Using Models to Draw Illustrations for Comic Artists and Graphic Novelists

When drawing a comic or graphic novel, it is often difficult to accurately draw certain poses. It is hard to draw realistic comics of people fighting if you haven't observed many fights yourself. How often have you watched people doing martial arts or sword fighting in real life? If this causes you problems while drawing your comic, consider using a model to help you improve your art.

You don't need to hire a professional model for your comic book art or graphic novel, although if you have a lot of money that could be an option. Instead, here are some tools you can use to improve your basic art skills, as well as the action scenes in your comic.

Models for Comic Artists and Graphic Novelists - Wooden Artist's Model

Most art shops have artists' models available for sale. These are jointed wooden human forms that can be posed in different positions. Barnes & Noble offers a 12 inch artist's model on their website for only $9.95. These models are not meant specifically for comic book artists or graphic novelists, but rather for people who would like to practice figure drawing. However, this will help you improve your comic art by giving you a basic figure as a reference for your drawing. Any art practice will improve your drawing skills, and great art is what catches a comic reader's eye.

Models for Comic Artists and Graphic Novelists - Books

I have only found one book that offers model poses specifically for comic artists. This is the Comic Artist's Photo Reference: People and Poses. This book has four models, two males and two females. They pose with different facial expressions, weapons, and pieces of costumes specifically geared to comic book artists. One section also includes poses of two people interaction in fight and romance scenes. The book also has instructions on the best way to use a photo reference in your work. In addition to the photos in the book, there is a CD-ROM with 500 more poses on it. It is available on Amazon.com for about $17.

Models for Comic Artists and Graphic Novelists - Get your friends to pose

If you don't want to buy a book, or you are looking for more unique poses, don't give up! Get some of your friends to pose for you. Although your character may not look like them, your friends will probably be flattered to be the model for a comic book character. This is one of the best options, because you can get your friend to pose in the exact way you want to draw your character. The negative side is that your friends are probably unlikely to have the extremely fit body-types drawn in comics. However, you can use their poses for your basic drawing, and a different photo reference for drawing muscles.

Happy drawing!