This is the second part of a free online tutorial which guides you through the various steps taken to produce a classical figure drawing. I have learnt and adapted this particular method from studying at the Angel Academy of Art, Florence.
Construction Stage
The construct outline and shadow shapes form the next stage. The 2B pencil is kept sharpened like a needle of graphite, as it facilitates more precision. It is safest to work on the paper as lightly as possible so that there is room for adjustment with the putty rubber if needed.
The outline of the forms which the figure makes are carefully observed, and the previous gesture stage gives a decent (albeit simplified) measured base to use for guidance with this construct stage. The construct lines should be lightly-sketched small straight lines around and along the gesture lines, indicating changes in direction.
It is best to use straight lines to help minimise over-bulgy looking outlines. Subtle curve-like outlines can be constructed from these straight edges. Just as the gesture stage helped guide the line drawing in the construct stage, these line constructs are in turn used to help guide the articulation stage.
