“Run, Forest, Run!” In this sketchbook challenge, we’ll take a look at how to draw a man running.  We’ll break the drawing process down into easy to follow steps with simple shapes and lines constructing the figure. By practicing drawing things in this manner, you’ll gain an understanding of how to apply similar processes to any subject that you may be trying to draw.  

So, let’s get started…

Step 1 – Draw a Line From the Head to the Feet

The first step is to define the length of the figure.  Doing this will do two things. First, it will ensure that our drawing will fit completely on the drawing surface.  Secondly, it help us visually measure the figure, which will help us make decisions about the proportions of the man in later steps of the drawing.  Depending on the pose of the figure, this line may curve a bit.  Since our figure is running and in action, the line is slightly curved.

Step 2 – Define the Shoulders and the Waist

With the length of the figure defined, we can next draw lines for the shoulders and the waist.  It is from these lines that we’ll construct the rest of the figure.  Here again, since the figure is in motion, these lines may curve a bit.  And since we are drawing the man running from side view, the lines for the shoulders and the waist will be shorter that they may be if we were viewing the figure from the front.

Step 3 – Draw the Bone Structure

From the waist and shoulder lines, we can build out the structure of the figure.  Essentially, we are just building a stick figure here.  Simple shapes can be drawn for the head, hands, and feet.  Lines are drawn for the bone structure itself.

Step 4 – Thicken Up the Figure

Now with the structure defined, we can thicken the figure up a bit.  Simply use the “stick figure” as a guide and make the arms, legs, and torso thicker.  This can be accomplished by drawing simple shapes over the bone structure. 

 Step 5 – Finish the Running Man

There is now enough information in your drawing to complete it.  All that is left to do is add details such as the hair, facial features, clothing, and shading.  It may seem like a lot to add to the drawing, but it really is just building upon the structure that you developed in earlier steps.

Be sure to add a full range of value, or dark and light areas, so that the figure looks three-dimensional.  Be loose with your lines and draw some lines that are thicker than others.  Go over your lines with ink or another medium of your choice to enhance the contrast. Erase any pencil lines that may be left to clean up your drawing.