Drawing an Elegant Dancer

Written by Teresita Blanco (The Artsy Sister)

Choosing poses is always an issue when drawing. If it is a single character, it becomes even more problematic. This Dancer was drawn for the sole purpose of featuring her fancy dress. It features part of the front and the back. The face was turned to show the green earring. 

When working with dresses, one has to consider whether shoes are necessary or not. These days lots of dancer go out barefoot. Their outfits tend to resemble odd patterns on bare skin. It is a weak selling point, since ballet does not enjoy general popularity, which is a pity. 

It is an interesting dance form, but it needs a bit of modernity, like social media exposure. Now, back to my drawing. For poses, people tend to use the little wooden dummy. Others tend to google fashion models posing. I would not recommend relying on models because the photos are all photoshop. 

However, if the skinny frame is more in tune with your style, then use models. I prefer those old 1950s drawings of the pinup style. The bodies lend themselves well to my dresses.

At other times, I use real life people. If you have a friend in a relatively decent shape, you can use that person as shorthand for your drawings. You do not need to keep the person standing still forever through your photos. My camera is another important tool for drawing.