Figure Drawing, Continued
Measuring the
The proportions of the human figure change at various ages. At birth, a
child figure
baby’s head is large compared to the rest of its body. At the age of 1 year,
with the head
the overall height of the body is 4 ½ head units.
The neck to the feet
measures 3 ½ heads. By the age of 8, the average overall height is 6 l/4
heads. The center of the body is just above the hips and the arms and legs
are longer than at the age of 1 year. At the age of 12, the overall figure is 7
head units high and the center of the body is now the crotch. From this age
on, the body broadens, becomes slightly taller, and assumes the
characteristics of the typical male or female form.
Figure 3-37 shows the proportional changes in height of a child at various
ages.
Figure 3-37.—The average height of a child at various ages.
Continued on next page
3-34
