Understanding Human Proportions: for Acrylic Figure Painting

Tips for Getting Human Proportions Spot on in Your Acrylic Figure Work

Card 5 of 52: Acrylic Figure Painting For Beginners Card Deck

This “Understanding Human Proportions” post covers Card 5 of 52 of the Acrylic Figure Painting for Beginners: A Card Deck Guide. Why choose my art card deck tutorial over a book or YouTube video? Because cards are way more fun—especially if you have Adult ADHD like me, and flipping through them keeps things exciting!

One of the most critical aspects of figure painting is getting human proportions right. If you’ve ever drawn a figure and thought, “Hmm, why does my person look more like a potato with limbs than a human?” you’re not alone!

The key to unlocking that natural, lifelike quality in your figure work lies in mastering proportions.

In this post, we’ll cover the essentials of human proportions, common pitfalls to avoid, and techniques to help you translate real-life human proportions onto your canvas. Whether you’re a beginner or a more seasoned painter looking to refine your skills, these tips will give you a strong foundation for your acrylic figure work.

Why Proportions Matter in Figure Painting

Proportions are the relationship between the different parts of the body—the height of the head in comparison to the body, the length of the arms in relation to the legs, and so on.

Understanding these relationships is crucial because it creates a sense of realism and harmony in your artwork.

If the proportions are off, even slightly, the figure can look distorted or unnatural.

Proper proportions in figure painting:

• Create balance and realism: When the proportions of the human figure are accurate, the painting looks grounded and believable.
• Give structure and form: Good proportions provide a foundation that allows for the natural flow of the body, enhancing the figure’s movement and pose.
• Prevent frustration: Working from a structured approach to proportions helps avoid common mistakes that can derail your painting.

Getting proportions right can be a bit tricky, but with some practice and guidance, you’ll develop an intuitive sense of how the human body fits together.

Basic Human Proportions: The 7.5 Head Rule

A common approach to human proportions is the “7.5 Head Rule.”

This rule refers to the idea that the average adult human figure is about 7.5 heads tall from top to toe.

Understanding this concept will help you visualize the body as a series of proportional units, starting from the head and working your way down.

Here’s how it breaks down:

1. Head: The head is your starting point. The body is roughly 7.5 times the height of the head.
2. Torso: From the base of the neck to the navel (belly button) is about 2 heads tall.
3. Pelvis: The pelvis (hips) sits around 3 heads down from the top of the head.
4. Legs: The legs take up nearly half of the body’s height, about 4 heads in length from the hips to the feet.
5. Arms: The arms, when extended, reach roughly mid-thigh, or 4 heads long from shoulder to fingertips.
6. Shoulders: The width of the shoulders is roughly 2 heads wide.

While the 7.5 head rule is a great starting point for adult figures, it’s important to remember that there’s room for variation. For instance, a more heroic or stylized figure (like in comic books) may use 8 or even 9 heads tall to exaggerate the figure’s form.

More Resources: 

• How to draw body proportions (blog post)
• Female proportions for drawing (blog post)

Breaking Down Body Parts: Proportion Guidelines

Now that we’ve covered the overall height, let’s break down the individual body parts in more detail. These guidelines will help you sketch figures with accurate proportions, ensuring that no single body part feels too long or short compared to the others.

The proportion guidelines:

1. Head and Face

• The head is typically an oval shape, with the face taking up about two-thirds of the head’s height.
• The eyes sit roughly halfway down the face, with the space between them being about one eye-width apart.
• The nose is positioned halfway between the eyes and chin, and the mouth sits about halfway between the nose and chin.
• Ears usually align with the eyes and end around the nose level.

2. Torso and Shoulders

• The torso extends about 2 heads down from the neck to the hips.
• The shoulders are about two heads wide, creating the width of the upper body.
• The waist is usually narrower than the shoulders and sits slightly above the hips.

3. Arms and Hands

• The length of the arm from shoulder to elbow is about the same as the length from elbow to wrist.
• The hands are about the size of the face, and the fingertips typically fall around mid-thigh when the arms are extended down.

4. Legs and Feet

• The length of the upper leg (thigh) is roughly equal to the length of the lower leg (shin).
• The feet are about the same length as the forearm, measuring from elbow to wrist.

Having these guidelines in mind will help you maintain consistency and balance in your figure painting. Keep in mind that these proportions are a general standard and that each person is unique—so use them as a foundation, but allow for slight variations as needed.

More Resources: 

• How to draw body proportions (blog post)
• Female proportions for drawing (blog post)

Proportion Pitfalls to Avoid

Even with proportion guidelines, it’s easy to run into common mistakes when sketching figures.

Here are the most frequent pitfalls and how to avoid them:

1. Overly Long Arms or Legs: Beginners often make the arms or legs too long, which creates an unbalanced figure. Use the head-height method to double-check the length of limbs against the body.
2. Hands and Feet Too Small: It’s common to underdraw the hands and feet, but remember that hands are about the same size as the face, and feet should take up more space than you might think. Don’t be afraid to give these parts proper attention.
3. Misplaced Eyes: Many people place the eyes too high on the face. Remember that the eyes should sit halfway down the head, not near the top.
4. Squat Figures: If the figure looks too short and wide, it could be that the torso is too short or the legs are too long. Recheck the head count for torso and leg proportions to ensure balance.

By keeping an eye out for these common mistakes, you can save yourself time and frustration during the sketching phase.

3 Techniques for Achieving Proportions in Acrylic Figure Painting

Once you’ve grasped the basic proportional guidelines, it’s time to put them into practice.

Here are a few simple techniques that can help you maintain accurate proportions when sketching figures for acrylic painting.

Technique 1: Using a Grid

The grid method is a tried-and-true technique that many artists use to ensure correct proportions, especially when working from reference images.

To use this method:

• Draw a grid on your reference image and an identical grid on your canvas.
• Break the figure down into sections within each square, focusing on transferring one part of the figure at a time.

This method helps you avoid getting overwhelmed by the complexity of the figure and ensures that each part of the body is in the correct proportion to the whole.

Technique 2: Sight-Size Technique

The sight-size technique is often used in traditional figure drawing. Stand a few feet away from your canvas and look back and forth between your reference (or model) and your canvas, viewing them both from the same distance.

The idea is to match the size of the figure you see with what you’re drawing.

This method allows for a more accurate translation of the figure’s proportions because you’re working from the same visual perspective for both your reference and your canvas.

To use the sight-size technique effectively:

• Position your reference or model at the same distance from your canvas as you are.
• Regularly step back to compare the overall proportions and adjust as needed.

This approach helps prevent exaggerated or distorted proportions because you’re consistently viewing the entire figure in context.

Technique 3: Measuring with Your Brush

Another simple yet effective method for maintaining proportions is to use your brush (or a pencil) as a measuring tool.

How to use your brush as a meauring tool:

• Hold your brush vertically at arm’s length and use your thumb to measure a part of the reference, such as the head.
• Compare this measurement to other parts of the figure to see how many “heads” each section should be.
• Transfer these measurements to your canvas to ensure consistency.

This technique is especially useful for larger paintings or when working with live models, as it allows you to measure proportions in real-time and apply them to your figure.

Adding Gesture to Proportions

While getting proportions right is essential, it’s equally important to capture the gesture and movement of your figure.

Gesture drawing is all about conveying the energy and flow of the figure’s pose.

In other words, it’s not just about the length of the arms or the size of the head; it’s about how the body moves and interacts with space.

Here are a few tips for incorporating gesture into your proportional work:

• Start with a loose sketch: Before getting into the precise proportions, begin with a quick, loose sketch to capture the overall movement of the figure. Focus on the direction of the limbs and the curvature of the spine.
• Think in curves, not lines: The human body is full of soft, flowing curves, so avoid stiff, straight lines when sketching. Let your brush or pencil move fluidly across the canvas.
• Use dynamic poses: Challenge yourself by sketching figures in dynamic, action-packed poses. Not only does this improve your understanding of proportions, but it also helps you bring life and energy to your paintings.

By combining correct proportions with expressive gesture, you’ll create figures that are both accurate and full of movement.

Practice Makes Perfect: Improving Your Proportions Over Time

Like anything in art, mastering proportions takes practice.

Don’t worry if your first few attempts at figure painting don’t turn out exactly as you’d hoped—that’s completely normal.

The more you practice sketching figures and breaking them down into proportional units, the better you’ll become at capturing realistic proportions on your canvas.

Here are a few ways to sharpen your skills:

• Practice with different body types: Everyone’s body is unique, so don’t limit yourself to one set of proportions. Try sketching people of different heights, builds, and ages to gain a better understanding of human diversity.
• Use reference images: Whether you’re working from life or photos, having a reference will help you compare and correct proportions as you go.
• Sketch daily: Even if it’s just a quick gesture drawing, sketching every day will train your eye to recognize proportional relationships faster.

With time and effort, you’ll develop an intuitive understanding of how the human body fits together, allowing you to bring your figure paintings to life.

George’s Conclusion: Understanding and mastering proportions

Understanding and mastering proportions is key to creating lifelike, balanced figures in your acrylic paintings.

By breaking down the body into measurable units and using techniques like the 7.5 head rule, grid method, and sight-size technique, you’ll be well on your way to improving your figure work.

Remember, getting proportions right isn’t just about replicating what you see—it’s about capturing the essence of the human form and translating it onto the canvas.

With these tips and a lot of practice, you’ll gain the confidence and skill to create figures that not only look right but feel alive.

And, of course, don’t forget to keep a sense of humor!

Even the greatest artists occasionally draw an arm too long or a head too small. Proportions can be tricky, but the process of learning them should be fun and rewarding.

So grab your brushes, start sketching, and watch your figure painting skills grow!