This document provides instructions for creating an imitationalist figure drawing in 6 steps: 1. Create a gesture drawing to establish the figure's proportions and posture. 2. Use lines to define outlines of clothing and major wrinkles or value changes based on how clothes fit on the body and if the person is sitting or standing. 3. Establish placement of details like hair, facial features, hands, and feet by referring to examples. 4. Add values to represent different fabrics and textures of clothing. 5. Add value and detail to the body, representing differences between skin, clothing, and textures. 6. Add extra details and values to the background, and finish the

1. Warm-Up:
Listen to the music.
What kinds of lines would you use to illustrate this
music?
What colors would you use?
Make a quick (3 min) sketch of the song.

2. Creating a realistic or imitationalist
figure drawing

3. Cut out this image and add it to your
scketchbook.
• Arrangement in
Grey and Black
No.1
• AKA: Whistler’s
Mother
• James McNeil
Whistler
• 1871

4. Whistler

5. Whistler

6. Sistine Chapel
• http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistin
a_vr/index.html

7. So, Mr. Quinnn
What steps do I take to make an
imitationalist figure drawing?

8. Step 1: Create a gesture drawing
• During this step you are understanding the
posture of the figure.
• You are also establishing proportions, this
step is CRUCIAL to creating a realistic figure
drawing.
• Probably the most crucial step.

9. Step 2: Outline clothing and define
major wrinkles and value changes
Using lines
• Using line define outlines of the clothing.
• Remember we are inside clothes our
clothes aren’t part of us.
• Also define major wrinkles or value
changes.
• Are the sleeves/pants rolled or bunched, is
the person sitting?

10. Step 3: Establish placement of details
in figure
• Where is the hair?
• Where are the facial features placed, see
board?
• How are the fingers positioned, what about
the feet?

11. Step 4: Add values to fabric
• Remember our spheres there are multiple
highlights, lights, shadows, and core shadows
on a figure.
• Is the shirt the same texture as the pants, the
shoes?
• How can you represent different textures?

12. Step 5: Add value and detail to body
• Can you see the hands, where are they dark
light?
• Add value to the face.
• What is the texture of the skin as compared to
the clothing.
• Is the skin lighter, darker than the clothes?

13. Step 6: ALMOST DONE!!!
• Add details and extra values to the
background.
• Finish up figure and turn it in 

14. Just for fun another example