Introduction
Hello! Welcome back. In our last lesson, we learned how to construct a posable mannequin using simple 3D forms, which gave you a powerful tool for sketching dynamic figures. You practiced combining the fluidity of gesture with the solidity of constructed boxes and cylinders.
Today, we take the next step in making those figures more realistic and structurally sound. Our goal is to identify key skeletal landmarks (e.g., clavicle, iliac crest, spine curvature) that influence surface form.
Think of the simplified mannequin as a schematic. Now, we're going to learn where the real, unchangeable anchor points of the body are located. These bony landmarks are like the fixed stars for an old-world navigator—they provide consistent points of reference that will help you measure proportions, understand the structure underneath the skin, and correctly place muscles later on.
Part 1: Why Bony Landmarks are Your Best Friend
Before we start pointing out specific bones, it's crucial to understand why we focus on them. Muscle and fat can vary dramatically from person to person, but the underlying skeleton is remarkably consistent. The parts of the skeleton that are close to the surface create visible bumps, divots, and ridges. Learning to see these "landmarks" is the first step to understanding practical anatomy for artists.
To get a clear overview of this concept, let's hear from a renowned art instructor, Stan Prokopenko.
This introductory clip from the Proko video 'Landmarks of the Human Body' perfectly explains why bony landmarks are so crucial for figure drawing.
Watch the first minute and a half (00:00 - 01:27). Pay close attention to the comparison between thin, muscular, and overweight body types to see how the skeleton remains a constant guide.
To summarize, bony landmarks give you a reliable scaffold to build your drawing on, no matter the body type of your subject. Below is a chart that labels the most important landmarks we'll be discussing. Think of it as our map for today's lesson.
Part 2: A Guided Tour of the Torso's Landmarks
The torso is the core of the figure, and its landmarks are essential for establishing the pose. We can break them down into two groups: those along the centerline and those on the sides (lateral).
Centerline Landmarks
The centerline helps establish the main gesture and flow of the torso.
- Front: We have the pit of the neck (the notch between your collarbones), the sternum (your breastbone, shaped like a necktie), and the pubic bone at the base of the pelvis.
- Back: The primary landmark is the spine. Its curve, from the base of the neck down to the tailbone, defines the entire gesture of the back.
Let's return to the Proko video to see these centerline landmarks identified on a model.
Watch from 01:27 to 02:43. Notice how connecting these points with a C-curve or S-curve instantly creates the gesture of the torso.
Lateral Landmarks
These landmarks help define the tilt and twist of the shoulders and hips—the very foundation of the dynamic poses you practiced in the last lesson.
- Shoulder Girdle: The main landmarks are the clavicles (collarbones) and the scapulae (shoulder blades). The clavicles look like bicycle handlebars from the front. The bony tip of your shoulder is the acromion process.
- Pelvis: The most critical landmark is the iliac crest, which is the wide, wing-like bone you can feel at your waist. The two bony points at the very front of your hips are called the Anterior Superior Iliac Spine (ASIS). On the back, you'll often see two dimples, which mark the Posterior Superior Iliac Spine (PSIS), located on either side of the sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of the spine).
To see these in context, let's watch two more clips.
First, Proko will show us the lateral landmarks from the front and back.
Watch from 02:43 to 05:14. Pay special attention to how the line connecting the ASIS points reveals the angle of the pelvis, and how the clavicles show the angle of the shoulders.
Figure Drawing: Bony Landmarks
This second video reinforces these concepts and clearly shows how the pelvis and shoulder girdle relate to the simplified forms you already know.
Watch from 01:28 to 03:58. The visual of the pelvis as a 'bucket' and the shoulder girdle as a 'diamond shape' is a very effective way to simplify these complex structures.
Part 3: Finding Landmarks on a Real Person
Knowing where the landmarks are on a skeleton is one thing; spotting them on a living person is the real skill. This is where you train your eye to see the subtle forms created by the underlying bone.
The following video does an excellent job of tracing these exact landmarks on a reference model. This will help you bridge the gap between the anatomical diagram and the surface form.
Figure Drawing: Bony Landmarks
Watch how the artist identifies and traces the landmarks we've just discussed on a live model.
Watch from 03:58 to 05:57. Try to pause the video and find the landmarks yourself before the artist draws them. Notice how points like the iliac crest (ASIS) and the clavicles are quite prominent.
Part 4: Practice Session (20-25 minutes)
Now it's time to put your new knowledge to the test. Your goal for this exercise is not to create a finished drawing, but to practice identifying landmarks.
Your Task: Landmark Tracing
-
Find Reference Photos: Go to a reference website like Line-of-Action.com or SketchDaily.net. Choose their figure drawing models and find a few clear, well-lit poses (standing, seated, or gentle action poses are ideal). Avoid extremely complex or foreshortened poses for now.
-
Identify and Mark the Landmarks: For each photo, you can either:
- Print the image and draw directly on it.
- Use a digital drawing program to trace over the image on a new layer.
- If you're working in your sketchbook, make a very light, quick gesture drawing of the pose first, and then focus on placing the landmarks accurately within it.
-
What to Mark: On each figure, try to find and mark the following key landmarks. Use the Proko chart from Part 1 as your guide.
- The Centerline Curve: A single line from the pit of the neck, down the sternum, to the pubic bone.
- The Clavicles: Draw the "handlebar" shape connecting the pit of the neck to the shoulders.
- The Iliac Crest/ASIS: Draw the "V" shape at the front of the hips, indicating the top of the pelvis.
- The Spine Curve (if visible): For back views, trace the curve of the spine down to the triangular sacrum.
- The Bottom of the Ribcage: Mark the arch where the ribs end.
- (Bonus): Try to spot the bony points of the elbows, knees, and ankles.
Spend about 5 minutes on each photo. The goal is active observation and identification. Try to complete at least 4-5 tracings.
Conclusion
Excellent work today! You've moved beyond simple blocks and started to understand the anatomical foundation that makes a figure drawing convincing. By learning to see the skeleton beneath the skin, you've gained a set of reliable tools for building accurate and lifelike figures.
Key Takeaways:
- Bony landmarks are parts of the skeleton visible on the surface that act as consistent anchor points for drawing.
- The centerline (pit of neck, sternum, spine) establishes the primary gesture of the torso.
- The clavicles and iliac crest (ASIS) are crucial for defining the angles of the shoulders and pelvis.
- Other key landmarks include the scapula (shoulder blade), sacrum (base of the spine), and the bony parts of the joints.
In our next lesson, we will build directly on this knowledge. We'll learn how to draw simplified representations of the ribcage and pelvis, using the landmarks you identified today to construct these forms with greater accuracy and understand their movement.