On this tutorial you will learn how to draw a full leg from hip to toes. Using a simplified structure that will allow you to understand all the movements and poses a leg and foot can made.

This tutorial will be divided in two sections.

 

Feet

• Basic of feet

• Toes

• Simplified shapes for poses and movements

 

Legs

• Basics of the legs

• Hips and Thighs

• Knees

• Simplified shapes for poses and movements

FEET

Basics of feet.

 

The average proportion of feet are 1:2:1 ratio. The heel, as the big toe, has a size equivalent to half of the tarsus and metatarsus.

Feet have a trapezoidal shape that tapers as it approaches the heel. Also, the big toe is expressed by slightly bending it.

At the ankle, we have the medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus. The inner one is on the thumb side and is the highest part of the ankle, while the outer one is on the pinky side and is the lowest part of the ankle.

At is highest point, from the ground, the bottom of the foot has a 45° of visibility. On tiptoes, the foot can be raised at an angle of 80°, almost 90°. Having almost complete visibility of the upper part of the foot and a little of the heel on the inner side.

Toes

Understanding of toes.

 

The toes have a cylindrical shape, which can be separated into two sections. Also the width of the big toe together with the index finger, are equivalent to the remaining three.

Toes don't always go from longest to shortest. Sometimes, the index toe is longest or equal to the big toe.

Drawing a band where toes would be, and using the cylindrical shape will ease where to put each toes.

 

Flow using simplified shapes

Use simple shapes. A circle for the heel, a tapered box for the body of the foot and a little box for the toes.

These shapes allow you to simplify, facilitate and understand the structure of the foot when drawing it. Also making it easier how to position feet, their perspective and what we see of it.

As you can see, only with this three pieces, you can draw the foot at any angle or position.

Practicing the basic forms will ease the process of drawing feets. As can be seen from the colored shapes, it has been accomplished a simple but realistic structure of feets.

Then sketch the feet, drawing its toes, knees, folds or wrinkles.

Line art it, and done.

LEGS

Basics of the legs.

 

The proportion of the legs are equal to four and a half heads. Legs are not perfectly straight, they are a little bended.

The muscles adapt to the bending of the legs, thus forming their highest points, lowest points, curvatures and blanks.

Hip and Thighs

Understanding hips and thighs

 

Think of the thighs and butt as a single structure, connected to the hip. This will prevent you from making the mistake of drawing the butt over the hip when it is below it and follows the movement of the legs.

The connection between hip and thighs has the shape of a potato bag. Following this shape, you will form the thigh to the knee.

Knee

Understanding knees.

 

The knee is the part where the leg bends. It has a trapezoidal shape, the lower part being smaller than the upper part. It tends to lean towards the inner side of the leg, this being the lower part and the outer side being the highest part.

Knees will always be in line with one another. And, as the knees bend, they will always point down, never up.

Kneepit has a triangle form, which will always be pointing up, never down. Because of that, the leg is able to flex.

Flow using simplified shapes

Use simple shapes to draw the legs. A big oval for the upper leg, and almond with a line for the knees and a cudgel for the leg.

This simplified shapes will help you understand with ease legs structure.

As same as feet, with only three pieces, you can draw the structure of the legs in any position.

Once the basic forms have been practiced, we can see that the leg is practically finished.

Sketch the legs adding detailes and the muscles.

Line art it, and you finish.

ILLUSTRATION

I hope this tutorial has been useful, and you have lerned how to draw legs and feet in an easy and simple way.

 

See you.