Many people will agree that drawing people is one of the most challenging subjects in art. This is basically because people come in so many different shapes and sizes. Another reason why drawing people can be challenging is because people’s bodies are always changing. Different poses require different steps. Many people often just say that they can’t draw people, when they are simply missing the key to drawing people or any thing else for that matter. The key is looking. You have to look at what you’re drawing. This is especially true when you wanting to draw people. So, be sure to grab a photo reference or have someone sit for you. In this step by step drawing tutorial, we’ll look at how to draw an old man. Don’t forget, if you’re looking to learn how to draw people, be sure to check out the how to draw people page.
Step 1
Let’s get started drawing an old man by drawing a line from the head to the feet of our subject. This will ensure that we get the entire figure in our picture plane. This old man will be seated on a chair, so the line will bend where the figure bends.
Step 2
Next, we’ll continue to build the drawing by drawing a basic stick figure to indicate the bone structure of the old man. I like to use shapes for the hands, feet and the head. You should also begin to draw the chair that the man is sitting in as this will affect the realism of the pose.
Step 3
Next, we’ll use the bone structure as a guide to begin to thicken things up. You should begin to draw the clothing around the stick figure. Develop the chair a bit further here as well. You may want to begin to plan out where the details of the face will be as well. You may notice that the lines are loose. This is a good way to make the figure drawing have a bit of character and “life”.
Step 4
Continue to develop the drawing by adding wrinkles in the clothing and the facial features. Don’t forget about the hair. Give the jacket a bit of gravity by having it hang over the chair.
Step 5
Now use the lines that you have on your paper as a guide to complete the drawing of the old man. Add some shadow in consistent areas and maybe add some glasses. Also add a bit of shadow underneath the chair and the figure. That’s how to draw an old man, step by step.
