In order to draw people well, do the following:
1. Buy books on anatomy, head/figure drawing, light & shade, perspective. Practice drawing the pictures in the books and study the information. Buy books at Amazon website.
2. Buy mannequins and practice drawing them from life.
3. Take life drawing classes. If you can't take classes, draw your family and friends from life.
4. Study and practice drawing other people's artwork.
5. Buy magazines. Practice drawing the people in the magazines.
MASTER HEAD AND FIGURE DRAWING:
1. Classic Human Anatomy by Valerie L. Winslow. This is the NUMBER ONE anatomy book you should buy! It explains form, function, movement, proportion, light and shade on the face and body. Shows bones and muscles. Has male and female figure drawings.
2. Drawing The Human Body: An Anatomical Guide by Giovanni Civardi. This is the SECOND anatomy book you should buy! Does not show bones and muscles. It only shows surface anatomy of male and female bodies. The artist draws the human body standing still, plus bending and twisting in different ways, so you can learn how to shade the form correctly.
3. Drawing The Human Head by Burne Hogarth. This book gives detailed information on drawing the head from any angle in correct proportion! Some people complain that they don't like Hogarth's drawing style. This book is not telling you to copy Hogarth's style of drawing, but it is teaching you facial proportion and facial anatomy!
4. Drawing The Head & Figure by Jack Hamm. This is an excellent book on learning to draw the figure from head to toe, plus it includes anatomy.
LEARN TO RENDER AN ACCURATE LIKENESS OF A PERSON:
1. Drawing A Likeness by Douglas R. Graves
LEARN TO DRAW FACIAL EXPRESSIONS:
1. The Artist's Complete Guide To Facial Expression by Gary Faigin
LEARN REALISTIC PORTRAIT DRAWING:
1. How To Draw Lifelike Portraits From Photographs by Lee Hammond
2. The Complete Idiot's Guide To Drawing People Illustrated by Brenda Hoddinott
3. Drawing Made Easy: Lifelike Heads by Lance Richlin
LEARN TO DRAW THE CLOTHED FIGURE
1. Drawing People: How To Portray The Clothed Figure by Barbara Bradley
2. The Artist's Guide To Drawing The Clothed Figure by Michael Massen
3. Draw Fashion Models by Lee Hammond
LEARN TO DRAW HANDS:
1. Classic Human Anatomy by Valerie L. Winslow
2. Drawing The Human Body: An Anatomical Guide by Giovanni Civardi
3. Draw Real Hands by Lee Hammond
4. Drawing Hands & Feet by Giovanni Civardi
5. Drawing Dynamic Hands by Burne Hogarth
6. Hands: A Pictorial Archive From Nineteenth Century Sources by Jim Harter
PRACTICE DRAWING MANNEQUINS FROM LIFE:
Draw these four things from every angle and viewpoint until you master it! Buy at Dick Blick website or Google search product name and click on shopping at top to find stores that sell them.
1. Human Skull. Art Professionals have said, learn to draw the human skull and you can draw any face!!!
2. Bald Mannequin Head (used for wigs). Google search "Mannequin Head Wig Display". Or you can buy an artist's mannequin head. Google search "PlanesOfTheHead" to find website.
3. Art S. Buck Model. This gray mannequin is anatomically correct and it can display virtually the full range of human movement. Buy male or female model.
4. Wooden Hands. Google search "Richeson Adjustable Hands" or "Jack Richeson Hands". These wooden life-size hands are bendable and a great reference tool. You can buy the left and right hand for male and female.
USE YOUR COMPUTER TO LEARN FIGURE DRAWING:
1. Go to PoseManiacs website
2. Buy the "Virtual Pose CD Rom" at Dick Blick website or go to Virtual Pose website
LEARN LIGHT AND SHADE:
1. Light, Shade, & Shadow by E. L. Koller
2. Cast Drawing Using The Sight Size Approach by Darren R. Rousar
3. How To Draw Lifelike Portraits From Photographs by Lee Hammond
LEARN PERSPECTIVE:
Perspective by William F. Powell