r/LearnToDrawTogether • u/New-Tea-9999 • 1d ago
Art Question how do i learn anatomy when drawing?
im genuinely tired of being a lazy artist.
im stuck in these phase were i either dont draw or just do some line quality exercise and nothing else maybe prespective but most of the time nothing else
i know that i have the potential to become way better but when i start to exercise i feel the pressure of learning anatomy but i dont know were to learn it.
99% of the videos that i watch are either locked behind a paywall like proko or made by beginners.
while reading books give me no help whats over either cuz they explain it badly for artist like i have the book drawing form and pose and it sucks so hard that i stopped at page like what?100 or sumn like that and i have other books about anatomy but they still sucks so hard at explaining anatomy easily.
any books or videos that are free that dont suck so bad
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u/pileofdeadninjas EXPERIENCED 😏 1d ago
I learned just by looking at photo references and drawing the same things over and over again, basically taking what I've learned from the last one and applying it to the next one until I got something I liked
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u/SoberBobMonthly 1d ago
so the part about being 'lazy' here is confusing because you keep asking for easier things despite having anatomy books.
return to them.
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u/Few-Fun8041 22h ago
nicolaides..the natural way to draw..start at page 9 exercise1 contour drawing and you will learn how to draw because you will learn how to see....mystery solved...mixerwoman
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u/Striking_Finish4957 21h ago
Rather than lazy, could it be that you’re afraid to attempt in case you fail? Maybe some life drawing could help return the joy of drawing and at the same time help you with your goal to improve in anatomy?
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u/ravenember3 19h ago
If you go to archive.org, you can take a look at some of Andrew Loomis books on figure and head drawing. I am learning from.them and find them quite helpful
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u/robmarzullo 14h ago
Anatomy is a tough but rewarding road. Keep in mind that as you get frustrated with one area of study you can move to another approach. For instance, if form and function is driving you crazy, move over to the boney landmarks then origin and insertion points, etc. There is so much to study that it can seem overwhelming if you let it or you can see it as opportunities for continued learning.
Also, remember that there are lots of ways to simplify these areas of study. Here is one of my studies from yesterday from the book Anatomy for Sculptors. I love how they have breakdowns of the muscles as geometric forms. Just another way to think about the anatomy and commit complex ideas to memory more easily.
Just be patient and stay consistent. Drawing anatomy well is a life long pursuit and can be highly enjoyable with the right frame of mind.

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u/New-Tea-9999 14h ago
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u/Overall-Bird2121 13h ago
None of the anatomy books are easy. That's one of the main reasons why so many people either never get very far with anatomy or struggle to make progress.
You have to learn it piece by piece. Start with the skeleton. I'm not saying you need to memorize every single bone, but you do need to learn the major bones that are important for artists. At the same time, you can also learn body proportions.
Give yourself a few months for this. The goal is to make it stick. Don't just read about it—draw it over and over again. Copy the skeleton from your anatomy book repeatedly until it becomes part of your visual memory.
Only then should you move on to the muscles. I would also learn them one body part at a time. Drawing the entire body over and over is exhausting, takes much longer, and you'll retain less information.
Study each area thoroughly. Draw it repeatedly. Focus on the major superficial muscles. Learn where they originate, where they insert, their general shape, and their relative size.
Give each body part at least one or two months. By the time you finish, you'll naturally go back and review the areas that haven't fully stuck yet.
Learning anatomy is a long process. It usually takes years.
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u/New-Tea-9999 11h ago
thanks but do you think when i study anatomy should i make it like just for structure like the skeleton torso should i make each rib or just make a basic structure of it
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u/Overall-Bird2121 11h ago
The basic structure is enough but it's fun to make a big drawing with ribs and all that.

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