Figure Drawing Course - Free Complete Beginner Guide
Learn to draw people from scratch with this complete free figure drawing course. Master structure, gesture, and tubes through 17 practical lessons. Start today.
Master the fundamentals of drawing the human body with structure, gesture, and confidence.
What You'll Learn
This complete figure drawing course teaches you to draw people from scratch using simple, proven methods.
No previous drawing experience required. Just a pencil, paper, and willingness to practice.
The Approach
Forget copying contours. Forget tracing photos. Forget winging it.
You'll learn to see the body as:
- 3D forms in space
- Tubes and characteristic shapes
- Gesture and structure combined
- Relationships and measurements
By the end, you'll confidently:
- Start any figure drawing with proper structure
- Find gesture lines that capture life and movement
- Use tubes to build believable 3D forms
- Measure angles and proportions accurately
- Understand pinch and stretch
- Apply master techniques to your own work
Course Structure
Module 1: Foundation (17 Lessons)
Complete and free. Start today, scroll down to lesson one.
All Lessons
Part 1: Core Concepts
Lesson 1: Structure vs Gesture - The two fundamental approaches to figure drawing. Why you need both, when to use each, and how they work together.
Lesson 2: Structure Basics - Movement Over Form - Structure isn't about stiff construction. It's about movement OVER the form. Learn how cross-contour lines create volume.
Lesson 3: Gesture Basics - Curves Equal Life - Straight lines = death. Curves = life. Master the flowing, organic curves that bring figures alive on the page.
Part 2: 3D Thinking
Lesson 4: 3D Forms & Perspective in Figure Drawing - See the body as 3D forms rotating in space. Understand perspective without getting lost in technical details.
Lesson 5: Tubes & Characteristic Shapes - Simplify complex anatomy into tubes and characteristic shapes. The breakthrough that makes figure drawing click.
Lesson 6: Tubes Demonstration - Watch tubes in action. See how simple cylindrical forms capture complex body parts quickly and accurately.
Part 3: Measurement & Angles
Lesson 7: The Pencil Test - Measure Any Angle - Your pencil is a measurement tool. Learn to compare angles, find relationships, and get proportions right.
Lesson 8: Facing, Leaning, Tilting & Rotating - Four ways the body moves in space. Understand how to capture each type of movement with clear structure.
Part 4: Advanced Concepts
Lesson 9: The Connecting Line - Don't Lose Your Gesture - The Fundamental Design Line. Learn why gesture gets lost in details and how to protect it through rendering.
Lesson 10: Longest Sustained Curve - Find the primary gesture line. Learn which side of the body gives you the smoothest, longest curve.
Lesson 11: Master's Analysis - Raphael & Holbein - Analyze master drawings to find the simple shapes underneath. See how Raphael and Holbein used the same concepts you're learning.
Part 5: Practical Application
Lesson 12: Figure Drawing Tips & Mindset - Practical tips before you start drawing: vertical references, back landmarks, light layering, pencil direction, and more.
Lesson 13: Demo One - Back Pose Step-by-Step - Complete demonstration of a back pose from start to finish. Watch every concept applied in real-time.
Lesson 14: Demo Two - Front Pose with Empathy - Front pose demonstration focusing on empathy: feeling what the model feels rather than copying what you see.
Lesson 15: Demo Three - Starting with the Head - Different starting point: head first instead of torso. Learn when to use this approach and how to build from the head down.
Part 6: Practice
Lesson 16: Practice Assignment - 4 Timed Poses - Your first assignment: 4 poses, 4 minutes each. Apply everything you've learned with timed practice.
Lesson 17: Robert's Practice Reel - My Results - Watch me complete the same assignment. See my process, mistakes, and decisions. Compare your work to mine.
What You Need
Materials
Minimum:
- Pencil (any pencil)
- Paper (printer paper is fine)
- Eraser
Recommended:
- Prismacolor PC945 (brownish red) or similar colored pencil
- Smooth drawing paper
- Kneaded eraser
- Pencil sharpener
Not needed:
- Expensive art supplies
- Special sketchbooks
- Digital tools
Time Commitment
Module 1 Runtime: ~3 hours of video
Realistic completion:
- Binge mode: 1-2 days (watch all lessons)
- Steady pace: 1 week (2-3 lessons per day)
- Relaxed pace: 2-3 weeks (1 lesson per day)
Practice time: As much as you want. The assignment takes 16 minutes. Repeat weekly.
Who This Course Is For
Perfect If You:
✅ Want to draw people but don't know where to start
✅ Tried figure drawing before and got frustrated
✅ Copy photos but can't draw from imagination
✅ Get lost in details and lose the overall gesture
✅ Want a structured, proven approach
✅ Prefer clear explanations over vague concepts
✅ Learn by doing, not just watching
Not Right If You:
❌ Already confident drawing figures from structure
❌ Looking for advanced anatomy deep-dive
❌ Want shortcuts without practicing fundamentals
❌ Expect perfect drawings immediately
Teaching Philosophy
Structure + Gesture = Success
Most courses teach one or the other. This course teaches both from day one.
You'll learn:
- When to prioritize structure (accuracy, construction)
- When to prioritize gesture (life, movement, flow)
- How to combine them naturally
Simple, Not Easy
The concepts are simple: tubes, curves, characteristic shapes.
The execution takes practice. Lots of practice.
This course gives you the roadmap. You provide the mileage.
Real Process, Real Mistakes
Every demonstration includes:
- Mistakes and corrections
- Multiple attempts
- Incomplete drawings
- Decision-making process
You see what practice actually looks like, not just polished final results.
Why Free?
Good question.
Because figure drawing shouldn't be gatekept.
Too many courses cost $200+ and teach the same fundamentals. That's fine, but it keeps people out.
Everyone should have access to quality figure drawing instruction. This is that resource.
How This Works
Module 1 is completely free. Always will be.
Future modules (advanced anatomy, dynamic poses, etc.) may be paid to support continued production.
But the foundation? Free forever.
FAQ
Do I need drawing experience?
Nope. This course starts from zero. If you can hold a pencil, you can do this.
What if I don't have models to draw?
Reference images provided for the practice assignment. For additional practice, use free pose reference sites like Line of Action, Croquis Cafe, or Pose Space.
Is this only for realistic figure drawing?
The fundamentals apply to ALL figure drawing styles: realistic, cartoon, comic book, anime, stylized. Structure and gesture work for everything.
Can I share my work for feedback?
No! I do not offer free feedback but you are welcome to drop a note and share your work, I would love to see what you're doing.
When is Module 2 coming?
TBD. Module 1 just launched. I want to see what students need most before creating Module 2.
Can I download the videos?
Videos are on YouTube - you can't download directly, but you can save playlists for offline viewing with YouTube Premium.
Ready to Start?
Begin with Lesson 1: Structure vs Gesture
Or explore the curriculum above and jump to any lesson that interests you.
There's no quiz. No login required. No paywall.
Just you, a pencil, and 17 lessons that'll change how you see the human figure.
Let's draw.
About the Instructor
Robert is a professional artist and instructor specializing in figure drawing, portrait drawing, and painting fundamentals.
Teaching philosophy: Clear explanations, practical demonstrations, and real process (mistakes included).
Other courses:
Module 1 Complete • 17 Lessons • 100% Free • Start Anytime