Find the Stick Figure within

Laura Merritt
October 6, 2008
Find the stick figure within

Back in the time when I was learning to read and write, apparently it was taking me longer than other kids to get the hang of it.
So I had to do some special exercises to improve my writing skills. And among them there was one using a method called My Magic Book.

Mi Libro Mágico (My Magic Book) is an exercise book with tracing paper pages laid over writing models. Kids will write over and over letters to improve their writting skills.
So I thought the same could be used to improve drawing skills for those of us that need a little more training.
Source: http://www.noriega.com.mx/

We’ll need some photos, a marker, tracing paper… Some adhesive tape is helpful to keep everything on place.

First find some photos of people. Even better if you have different shapes and sizes of people.

Next, grab a thick black felt tip pen and trace the contour around their head. Ahem, I mean, after you do the body, of course…

Trace the contour around the trunk.
Use lines for the arms, optionally round-ish shapes for the hands.

Lines again for the legs and optionally round figures for the feet.
Try to follow the bone line.

Then put the tracing paper over your contoured photo.
Secure it with some tape and go over the lines with your marker.

Marking the silhoutte over the photo makes it easier to follow it up on the tracing paper.

Voilà!

You can forego the tracing paper and copy the stick figures free-hand.

You can also do it in digital format
Open a photo in a digital drawing software.
I use Jasc PaintShop Pro 8.

Add a transparent layer and go over the subjects with the pen tool. The thicker the line the better.

Remove the background layer and voilà!

You can add other elements

You can add color, have fun

Hands and feet are optional

Choose a scene

Go wild!

Thanks for looking!

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Find the Stick Figure within

by laumerritt on Oct 06, 2008

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