistic and pleasing. Most systems are based on measuring the body in units of some body part.

I first read about relative proportions in The Natural Way to Draw. Kimon Nicolaides presents a system in which the unit of measure is half the length of the torso:

• Top of head to collarbone = 1 unit
• Shoulders to waist = 1 unit
• Waist to top of thighs = 1 unit.
• Top of legs to middle of knees = 1.5 units
• Middle of knees to soles of feet = 1.5 units.

Valerie Winslow provides an interesting section about proportions in Classic Human Anatomy. She describes the system suggested by Nicolaides as “The Proportional System of Divisions”. She also explains diagrams based on figures that are 8 heads tall and 7.5 heads tall.

In Figure Drawing for All Its Worth, Andrew Loomis presents the ideal body as being 8 heads tall. He also shows figures based on 7.5 heads, 8.5 heads and 9 heads.

Quick Set-up of  Proportions - Male
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Ink on Paper

Winslow and Loomis both note that the 7.5 head system can make figures look stocky and that the fashion and entertainment industry use 9 and even 10 heads to create figures that are graceful or heroic.

Quick Set-up of  Proportions - Female
Copied from Figure Drawing for All Its Worth
Ink on Paper

The drawings on this post are copied from the Figure Drawing for All Its Worth. Loomis stresses the purpose of the exercises is to learn the divisions - not to accurately draw the anatomy, but I’ve given that my best shot as well.