How to Draw Space Marines

[Firenze]

Hey guys. This is my tutorial for the way to draw Space Marines in a quick and concise way. Feel free to use this tutorial in your own work, or even only glance at it and run away :P

 

 

BEFORE YOU START

 

Use a pencil for these stages if using paper. This allows you to rub out any mistakes. I used a painter program on my computer, so yours may turn out different if doing it traditionally. If using Photoshop or something like it, ignore this bit :whistling:

 

Step 1

 

The first step I usually do is to start out with a quick wireframe of the pose you wish your Marine to be in. The wireframe should show the shoulders, waist and limbs. A quick head shape, with eye line and line down the face helps to show what direction the face is pointing.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/Stage1.jpg

The one here has the basics done, along with the head and a rough area block for where the hand will be. As you can see, the shoulders are very wide, and the head seems small for a human. This is because of the Marine's enhanced size, and will help you to build the armour around it.

 

Step 2

 

Next, we begin to muscle out the skeleton we just drew. The body will be very muscly, think body builder style. It helps us to understand the size of the armour plates that go over the top.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/Stage2.jpg

I have added the pectoral muscles and abdomen muscles, yet these are only because I like to see it all working.

 

Step 3

 

Next, we begin the armour. I started from the foreground backwards, as then you do not have much to rub out. The boltgun and arm, then chest, hips and legs before the shoulder pads. They should be a little larger than the muscled body below, as the armour adds about 3cm at least on top.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/Stage3.jpg

The shin greaves should widen a bit towards the bottom, as on the model. Leg armour can be quite large, so there is a bit of leeway. I've left the body visible slightly underneath to help.

 

Step 4

 

The helmet and backpack are next. The helmet is one of the hardest parts, so feel free to leave the marine bareheaded if you can draw the face :P The main part you want to get right is the faceplate and eye section. The brow of the helmet can be tricky to draw at certain angles, such as a 3/4 view from below like here. It takes a few tries, but perservere and it will come. The rest of the helmet is a little easier, just following the lines of the head underneath. The ear modules on the side are a little easier. Just draw a oval where the ear is and then build up the surrounding plate. The backpack is simple if thought in terms of a cylinder lain horizontal across a cuboid. By moving this around in your head to the desired position and adding the plate and exauhsts, you have a finished pack.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/Stage4.jpg

 

Step 5

 

Detailing on the drawing is down to the taste of the artist :) Add whatever you feel appropriate. Here I have added his Aquila, Tactical logo, squad number and company symbol, along with a small purity seal and equipment pack on his leg.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/Stage5.jpg

When drawing the Aquila, remember this: The chest plate curves, minimizing the amount you can see on the furthest part from the viewer. It also will not always be completely visible, so be prepared to draw the entire thing, then erase section hidden.

 

Finish

 

And you are finished. Ink in the outlines if you will, or colour and paint the final product. It is up to you.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/Stage6.jpg

 

 

Thank you for reading this tutorial. I'll love to see what you guys can do!

[The Normish]

I like it, very concise and easy to follow (apart from the coloring part, maybe you could do another tutorial on that?).

Realistic looking Space Marines certainly look good.

[Firenze]

I like it, very concise and easy to follow (apart from the coloring part, maybe you could do another tutorial on that?).

Realistic looking Space Marines certainly look good.

I'll see what I can do for colouring. I might be doing a terminator tutorial and armour variants. Thanks!

[Zeller]

The Normish says it all. I'm curious though. When I draw marines I begin with a peice of the armor, typically a powerfist, and draw a marine's armor from that in whatever pose. The poses tend not to be very dynamic due to me having trouble with angled figures. Would the wireframe-humanoid figure approach make the more dynamic poses easier to visualize and then draw?

 

I like the marine you've made.

[Grey Mage]

Really cool Firenze.

 

Speaking of wich, hows the 13nth co artwork coming?

[Firenze]

@Zeller: It does, especially in fighting stances. I used to use your technique, but used this instead as it allows me to see what the marine would be like before fully drawing him out. It also means porportions are right, as starting with armour can get it a little wrong occasionally.

 

@Grey Mage: Its going good. :lol:

[The Normish]

Well, what I usually do is I start by sort of sketching out the figure. I don't do a stick figure. Then I start by drawing a piece of the armor on (usually a shoulder pad, then the helmet)and sort of fill out the sketch from there. I usually end up with something that while not really "proportional" or realistic, looks pretty darn good in my opinion. Although after looking at your Space Marine there, I feel like I draw the heads too big...

[Solid Zaku]

Ooooh. This is nice, I'll use it for when I draw anything SM related.

[Firenze]

Sorry for mass threadnomancy, yet I am announcing a new tutorial! The Tactical Dreadnought.

 

It will be up tommorow, I promise.

[The Normish]

Oh good, because that is one thing I fail at drawing completely.

[Firenze]

Terminator Tutorial

 

I finally did it. Now, while following this tutorial, I would recommend having a basic terminator nearby. This will allow you to refer to the real model rather than just my mad ramblings :wink:

 

Note: If drawing on paper, do so in pencil until stage 5. Trust me. I did it all in pen once :blush: It didn't go well.

 

Stage 1

The Terminator begins the same way as the Power Armour, except this time do not draw the head. This is important, as the head position of a TDA marine is very different to a normal Astartes.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/TerminatorStage1.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/TerminatorStage2.jpg

AS you can see, the same technique as the PA applies to this image, with a stick wireframe muscled out to show the stature of the marine under the armour.

 

Stage 2

Now we begin the fun part. We begin by drawing the chest plate and back half of the power pack. The front is more of a cut down barrel in comparison to the PA chest, with the back section being a large, almost square part. The neck guard and rim around the back is almost like a clam shape, two semi circles, one balanced on top of the other. Remember though, these parts still have a thickness.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/TerminatorStage3.jpg

The legs are similar to the PA legs, but are much much wider looking. They are split down the sides, like in half, with the back half being thinner and smaller, only slightly, but enough to allow bracing to be added on top. The thigh plates will also need this. Think of the bracing like small pistons on the legs, with the top rims around the armor edges.

 

Stage 3

The arms are next. I first drew the inner shoulder pads, giving me a basis for where the outer parts would go. The arms are similar to PA, except a little further out from the muscled out sketch underneath. This to give it a little more bulk. You may notice a wrist guard on the forearm. This is added with a little more widening of the arm, just a bit further from the normal armour, yet add a protrustion to the end closest to the hand. The guard can be extended if one wishes to make attachments such as heavy weapons.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/TerminatorStage4.jpg

The elbow plate also has a bolt on one side, facing outwards. This is a basic cylinder attached to the side of the armour plate.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/TerminatorStage5.jpg

The power fist is very simple. It is a rounded off box attached to the left arm. The inside has a small semicircle near the elbow cut out of it, and the outside has an extra rectangular section added near the fingers (not visible in this image). The fingers are very robotic looking, being square when viewed along them. Using you own fingers as a basis, note the amount of joints on each and the length of each in comparison to the next. Use this to draw out the fingers to the right lengths. The thumb is just as simple, being added just on the side.

 

Stage 4

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/TerminatorStage6.jpg

Here is where the head is on the body. Note it is well below the shoulders we drew earlier. This is because of the shape of the rest of the armour. I also haev put on the shoulder pads here too, along with a little hint of crux terminatus.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/TerminatorStage7.jpg

This image shows the black area around the head if left bare and when coloured. There is alot that we don't really know about inside the armour, yet if you wish, you may use your imagination and add piping, sensors .etc.

 

Stage 5

Now, begin to detail the image. If drawing on paper, now is the time to use pen to ink over the drawing. Details such as chapter logo, company numbers .etc can be added. I added in a helmet too, a piece I will come back to in a later tutorial.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/TerminatorStage8.jpg

 

Thanks for reading! This image shall be used in a colouring tutorial at a later date, but here is a sneak preview of what is coming up next:

 

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x209/Firenze_xaio/GreyKnightAegisTerminator3.jpg

Wanna guess?

[Imperialis_Dominatus]

Helmet or face... you present a difficult choice.

 

Grey Knights seems a solid guess.

[LardO'Blood]

Grey knights I think as well.

Are you going to make a tutorial?

Can you make a less static tutorial? With more active poses? Not to sound to ungrateful or anything though.

[Firenze]

Aye, this next one shall be alot less static.

 

I am also going to add an 'Armoury' on how to draw specific pieces of armour and different weapons. There will also be some 'inspiration pieces' in differing stages of drawing.

[EchinosNoSeimei]

So bloody helpful! I have been trying to learn how to draw Space Marines and this Tutorial is just what I was looking for. Simple and to the point. Not to mention clean and very well drawn. Many, many thanks!

[Firenze]

Thanks! I have been mulling around with ideas to reboot this, as I've got much better techniques now for painting up marines. It may have to wait though, as I am part of an Original Character Tournament on DeviantArt, but it is in the planning stage.

[EchinosNoSeimei]

Thanks! I have been mulling around with ideas to reboot this, as I've got much better techniques now for painting up marines. It may have to wait though, as I am part of an Original Character Tournament on DeviantArt, but it is in the planning stage.

DeviantArt. I stopped by your page and left you a comment. Heh. Seriously thinking of adding you to my watch. Heh.

I've been sketching up Marines all sodding day, but I just can't seem to get armor pieces the right size or in the correct placements. Heh, so I end up with these blocky childish looking figures. Human anatomy is NOT my strong point. ^^;

[Firenze]

Thanks! I have been mulling around with ideas to reboot this, as I've got much better techniques now for painting up marines. It may have to wait though, as I am part of an Original Character Tournament on DeviantArt, but it is in the planning stage.

DeviantArt. I stopped by your page and left you a comment. Heh. Seriously thinking of adding you to my watch. Heh.

I've been sketching up Marines all sodding day, but I just can't seem to get armor pieces the right size or in the correct placements. Heh, so I end up with these blocky childish looking figures. Human anatomy is NOT my strong point. ^^;

 

It wasnt my strong point for a long time, I started out by drawing cars :) I still cant do the female anatomy well though.

 

As I have been told so many times by Colourophobic and Mr Nipples, practice is what is key, and it really does help.Keep at it, and you will find it really gets easier and more natural to draw it.

[EchinosNoSeimei]

Thanks! I have been mulling around with ideas to reboot this, as I've got much better techniques now for painting up marines. It may have to wait though, as I am part of an Original Character Tournament on DeviantArt, but it is in the planning stage.

DeviantArt. I stopped by your page and left you a comment. Heh. Seriously thinking of adding you to my watch. Heh.

I've been sketching up Marines all sodding day, but I just can't seem to get armor pieces the right size or in the correct placements. Heh, so I end up with these blocky childish looking figures. Human anatomy is NOT my strong point. ^^;

 

It wasnt my strong point for a long time, I started out by drawing cars :D I still cant do the female anatomy well though.

 

As I have been told so many times by Colourophobic and Mr Nipples, practice is what is key, and it really does help.Keep at it, and you will find it really gets easier and more natural to draw it.

Cars. Well, that would explain why your lines look so clean and well placed. I'll definately keep at it. If I come up with something that doesn't look too terrible, I'll post it. Thanks for the help.

[Firenze]

Cars. Well, that would explain why your lines look so clean and well placed. I'll definately keep at it. If I come up with something that doesn't look too terrible, I'll post it. Thanks for the help.

 

 

:wacko:

 

Trust me it is no problem. I'm always happy to help. It says so on my namebadge for work :lol:

[EchinosNoSeimei]

:P

 

Trust me it is no problem. I'm always happy to help. It says so on my namebadge for work ;)

:D

Bahahaha! That made my morning. My thanks.

[Vulkan he' Stan]

I want to say thanks, It is hard to find a good Space Marine Tutorial lately.

[Phantomworks]

Excellent! Thanks for these..

[davidlindsey28]

Do you have any suggestions on how to do the different weapons like the heavy bolter or the different power weapons

[KhorneFlakes]

This is the best space marine drawing tutorial I have seen to date, easy to follow, accurate, cannon, this is great! I look forward to more.