how to draw the back of a person

If I tin can teach you lot one affair about how to describe the dorsum of a person, it's that it'south absolutely crucial to understand the position of the scapula bones (shoulder blades) every bit they sit on the rib cage and glide around information technology.

Particularly when reaching out with your arms, the scapula could slide as far every bit the side of the rib cage – usually a lot further than the beginning artist would suspect.

To draw the homo back, identify the angle of the spine, and signal it on canvas, and so discover the spines of the scapulas from which to connect and construct all the muscles of the upper dorsum.

(For the beginner creative person: note that the spine of the scapula is a landmark on the scapula bones, separate from the spine itself – I provide detailed images below for reference).

In this tutorial, we will become over the bones and major musculus groups you volition need to know to draw the dorsum well. Nosotros will then look at a few examples of how to construct a drawing of the human dorsum that has the proper anatomical features.

Before we get into the tutorial, I want to rapidly go over my method of cartoon the dorsum to requite y'all some thought of what we will talk over.

Construction example:

In stride 1, we will identify the overall shape of the back. It tin change later, but we need it to get us oriented. Information technology starts with identifying the line of the spine, and creating a frame around it.

In steps 2 through 6, we construct all of the anatomy and adjust the shape of the frame we created in step one. Adding muscle groups step past stride – detailed at the end of this tutorial.

Once the structure of the back is complete, I can add shadows and highlights to create three-dimensional class of the back in my drawing.

Go along in mind, on the back – depending on figure and pose – sometimes the muscles volition stand out and sometimes the skeletal structure (the scapulas). Inner portions of the scapula – closest to the spine oft come up out and stand out in less muscular figures.

In this guide on how to describe the human dorsum, I will cover simplified beefcake for the beginning – intermediate artists. We will get over the basic, and the general muscle groups of the back, and so describe the human back from scratch through a step-by-step construction. Some muscle groups of the back are intentionally omitted.

Why is it so hard to depict the back? How practise we larn to draw the back?

Okay, so you tried to depict the dorsum and looked at pictures for references, but information technology seems like it is non working or that the back keeps changing or that you are non drawing the right thing?

Why is it and then hard to draw the back? Thankfully there is a simple answer.

The scapula bones on the back move and rotate around on top of the rib cage, and there are lots of muscles covering them. Depending on the movement, (and the build of a person you are drawing), more bone or more muscle volition evidence up. And then not only does the scapula motility under the surface, sometimes information technology is covered past muscles, and sometimes information technology stands out (especially when the arm is pulled back), thereby changing the shapes you see completely).

The bones are under the muscles and sometimes push them outward, creating shapes that are difficult to recognize.

How exercise we learn to overcome this trouble of cartoon the back?

We have to (one) know basic anatomy, the basic and muscles. (ii) Identify landmarks to which nosotros can proceed our cartoon accountable. And of course, have a bit of patience as we do.

So then, how does learning to draw the dorsum await like, even if it is simplified. It looks similar the following steps, exactly the steps we volition take in this tutorial:

Outline, an set on programme to learn to describe the back:

Learning the bones (simplified)
Learning the muscles (simplified) + and identifying landmarks
Step-by-step construction

Learning the Bones of the Dorsum for Cartoon

I demand to cover only four bone sets to cover the dorsum:

Rib cage to depict the dorsum

There is a lot of detail on this anatomical study of the back I did for exercise. Notwithstanding, all you lot actually have to remember here is the shape of the rib cage.
The other affair to recollect is that some of the lower ribs of the back will stand out from below the muscles slightly when the figure is curled up or arching.

Scapula to depict the back

Scapula bones, back view. Here they are, the scapula basic. Remember their location and triangular shape. Recollect that they motility back, slide to the side every bit the arm reaches out, and pivot with the bottom edge moving outward and up as the arm is raised.
Wow that is a lot to know Gvaat – aye, it is quite a bit, however just think that when you will expect for it in reference, look at what the figure is doing, then remember near where the scapula os should be, and so try to find information technology on reference.

Scapula bones on the dorsum, front end view. Gvaat'south anatomy study.

Scapula – the scapula is the most of import for our structure of the back. Remember the following: it is a triangular shape. It is non visible on all people in every unmarried pose, it is most visible on skinny people that do not accept very developed upper back muscles. It is visible on all people during pulling movements. Upper and inner side are the ones that are normally most visible.

One of the best ways to larn to draw the dorsum is to learn anatomy and so expect and pictures and endeavor to identify the muscle groups you come across.

The biggest landmark that we will look for is the spine of the scapula to it at the top of the trapezius attaches as information technology overflows the scapula down the spine. Here it is for reference:

Spines of the scapula indicated on a drawing – sketch by Gvaat

Attaching at the other side of the spine of the scapula is the rear deltoid.

Finding the spine of the scapula and being able to divide the muscles around it is the key to amalgam the back.

To describe the dorsum then first nosotros will block in the overall shape, and and so scapula bones as they sit on the rib cage with special attention paid to the rhythms of the spine of the scapulas. It's a cross between the spines of the scapula and the spine itself that makes up the construction of the upper dorsum.

All other muscles of the back can be constructed from having this knowledge.

Humerus bone to draw the back

This is the bone of the upper arm. We need to cover it because the shoulder sits on its top and because muscles of the dorsum attach to it. Muscles achieve from the scapula and tuck in under the armpit and attach to the humorous os. We volition cover these muscles in the muscle diagrams beneath.

Curious well-nigh the anatomy of the arm? Check out my arm drawing tutorial here.

The clavicle bone to draw the back

Front view.
The clavicle is the bone at the bottom of the neck, that on the outer edges connects to the scapula and then drives into to the center of the top of the chest. We are covering this bone considering the trapezius musculus curves around from the back and attaches to the department of it.

Clavicle bones – dorsum view. study past Gvaat.

Two important reasons why we should know this bone to learn to draw the human being back:

The trapezius – a major muscle of the upper back partially wraps around the neck and attached to the clavicle. And, the clavicle connects to the acromion procedure of the scapula, creating the acromioclavicular joint, a major landmark.

The bump you see between the traps and the shoulders in a standing figure at ease is the acromioclavicular joint.

Learning to describe the dorsum – the major muscles of the back

The trapezius

Trapezius muscle. (Anatomy study by Gvaat – dorsum view).

Trapezius muscle, (or traps) help rotate the scapula upward to lift up the arm. Traps also attach to the clavicle bone at the forepart. Traps attach at the spine of the scapula – easy to see on a muscular person. – a C curve y'all see on backs with well-developed musculus is the trapezius attaching effectually the scapula.

Detect the trapezius encompass some of the bone of the scapula – specifically, the upper inner border. This is important to think because in some poses you lot will just meet the trapezius muscle, in others y'all will encounter the scapula push out creating a new shape – unless you know that the trapezius covers some of the scapula in this way, it is difficult to recognize and therefore hard to draw.

Keep in listen that a portion of the traps overlaps some of the scapula as it stretches over it.

Then the traps at the top attach to the spine of the scapula but it is important to note that they get effectually to the front of the body and as well adhere at the highest portion of the clavicle. In this way, the traps create a sort of a tent around the neck.

The rear deltoids

Rear deltoid. (Anatomy written report past Gvaat – dorsum view).

For our purposes of drawing the homo back, notice how the real delt attaches to the spine of the scapula, contrary to the trapezius musculus.

The lats – latissimus dorsi

Lats twist effectually and insert into the humerus bone on the arm. Information technology's the pull up muscle, engaged when you practise any kind of pulling action with your artillery. It starts at the lower back spinal procedure, attaches to some of the lower ribs, and covers the back, in some areas every bit a thin sheet of muscle.

The thin quality of it means that muscles underneath will become visible.

It is a massive sheet of muscle and thin on the back, getting thicker as it twists around the side of the torso.

Latissimus dorsi musculus, covering external obliques (aka side abs). (Beefcake study by Gvaat – back view).

The Infraspinatus, the Teres Major and the Rhomboid

Rhomboid muscle. (Anatomy report by Gvaat – back view).

Rhomboids are pulling shoulder blades (scapula) back together, when yous pull the shoulders back, bringing the scapula closer to the spine on each side. They are under the traps, they become more than revealed every bit the arms stretch and force the scapula bones to slide to the sides of the back.

Infraspinatus musculus. (Beefcake written report past Gvaat – back view).

Infraspinatus muscle and teres major muscle are the ones showing virtually often. Infraspinatus usually sits deeper in than the teres major. The teres major will stick out more than, and tuck in under the armpit. It attaches to the forepart (anterior) of the humorus bone, while teres minor attaches to the dorsum (posterior) of it.

Teres pocket-size (in a higher place) and Teres major muscle. (Anatomy written report by Gvaat – back view).

Given that teres major attaches at the humerus anteriorly (at the front), we will encounter this muscle carried forward under the arm to the side of the torso.

Here is an important bit: teres major is partially overlapped by the lat musculus. A burl in the lat under the teres major is actually a portion of the teres major covered by the latissimus dorsi. Effort looking at some pictures and spotting this yourself.

The serratus anterior

Serratus anterior. (Gvaat's beefcake study – back view). This is the 'comic book musculus' – exaggerated in comic book heroes to give a serrated look to the side of the body of the effigy.

The serratus anterior connects between the lats and the external obliques. Usually non visible from the back, it becomes visible in 3-quarters view.

The erector spinae

Erector spinae are two rods running at the lower back towards the glutes. They push upward at the lats from below. Although they run upwards the dorsum every bit well, for the artist they are covered past the upper back muscles. Focus more than on identifying these at the lower back. While they are covered by a sparse sheet of the lats at the lower dorsum, they stand out and are conspicuously visible separate from the major muscles mass of the lats.

Erector spinae muscle. (Anatomy study by Gvaat – back view).

Erector spinae muscle covered by a thin sheet of latissimus dorsi on the back. External obliques too shows. (Anatomy written report by Gvaat – back view).

The external obliques

External obliques. (Gvaat'south anatomy study – back view).

Obliques are the side abs of the torso. Visible when drawing the back in 3-quarters view.

All muscles together for drawing the back

Let'southward put all the back muscles important for our drawing of the dorsum together:

Tin you identify where the spine of the scapula is? It is where the traps run into rear deltoid muscles.

Here is a reminder! Continue this landmark in mind as we draw the back.

Footstep-by-step construction of the back

Stride i: find the rhythm of the spine and block in the general form. When I say 'rhythm of the spine', I hateful try to place its angles as it runs through the body.

Here you run across me sketching around and identifying shapes

Stride 2: find the spines of the scapula.

Spines of the scapula indicated for reference with this step

Step three: connect the traps. Traps are easiest to place. We know they run down the center of the spine in the upper back, we know they comprehend the dorsum of the cervix. We just need to attach them to the top of the spine of the scapula.

Traps – back view, for reference with this step.

Step 4: connect the rear delts. Connect the rear delts to the bottom side of the spine of the scapula.

Rear delts indicated – note how they attach on the other side of the scapula's spine – opposing the traps.

Step 5: position the teres major/infraspinatus/rhomboid.

In this epitome, teres major and erector spinae were very visible and striking by light. In this step I painted in the shadow to start defining grade.

Step 6: depict in the lats, erector spinae, external obliques, and serratus anterior if visible.

Footstep 7: once the musculus groups are in place, I can end rendering the slice, adjusting whatever placement of muscle if necessary.

Here darker tones are added for the darkest darks of the shadows.

Steps to Drawing the Human Back:

Stride 1: find the rhythm of the spine and block in the full general grade

Step 2: find the spines of the scapula

Step 3: connect the traps

Step 4: connect the rear delts

Step 5: position the teres major/infraspinatus/rhomboid

Step 6: draw in the lats, erector spinae, external obliques, and serratus anterior if visible.

Step seven: once the musculus groups are added, proceed to render with shadows and lights.

Another instance of a back cartoon written report by Gvaat:

Cartoon in the general shape, the shape can modify later.

Blocking in muscles later I found the connection between traps and rear delts at the scapula.

I hope this guide helped you study this important topic! Knowing anatomy is super important to accept your figure drawing to the side by side level. Yes, it is a pain, and yeah drawing the back can exist hard. But we tin can arrive easier by studying the skeletal structure and all the muscle groups needed to construct the dorsum, and by having a program before we set out to draw.

I highly recommend taking the time to study the muscles and know them. You only have to do it in one case and then yous tin can utilise it for all of your drawings.

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Source: https://gvaat.com/blog/how-to-draw-the-back-a-step-by-step-construction-guide/

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