By Jason Miller
The 'Basic' Female
I always start my sculpts with a picture. It is pretty much like a "practice run" at sculpting the figure as it allows me to concentrate on where the bones and muscles should be. Here are some tips on how to make your little stick man look like a woman...
How tall?
The average female is considered to be roughly 7-8 heads tall in true scale. But this can vary according to the artist and the character you are drawing really. I have heard people who say it is anywhere between 6 and 8 and certain comic books use 9 heads tall. When "extra" heads of height are added they tend to be added to the legs as most artists seem to prefer giving longer legs on their females.
Body Proportions
The average true scale female body follows rough "rules" of proportion. The ones listed above are the ones that I try to keep in mind when sculpting a female.
This picture links to a big composite photograph showing lots of naked and semi naked women. You have been warned.
It is also important to note that average is just that, average. It does not mean normal as 'normal' human beings can have body proportions that vary slightly due to genetics and environmental conditions.
This attractive young woman is still 7 heads tall, but unlike the 'average' woman her pelvis is lower or put another way she has a long torso with shorter legs. If you are sculpting a figure you need not stick to the 'averages', they are guidelines.
Once you have the basic body mapped out you need to add the muscles.
I have highlighted some of the muscles/curves/bones that tend to show on a female.
Many 28mm figures are sculpted closer to 5-6 heads tall
Here you can see a figure close to 'true scale'.
