Human Figure for Artists

Some basic information (this will be on the quiz):  Artist use the length of the head to measure the figure.  Adults are generally 7 – 8 heads tall.  The neck and torso are heads and the legs are 3.5 – 4 heads tall. LEGS ARE TALLER THAN THE TORSOS!  The finger-tips reach to mid- thigh when they are hanging straight down.

Additional info for the quiz:  The shoulders are 2 heads wide  The hips are 2 heads wide for females and 1 ½ for males.  The spine is the only bone with a curve (the rest only bend at joints).  Arms and legs taper (get smaller) as they go away from the body.

It is important to know the “ideal” or “norm” so you can tell variations from the ideal.

We will be doing 2 projects for this unit. First we will create a “Mummy Action Figure” Second we will design our own “character” in polymer clay.

How to begin your Mummy: Start with 2 pieces of wire: 24 inches and 11 inches.

Then, fold both in half and twist a loop in the longer piece, like so…

Begin twisting the body, add the piece for the arms after a few twists, wrap with masking tape and continue twisting, like so…

Quit twisting while the legs are longer than the body. Bend at the joints and pose.

Wrap with tinfoil LOOSELY, then gently squeeze to “flesh out” and shape muscles.

Continue with tinfoil until you completely “flesh out” your figure with correct proportions. (Pass off proportions with teacher!)

Last thing to do is wrap in plaster gauze.

Time to get started!!!