Figure sketching quick start guide for busy professionals 👇
✍️ Do you love to sketch, draw and paint realistic portraits and figures but are confused by the hundreds of Youtube tutorials? Does realistic drawing seem like a magical skill that only some are luck to be born with?
This channel is for working adults and busy professionals who want to see visible progress in realistic drawing but have limited time.
In this channel, you will see:
- step by step systems, methods and processes + RIGHT SEQUENCE that produces noticeable progress
- fun, effective exercise that you can do anywhere and anytime (sometimes in 5 minutes or less).
The ability to draw realistic portraits and figures are not a magical skills that only some are lucky to be born with. It is a set of learnable skills and is attainable for you.
If you're new to me, subscribe to my free email newsletter and I will personally email you cool resources like this Figure Drawing Cheatsheet here: shorturl.at/X0dRZ
DRAW with Chris
For years, figure proportions confused me.
Every book had a different system.
Every instructor had a different method.
I kept asking myself:
"Which one am I actually supposed to use?"
Eventually I stopped trying to memorize charts and developed a much simpler model that I now use in almost every figure sketch.
It's faster, easier to remember, and helps me spot proportion mistakes almost instantly.
In this week's episode of Skills That Pay the Bills, I'm sharing that system with you.
If you've ever struggled with figures that look awkward or "just don't feel right," I think this lesson will help.
▶️ Watch here:
https://youtu.be/PSEZALOl46g?si=2b8He...
PS: What's the hardest part of figure drawing for you right now?
Proportions
Anatomy
Gesture
Shading
Something else?
Comment below with your biggest challenge now.
3 days ago | [YT] | 37
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DRAW with Chris
Most artists think realistic drawing is about adding more anatomy and more detail.
My approach is different.
One of the biggest breakthroughs in my own work came when I stopped asking, "What muscle is this?" and started asking, "What simple shape best suggests the body?"
That one shift made my drawings faster, clearer, and much more believable.
In this episode of Skills That Pay the Bills, I'll show you the simple process I use to turn a few landmarks into shapes that feel real.
▶️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/PSEZALOl46g?si=2b8He...
1 week ago | [YT] | 42
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DRAW with Chris
How do you go from a working professional full of self doubt to a skilled artist?
Most think it's because of talent or luck, but more often, it's having good information, the right process, guidance and consistent practice.
Corey's transformation is a great example.
As a busy creative director in his field, he put in the work, applied every critique, and steadily transformed both his skills and his confidence.
If you're ready to make faster progress in realistic portrait and figure drawing, my Figure & Portrait Drawing Masterclass teaches the same principles and structured process that helped Corey.
Learn more here:
bit.ly/4wrgswG
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 123
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DRAW with Chris
Have you ever spent hours drawing details, only to end up with a figure that still looks... off?
The problem usually isn't the details.
It's how they connect.
In this new episode of The Expert Eye, I critique a student's drawing and share one simple principle that can make your figures feel more unified and alive.
🎥 Watch here: https://youtu.be/wn7VkuUEHNo?si=Cg1Jx...
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 25
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DRAW with Chris
Where do original ideas come from?
For me, they often begin as tiny, messy thumbnail sketches inspired by a single emotion.
This simple practice transformed the way I think about composition, storytelling, and realistic drawing.
🎥 Watch here: https://youtu.be/ldN7jHavKdk?si=5QVbJ...
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 27
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DRAW with Chris
Talent gets your foot in the door. Deliberate practice is what changes your work.
When Willy first came to me, I could already see the potential. My job was to help him see what to practice and why.
He embraced every critique, stayed consistent, and earned these results.
I'm proud of the artist you became. Congratulations. 🙌
If you're serious about improving your realistic figure and portrait drawing, I've organized the same principles into my Figure & Portrait Drawing Masterclass.
Learn more here: bit.ly/4wrgswG
Artwork by @Willyoart
1 month ago | [YT] | 391
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DRAW with Chris
Do your figures look stiff?
If you've been drawing for a while and your sketches still feel flat or lifeless, the problem may not be anatomy.
It may be THE WAY you're drawing your lines.
In this first episode of Skills That Pay the Bills, I break down three simple ideas that can immediately improve your gesture drawing.
🎥 Watch here: https://youtu.be/fAG4wuA2EZg?si=LSO2W...
1 month ago | [YT] | 27
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DRAW with Chris
Can a humble figure drawing have a deeper meaning? This drawing tells a personal story about overcoming the adversity of a painful injury.
But before a realistic drawing can have life and meaning, mastery of basic skills and timeless principles comes first.
If you want to learn how I make dynamic and lifelike figures, download my free Figure Drawing Cheatsheet here: bit.ly/4u13mEK
1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 575
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DRAW with Chris
Why do some figure drawings feel alive while others look flat?
In this episode of The Expert Eye, I show one small change that creates more depth, movement, and 3D form.
Watch here:
https://youtu.be/nq5ZKM_VGNo
#FigureDrawing #LifeDrawing #RealisticDrawing
1 month ago | [YT] | 20
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DRAW with Chris
Does drawing live model 5 minutes feel impossible? It is a difficult task, but it can be done well with smart and simple systems. Check out this demonstration of 5 minute figure sketching with a live model.
👉 If you want to study and practice with me in my studio in real time, click here:
www.drawwithchris.com/live
3 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 21
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