California State University Northridge - College of Arts, Media and Communication
Instructor: Holly Boruck
Course: 124B Figure Drawing I
Project #3 - Muscular System Redraw
Materials needed:
18” x 24” bristol paper
Ruler
Erasers (kneaded and white vinyl)
Several sheets of tracing paper to fit the 18" x 24" bond paper
Drafting tape (or other removable artist tape)
1 – sepia or brown (dark) color pencil
1 – burnt sienna or red color pencil
1 – yellow ochre color pencil
Graphite pencils (2H, B suggested)
Exacto knife for pencil sharpening
Sandpaper paddle for pencil sharpening
Project Description:
For this project you will draw the human muscular system and learn the locations and names of the
major muscles. You will use two reference images of the muscular system; one showing the anterior
(back) view and the other showing the posterior (front) view. Using these examples you will enlarge
(scale up) and re-draw them using a grid method on tracing paper. The enlarged drawing will be
transferred onto the final sheet of 18” x 24” bristol paper using the graphite-backed transfer method. The
final drawing will be finished using colored pencils on the bristol paper.
Process:
1. On a sheet of 18" x 24" bristol paper (orientated vertically): find the center of the paper and draw a
vertical line down the center with a B pencil.
2. Tape a sheet of tracing paper over the sheet of bristol paper. Make sure that the tracing paper covers the
entire sheet of the bristol paper.
3. On the tracing paper, draw two grids, centered on either side of the vertical center line. The grid squares
must measure 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" and correspond to the number of grid squares given on the muscular
grid handouts. *Remember! You are enlarging the reference images so you will NOT be using the
same measurements of the reference grid, only the number (as in quantity) of grid squares.
4. Using a graphite pencil, redraw the outline and landmarks of the muscular images. Follow the grid
proportions to accurately enlarge the scale of the reference images ( both anterior and posterior
views).
5. On the reverse side of your trace paper, use a 2B graphite pencil to cover the major lines in preparation
for transfer.
6. Flip the trace paper drawing to right side up and tape onto a clean sheet of 18" x 24" bristol paper. Make
sure that you have centered the trace drawing. Using a 2H graphite pencil, draw over the major lines
of the trace paper drawing. This will transfer your drawing onto the 18" x 24" sheet of bristol paper.
7. Carefully take the trace paper off the sheet of bristol paper. This sheet of bristol paper is now your final
drawing so treat it with respect!
8. With your dark brown colored pencil go over the contour lines of your drawing. Use the muscular
reference images to guide you.
9. Using the yellow ochre and burnt sienna (or red) colored pencil recreate the muscular system drawing as
closely as you can (look at your reference image carefully!).
10. Title the two views and label all the muscles according to the muscular system reference sheets.
11. Write your name on the reverse side of your bristol paper.
Helpful website: http://www.posemaniacs.com/