In this tutorial, I will explain to beginners how to draw people of different ages. I will discuss how to distinguish the drawing methods of different age groups from the observation of posture and external accessories.

Observation

First of all, we can identify the gender and approximate age of the character from the figure above at a glance.

Even if the hairstyle and clothing are omitted, it can be easily identified.

Why do we get this information just by looking at the outline?

 

Because our brain usually absorbs the approximate proportion of most of the human body from life.

Mainly our brain recognizes shoulder width, height, and posture.

Our brains learn from everyday life that men have wider shoulders than women, and women have wider spans. And the elderly usually have looser fat because their metabolism is not as good as before. There is also not enough muscle mass to support so they are all hunched over.

 

Therefore, when drawing a character, the body shape of the character should also be considered into the character.

 

(Of course, I am explaining the general direction, other exceptions are not within the scope)

Next, let‘s observe two photos. The normal person should be able to see at a glance that the picture on the left is an elderly person and the picture on the right is a child.

 

What is the reason for us to see at a glance that the picture on the left is an elderly person and a child on the right?

In the photo on the left, we can think she is elderly from the wrinkles and age markers on her face and her grey hair.

The picture on the right can be considered a child because the thick hair and eyelids have not sagged due to aging, and there are no signs of aging.

The importance of hairstyles and accessories

Next, let's do a little exercise. The above picture shows the facial features of different genders and different age groups. The three on the left are sketches of women in child, youth, and old age. The three on the right are sketches of male children, youth, and old age.

 

Here we can see a common point, the elderly and children are relatively indistinguishable from gender differences.

 

So we have to derive a lot of details and even the cultural background of the character from the hairstyle and accessories! This is also an important key for the viewer to define the age, gender, and even personality of the character at a glance!

Tara~ After adding the hair, did the recognition immediately improve a lot?

 

Let's take a closer look at the importance of hairstyles and accessories from the sketches below.

From the next sketch, I will study whether the atmosphere of the female characters in the picture above is completely different after adding hair.

Then there is another picture:

 

Even if the character's face hasn't changed. Does it feel like a different person simply adding accessories or changing hairstyles?

The boy's part is the same, with the addition of the hairstyle, it looks like a fashionable youth.

But does the same face have a different hairstyle and add a few lines to the face to completely change the person?

The two faces look 30 years apart.

 

I just wanted to give beginners an idea, some hairstyle, accessories, and any lines on the face that would affect the audience's perception of the character.

Active character

Next is the practical part~

For many beginners, body proportions are the most difficult part to master. Fortunately, Clip Studio Paint provides 3D human body models so that everyone can save a lot of time in the sketching stage.

 

Here I provide the article I wrote before for your reference on how to use the 3D human body model:

Good! When you start to draw a character, keep asking yourself what kind of character do you want to draw?

What background was he or she born in?

What kind of clothes does he or she wear?

What about hairstyle?

 

It's a good idea to do a survey so you'll feel more confident when drawing your character!

If you want to draw a college student, what kind of clothes do college students wear? What are the accessories on the body?

These are all things to think about when drawing a draft.

 

The stance of the character will also greatly affect the picture information received by the viewer.

Next, I actually work on drawing people of different ages with the same stance and camera angle.

It can be seen that although the two women in the above picture are standing in the same position, a clear age gap can be seen.

The picture on the right is obviously a female college student or a girl who has just graduated. Here, she is used as an example to highlight the contrast with the picture on the left.

 

The first place the human eye captures is the human face, so I added a lot of fine lines and drooping eyelids to the part of the face on the left to show her age.

 

In the image on the left, I wanted to show what a serious woman wore when she went to a class reunion 20 years ago, so I used neat short hair and a pearl necklace.

In addition, when I am old, I can't wear high heels like young people, so I changed them to flat shoes.

Another area that can highlight the difference in age is the pattern and color.

Choose a good-looking color or choose the right color it is very important in painting!

 

 

Mature and stable older people prefer dark colors, while younger people prefer light colors. (Although there are many exceptions in real life, I personally like black clothes)

 

But the main thing is to think based on the "rationality" of the picture. To avoid falling into that everyone in a painting looks the same and likes to dress in the same style so that the viewer cannot distinguish the difference between the characters.

Ending

In the end, if you want to draw people of different ages with ease, the most important thing is to observe.

Observe the people around you, observe the clothes of the next-door neighbors, and observe the accessories of the school teachers.

All kinds of experiences in daily life can be the nutrients for your painting magic.

Gradually, in the drawing of characters, there are always suitable elements in mind for your reference.

 

I hope everyone enjoys the fun of painting and can connect with life.