The straight lines used in the above construction stage have been exaggerated to be demonstrated more clearly.
Articulation and Shadow Shapes
The articulation stage can be summed up as being the last line-drawing stage, adding and refining the detail of the observed outlines and undulations of the figure. Sometimes it may feel right to including some referencing to large details within the outline, such as a prominent belly or knee – although adding too much internal information can easily over-complicate what should remain simplified.
The shapes which the darkest shadows cast on the figure are lightly outlined in a similar manner to the construct stage for the outlines of the figure. They can help with spotting potential errors in proportion that have been made when drawing the outline shapes. A good way to think of these so-called ‘shadow shapes’ is as skewed cartoon silhouettes, thus visualising the shapes abstractly and making them easier to adjust.
