Figure Drawing Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Figure Drawing facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which civilization was more interested with depicting the human body as precisely as possible? → Ancient Greeks
2. Which two landmarks define the width of the shoulders in a standard proportion check? → Two acromion processes (outer shoulder tips)
3. In a strongly foreshortened torso viewed from the feet end, the chest appears: → Compressed into a very short vertical distance
4. Which term describes the S-shaped or C-shaped rhythm visible in the relationship between shoulders and hips in many poses? → Contrapposto
5. When blocking in a gesture drawing, which should be established first? → The overall line of action and body mass
6. In the Notan approach to figure drawing, what is the primary focus? → The abstract pattern of light and dark shapes as a 2D design
7. Why do the corners of the mouth typically appear darker in portrait drawing? → The form curves inward at the corners, turning away from the light and falling in shadow
8. The average person's hips are positioned in the → Between the fourth and fifth heads (counting from the top).
9. Which landmark divides the human body roughly in half when drawing a standing figure? → The pubic symphysis
10. Foreshortening is most challenging because it requires the artist to: → Override visual assumptions about known lengths and trust what is actually seen
11. What is 'reflected light' in the context of figure drawing? → Light that bounces from surrounding surfaces back into the shadow areas of a figure
12. Why is it recommended to squint at the model when establishing value shapes in figure drawing? → To simplify the scene into large light and dark masses by reducing detail
13. The olecranon, an important elbow landmark, is part of which bone? → Ulna
14. What body component can we utilize to accurately determine human body proportions? → Heads
15. Which structures on the dorsal (back) side of the hand become visibly raised beneath the skin when the fingers are extended or spread? → The extensor tendons
16. What plane describes the large flat front surface of the forehead above the brow? → Frontal plane of the forehead
17. In portrait drawing, the ear typically aligns between which two horizontal landmarks? → The eyebrow and the base of the nose
18. What is the 'plumb line' technique used for in figure drawing? → Checking vertical alignment of body parts relative to gravity
19. In what area of a garment on a standing figure are pull folds most commonly found? → At tension points like the shoulders, hips, and knees where fabric is stretched tight
20. Which of the following best describes a 'pipe fold' in drapery? → Long cylindrical tube-like folds that hang vertically from a single suspension point
21. In male versus female figure drawing, which proportional difference is commonly noted? → Females typically have wider hips relative to shoulder width
22. What is 'overlap' and why is it essential for foreshortening? → When one form passes in front of another, establishing spatial depth
23. What does 'push the gesture' mean in a figure drawing critique? → Exaggerate curves and angles to make the pose more dynamic and readable
24. When a cylinder (like an arm segment) is tilted toward the viewer, which cross-section shape becomes visible? → An ellipse
25. Which technique helps artists check foreshortening accuracy when drawing from a model? → Sighting with a pencil to compare angles and lengths visually
26. What is 'flow' in a figure drawing context? → The visual continuity and rhythm connecting all parts of the figure
27. When drawing a figure from a worm's-eye view (looking up), how do the proportions change? → The legs appear elongated and the head appears smaller
28. The arch of the foot is primarily created by which internal structures that artists must understand for accurate foot drawing? → The plantar fascia and tarsal bones
29. What is a 'cast shadow' in figure drawing? → The shadow projected by the figure onto another surface
30. Michelangelo's ceiling figures in the Sistine Chapel are famous examples of which figure drawing challenge? → Extreme foreshortening from a worm's-eye viewpoint