Drawing Space Marines

[the_forgefather]

I like drawing from time to time, and some times I want to draw some Space Marines. But I never know where to start drawing and always get the porportions wrong (mostly of the shoulder pads/torso). Does anyone have advice on drawing Space Marines and how they start it? I'm just asking for basics, as I am no longer an avid artist as I used to be ;)

 

Thanks ya'll!

[xa0s]

Keep practising over and over, and you'll get it dialed in. ;)

[celes]

I draw a lot of mecha and I always work with a series of spheres first, usually starting with the torso and groin to get the central proportions. Then I add the head, elbows, wrists, knees and ankles to get the limbs correctly proportioned. In the case of space marines I'd draw start with spheres for the joints then add the chestplate, then shoulders, then greaves, then helmet and work from there. It's important not to start from one location as you have no way of knowing how big each individual component should be. Try lots of different layouts before adding plating and details and you'll find something you're happy with before long.

[Espada Azul]

I think it helps to keep in mind that Space Marines are don't have the proportions you'd expect from a seven-foot-plus tall human. I think Phil Sibbering's site can represent it better, but in many artwork (especially the recent Deathwatch expansion by Fantasy Flight; see the free character sheets) the Space Marines are noticeably much broader on top of their greater muscle mass, to the point that their heads look rather small and ill-proportioned by comparison.

[Mac the knife]

always seemed to me that you could replace SM with the Hulk of Marvel fame. try to nab his proportions and just add armor.

[xa0s]

always seemed to me that you could replace SM with the Hulk of Marvel fame. try to nab his proportions and just add armor.

 

That's actually a good idea!

[Firenze]

When looking at Space Marines, look at them under the armour first. The shoulders are alot wider than a normal human's, almost a fifth more porportionally. The head is small for the body, and the best way to look at this is by looking at Truescaled Marine models. These are the closest you can get to the true porportions.

 

Start off with a wireframe body (stick-man effectively) to get the pose correct, remembering that the porportions are different. Then, muscle it out gently, showing the size of the arms and muscle under the armour to get the position of armour plates correct. When you have the unarmoured marine done, do the armour plates. I usually start with the core and chest, as it gives a good base to spread from. After, I get the top half done, I do the legs and hand detail (Leave the hands till last, otherwise you could make them way out of porportion to the body as I have done many times.)

 

 

I might actually write up a tutorial for drawing marines thanks to this thread.

[The Normish]

I sometimes draw a Space Marine, and I'm wondering what quality you are all aiming for.

Several have suggested ensuring correct proportions, drawing musculature followed by the plate, etc.

What I do (and I think my Space Marines are okay, although not highest quality), is start with a basic sketch, sort of a wire-frame, in a pose. But I don't really worry about proportions. Then I fill in detail and flesh out the outlines of specific parts. Usually I do the shoulder pads and helmet first. Then I just draw in the rest.

 

How does all of your artwork look? I don't really go for realism, all that much, to be honest.