Knowing how to draw the figure is a great skill for any artist to have. If you are interested in working in one of narrative art such as film, comics, video games, or illustration being able to draw and invent figures is essential. Even if you’re more interested in expressing abstract ideas through fine art, having the skill to draw a figure in any pose opens up a whole world of expressiveness.

Heinrich Kley (April 15, 1863 - unknown) was a German illustrator most known for his humorous and animated pen drawings. His art was a major inspiration for Walt Disney (who became a major collector of Kley’s work) and his animators. You can particularly see his influence in Fantasia’s Dance of the Hours but also Dumbo, the crocodile in Peter Pan, The Jungle Book, and many other movies.

A sketchbook can be many things: a journal of your experiences, a place to develop new ideas, a tool to increase your drawing skill, or a place to just experiment freely, to name a few. While sketching uses the same fundamental techniques of drawing that have been around since the Renaissance, because many artists’ training have been limited to the studio environment they have not learned proper live sketching methods. Sketching People will teach you the classic techniques that will break you free from the studio and allow you to create your art wherever you are. Whether you’re on a trip to the mall or a trip across the world, these skills will allow you to be able to capture the vibrant experiences of every day life.