The Draped Figure

Making a convincing drawing of a draped human figure pre-supposes an understanding of how the forms are disported under clothing. Drapery follows form; the closer fit the clothing the more clearly the anatomy is shown in the final drawing. Where the clothing has loose or ample fit, the cloth adds bulk to the anatomy, it balloons and folds with the bending of limbs, and the material's weight influences the character of the drawn cloth.

In the case of this drawing, on 9 by 12 inch sketchbook page, 4B pencil, the model is pictured wearing Karate uniform. The cotton of this uniform was a heavy weave which made stiff forms as the body within folded into different poses. A ten minute drawing, this one did not allow time for noting any more than the major movements of the form of the clothed figure and the clothing, which seemed easier to note using a loose contour method of drawing. I consider this type of drawing a form of draftsman calisthenics. decisions of what to include or exclude by way of detail are made on the spot, for good or ill, and one simply has to accept the consequent drawing that results. I found the appearance of the figure, swathed in the stiff folds of uniform quite fascinating, and once my attention was caught on this aspect I drew with energy and enthusiasm.