Anime Drawing Curriculum

#figure-drawing #art-curriculum #adhd-learning #digital-art #procreate

Meta Information

Target Student Profile:

Timeline: 12+ months to proficiency Total Practice Hours: 500-1,000+ hours Study Approach: Realism first, then strategic stylization

Table of Contents

Core Learning Philosophy

The Foundation Principle Master realistic anatomy first, then strategically stylize. All successful manga and anime artists trained extensively in realism before developing signature styles.

The Optimal Learning Sequence

Research from Proko, Love Life Drawing, and New Masters Academy converges on this progression:

Landmarks → Angles → Rough Proportions → Basic Anatomy → Simplified Forms → Values → Gesture

This builds recognizable landmarks and angles as foundation for effective gesture capture.

Your Learning Phases

Phase 1 (Months 1-3): Foundations

Phase 2 (Months 4-6): Anatomical Understanding

Phase 3 (Months 6-12+): Application and Stylization

ADHD-Optimized Practice Structure

#adhd-strategies #practice-structure

The RAN Method Reward + Accountability + Novelty = Sustained ADHD motivation

Core ADHD Principles

Distributed Practice Over Massed Practice

Session Structure (30 min)

  1. Minutes 0-5: Warm-up (easy win)
  2. Minutes 5-25: Core practice (focused skill work)
  3. Minutes 25-30: Review and celebration

Session Structure (60 min)

  1. Minutes 0-5: Warm-up
  2. Minutes 5-35: Core skill (two 15-min segments with 30-sec break)
  3. Minutes 35-40: Physical break (stand, stretch, NO SCREENS)
  4. Minutes 40-58: Application and creative work
  5. Minutes 58-60: Review and next-session prep

Reward Components

Accountability Components

Novelty Components

The "Anchored Variety" Weekly Pattern

Weekly Structure:

Ratio Guidelines:

Quick Wins Strategy

The 5-Minute Rule Commit to just 5 minutes of practice, then reassess. Often you'll achieve flow state and continue, but if not, stop guilt-free.

Break Large Goals Into Micro-Goals (1-3 sessions):

Essential Equipment & Resources

#tools #resources #equipment

iPad Setup

Hardware Options:

Drawing App (Required):

Reference Apps:

Procreate Brush Setup

Default Brushes:

Recommended Premium:

Learning Resources Investment Plan

Immediate Start (FREE):

Month 1 Investment (~$86):

Months 2-6 Investment ($150-450):

Option A (Budget):

Option B (Comprehensive):

Total First-Year Investment: $450-900 (vs. $20,000-50,000 art school)

Essential Websites

Free Reference:

Paid Reference:

Course Platforms:

Communities:

Phase 1: Foundations (Months 1-3)

#phase-1 #fundamentals #gesture #construction #proportion

Month 1: Gesture and Landmarks

#month-1 #gesture-drawing #anatomical-landmarks

Focus: See and capture essential movement and structure Volume Goal: 500+ gesture drawings Priority: Flow over accuracy

Week 1-2: Pure Gesture Drawing

Daily Practice (30 min):

📹 Essential Video Tutorials:

  1. How to Draw Gesture - Proko (9-10 min)

  2. Quicksketch Assignment Examples - Proko

  3. Figure Drawing: Gesture - New Masters Academy (~2 hours)

    • Glenn Vilppu's master class
    • Multiple demonstrations with various mediums

  4. Gestures & Quick Drawings Strategy - Love Life Drawing (15-25 min)

    • Inside the artist's mind during timed drawings
    • Priority decision-making for speed work

Exercise: 30-Second Gesture Blitz

Setup:

  1. Open Line of Action (https://line-of-action.com)
  2. Set timer: 30 seconds
  3. Open Procreate with 6B Pencil brush
  4. Canvas size: 2048x2048px at 300 DPI

Steps:

  1. Start timer for 15-20 poses at 30 seconds each
  2. Goal: Capture line of action only - single flowing curve expressing pose's essence
  3. Maximum: 3-5 lines per figure
    • Main flow line (spine curve)
    • Head placement
    • Maybe shoulder/hip indicators
  4. Use large, loose strokes
  5. NO erasing, NO details, NO proportions
  6. You're training your eye to see movement FIRST

After 30-second set:

Success Metrics:

Common Mistakes

  • Trying to get proportions right (DON'T)
  • Drawing contours instead of gesture (WRONG)
  • Using small, tight strokes (TOO TIMID)
  • Worrying about whether it "looks good" (IRRELEVANT)

Week 1 Goal: 150+ gestures, focus on movement flow

Week 3-4: Landmark Identification

Daily Practice (30 min):

📹 Essential Video Tutorials:

  1. Landmarks of the Human Body - Proko (20-30 min)

  2. Starting Construction Using Visible Landmarks - Love Life Drawing

Key Anatomical Landmarks to Identify:

  1. Pit of neck (suprasternal notch)
  2. Collar bones (clavicles)
  3. Pelvic tips (ASIS - anterior superior iliac spine)
  4. Sacrum triangle (base of spine)
  5. Shoulder blade tips (scapulae)
  6. Center line of torso (sternum to pubic symphysis)

Exercise: Landmark Hunter

Setup:

Steps (2-3 min per figure, 10 figures per session):

  1. Identify landmarks on reference (30 sec):

    • Mark pit of neck
    • Find collarbone ends
    • Locate ASIS points on pelvis
    • Spot sacrum triangle
    • Note shoulder blade corners

  2. Draw landmarks on your figure (1 min):

    • Use small circles or dots
    • Don't draw full figure yet
    • Just place the landmarks accurately

  3. Check with 3D Anatomy app (30 sec):

    • Rotate model to similar angle
    • Verify landmark positions
    • Make corrections

  4. Draw simple connections (1 min):

    • Connect landmarks with straight lines
    • Create skeletal framework
    • See how body structure emerges

Progression:

Success Metrics:

ADHD Win Create a "Landmark Spotter" game: Set 1-minute timer, mark ALL landmarks you can find on one pose. Count them. Try to beat your record next session.

Month 1 Milestones

By Week 4, you should:

Quick Win Celebration:

Month 2: Construction and Proportion

#month-2 #construction #proportion #geometric-forms

Focus: Build figures from geometric forms Bridge: Your perspective knowledge → organic forms

Week 1-2: Basic Construction Method

Daily Practice (30-45 min):

📹 Essential Video Tutorials:

  1. Constructing Figures From Primitive Shapes - Proko (20-30 min)

  2. Figure Drawing: Construction - New Masters Academy (30-45 min)

  3. Completing the Simple Construction - Love Life Drawing

Exercise: Superstickman Construction

Warm-up (5 min):

Main Practice (30 min, 6-8 figures at 5 min each):

Steps for each figure:

  1. Head (30 sec):

    • Simple oval
    • Center line showing face direction
    • Brow line (eye level axis)

  2. Torso landmarks (1 min):

    • V-shape at throat connecting to collarbone line
    • Center line down torso to groin
    • Pelvic line across hips

  3. Limbs as lines (1 min):

    • Shoulder → elbow → wrist
    • Pelvis → knee → ankle
    • Triangle placeholders for hands/feet

  4. Add mass (1 min):

    • Ribcage: Box or egg shape
    • Pelvis: Box or trapezoid showing tilt and rotation
    • Show which way forms face in 3D space

  5. Limbs as cylinders (1 min):

    • Tapering cylinders for arms and legs
    • Cross-contour lines showing rotation
    • Ellipses at joints (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle)

  6. Final outline and shadows (1 min):

    • Draw final contours on top of construction
    • Add major shadow shapes
    • Keep construction visible underneath (use layer in Procreate)

Procreate Layer Strategy:

Key Concept You're building a 3D mannequin that exists in space. Every form has VOLUME and can be rotated mentally.

Book Study (15-20 min before/after practice):

Success Metrics:

Week 3-4: Proportion and Measurement

Daily Practice (45 min):

📹 Essential Video Tutorials:

  1. Human Proportions Series - Proko (15-30 min each)

    • Search: "Proko human proportions" on YouTube
    • Topics: Average Figure, Cranial Units, Idealistic Figures
    • Covers 8-head canon and measurement methods

  2. How to Draw Accurate Proportions - Proko (20-40 min)

  3. Measuring & Proportion - Brent Eviston (10-20 min per lesson)

    • "The Art & Science of Drawing" series
    • Sight-sizing and angle sighting

Exercise: Head-Height Method Mastery

Warm-up (5 min):

Main Practice (40 min, 5-6 figures at 8 min each):

The 7-8 Head Method Steps:

  1. Measure the head (1 min):

    • Draw head size at top of figure
    • Use this as your measuring unit

  2. Mark off 7-8 head lengths (1 min):

    • Create vertical guide with 8 tick marks
    • Each mark = 1 head height

  3. Check key landmarks (2 min):

    • Head: 0-1
    • Chin to pit of neck: ~1
    • Shoulders: ~1.5
    • Nipples: ~2
    • Navel: ~3
    • Pubic bone: 4 (CRITICAL CHECKPOINT)
    • Mid-thigh: 5
    • Knee: 6 (CRITICAL CHECKPOINT)
    • Mid-calf: 7
    • Feet: 8

  4. Draw construction with proportions (3 min):

    • Build figure using construction method from Week 1-2
    • Constantly check against head-height marks
    • Adjust if proportions drift

  5. Verify additional proportions (1 min):

    • Hand size = Face size (chin to hairline)
    • Foot length = Forearm length
    • Shoulder width = 2-2.5 heads (male)
    • Hip width = 1.5-2 heads (male)

Use 3D Anatomy App:

Male vs. Female Proportions:

Feature Male Female
Shoulders Broader than hips Narrower than hips
Hips Narrow, angular Wide, rounded
Waist Less defined More defined
Ribcage Larger Smaller
Muscle definition More pronounced Softer
Fat distribution Chest, abdomen Hips, thighs, breasts

Success Metrics:

ADHD Quick Win Create a "Proportion Checker" template in Procreate:

  • Draw 8 horizontal lines as layer
  • Lock layer and set to 30% opacity
  • Use for every proportion drawing
  • Check accuracy by toggling layer visibility

Month 2 Milestones

By Week 4, you should:

Test Yourself:

Month 3: Anatomy Introduction and Integration

#month-3 #anatomy #skeleton #muscles #integration

Focus: Introduce anatomical understanding while maintaining gesture/construction Goal: Learn 15-20 major visible forms, not memorize every muscle

Week 1-2: Skeleton and Torso Anatomy

Daily Practice (45-60 min):

📹 Essential Video Tutorials:

  1. Anatomy of the Rib Cage - Proko (15-25 min)

    • URL: Search "Proko ribcage anatomy" on YouTube
    • Series: "Anatomy of the Rib Cage," "How to Draw the Rib Cage," "The Shape of the Rib Cage"
    • Simplified oval/egg shape, sternum, costal arch

  2. How to Draw the Pelvis from Any Angle - Proko (20-30 min)

    • "Bucket" simplification with wedge cut-out
    • ASIS points, sacrum, greater trochanter

  3. Pelvis Anatomy Made Easy - Love Life Drawing (15-25 min)

  4. Anatomy of the Spine - Proko (15-25 min)

    • Cervical, thoracic, lumbar curves
    • Connection to ribcage and pelvis

Structure:

Week 1 Focus: RIBCAGE

Exercise: Ribcage Inside-Out Drawing

Study Phase (10 min):

  1. Open 3D Anatomy app
  2. Isolate ribcage only
  3. Rotate and observe:
    • Egg shape (narrower at top)
    • Sternum down center front
    • Costal arch at bottom (ribs 7-10)
    • How it tilts forward/backward
    • How it rotates left/right

Key Ribcage Facts:

Drawing Practice (30 min, 5 figures at 6 min each):

  1. Draw ribcage skeleton INSIDE figure first
  2. Show tilt and rotation clearly
  3. Build surface anatomy on top
  4. Draw from multiple angles

Week 2 Focus: PELVIS

Exercise: Pelvis Bucket Method

Study Phase (10 min):

  1. 3D Anatomy app - pelvis only
  2. Visualize as bucket with wedge cut out front
  3. Key landmarks:
    • ASIS: Two "hip bones" you feel in front
    • Iliac crest: Top rim of pelvis "bucket"
    • Sacrum: Triangular bone at back
    • Greater trochanter: Bump on side of femur
    • Pubic symphysis: Front center bottom

Drawing Practice (30 min, 5 figures at 6 min each):

  1. Draw pelvis structure first
  2. Show "waistband" line connecting ASIS points
  3. Show how pelvis tilts relative to ribcage
  4. Add legs connecting at greater trochanter
Ribcage-Pelvis Relationship Think of ribcage and pelvis as two boxes that can:

  • Tilt: Front-to-back rotation
  • Bend: Side-to-side
  • Twist: Rotation opposite directions
  • This relationship creates ALL torso movement

Success Metrics:

Week 3-4: Major Muscle Groups

Daily Practice (60 min):

📹 Essential Video Tutorials:

  1. ULTIMATE Anatomy / Simple Anatomy - Marc Brunet (15-40 min each)

  2. Anatomy Quick Tips Series - Sinix Design (14-22 min each)

    • "Anatomy Quick Tips - Abs" (15 min)
    • "Anatomy Quick Tips - Hips" (22 min)
    • Clear, practical application focus

  3. Complete Figure Drawing - Aaron Blaise (Free YouTube content)

    • Search: "Aaron Blaise anatomy" on YouTube
    • Former Disney animator perspective

  4. Proko Anatomy Series (Free on YouTube)

Structure:

The 15 Major Muscle Groups (Priority Order):

Upper Body:

  1. Pectorals (chest)
  2. Deltoids (shoulders - 3 heads)
  3. Biceps (front of arm)
  4. Triceps (back of arm)
  5. Rectus abdominis (abs - 6-pack)
  6. External obliques (side abs)
  7. Trapezius (upper back/neck)
  8. Latissimus dorsi (lats - wide back)

Lower Body: 9. Gluteus maximus (butt) 10. Quadriceps (front thigh - 4 muscles) 11. Hamstrings (back thigh) 12. Gastrocnemius (calf - 2 heads) 13. Soleus (lower calf) 14. Tibialis anterior (shin) 15. Adductors (inner thigh)

Exercise: Color-Coded Muscle Map

For Each Muscle Group (Study 1-2 per day):

  1. Learn location (5 min):

    • Where it originates (attaches to bone)
    • Where it inserts (ends)
    • What action it performs

  2. Study in 3D Anatomy app (5 min):

    • Isolate muscle only
    • Rotate 360°
    • Watch it contract/relax

  3. Draw simplified form (10 min):

    • Draw muscle shape isolated
    • Color code it in your notes
    • Make shape memorable

  4. Apply to figures (40 min, 5-8 figures):

    • Draw full figure
    • Highlight studied muscle group in color
    • Show muscle from different angles

Procreate Color-Coding System:

Week-by-Week Muscle Schedule:

Week 3:

Week 4:

Don't Memorize Everything Focus on VISIBLE surface forms only. You don't need to know every muscle name or attachment point. Know enough to draw convincingly.

Success Metrics:

Month 3 Milestones

By Week 4, you should:

Major Achievement: Your figures now have:

Even if details are rough, the fundamental understanding is VISIBLE.

Phase 2: Anatomy and Refinement (Months 4-6)

#phase-2 #deep-anatomy #hands #feet #values

Month 4: Deep Anatomy Study

#month-4 #layered-anatomy #skeleton-muscle-surface

Focus: Skeleton → Muscle Groups → Surface Appearance

Weekly Structure (5 days, 60 min each)

Session Template:

📹 Essential Video Tutorials (Watch Throughout Month):

  1. Full Anatomy Course - Proko (Multiple videos)

  2. Anatomy Series - New Masters Academy

    • Steve Huston and Glenn Vilppu lessons
    • Classical approach to anatomy

Regional Rotation:

Week 1: Shoulder Girdle and Arms

📹 Video Tutorials:

Anatomy to Study:

Daily Focus:

Week 2: Back Anatomy

📹 Video Tutorials:

Anatomy to Study:

Key Back Landmarks:

Week 3: Leg Anatomy

📹 Video Tutorials:

Anatomy to Study:

Week 4: Integration and Review

Exercise: Full Figure with All Anatomy

The Layering Exercise

Core Practice Method for Month 4:

Exercise: Anatomical Layering (30 min per body part)

Steps:

  1. Layer 1 - Skeleton (10 min):

    • Draw only bones for body part
    • Get proportions and angles right
    • Establish structure

  2. Layer 2 - Muscle Groups (10 min):

    • On new Procreate layer or separate drawing
    • Add major muscles one at a time
    • Use different colors for each muscle
    • Show origin and insertion points

  3. Layer 3 - Surface Form (10 min):

    • On new layer
    • Draw skin surface showing muscle forms underneath
    • Add flesh, fat, basic shading
    • Show only what's visible on surface

  4. Repeat 5-10 times same body part in same session

    • Internalizes the layering
    • Builds muscle memory
    • Each rep gets faster and more confident

Example Progression (Arms):

Session 1: Just bones (humerus, radius, ulna)
Session 2: Bones + deltoid only
Session 3: Bones + deltoid + biceps
Session 4: Bones + deltoid + biceps + triceps
Session 5: Full arm with all muscles + surface
Digital Layer Workflow In Procreate:

  • Layer 1: Skeleton (30% opacity, lock)
  • Layer 2: Muscles (50% opacity, lock after)
  • Layer 3: Surface (100% opacity)
  • Toggle visibility to see relationships

Month 4 Milestones

By Week 4, you should:

Investment Recommendation: Month 4 is perfect time to invest in:

Month 5: Difficult Areas and Rendering

#month-5 #hands #feet #values #shading

Focus: Master the parts everyone struggles with + add dimensional form

Week 1-2: Hands Bootcamp

Daily Practice (60 min):

📹 Essential Video Tutorials:

  1. How to Draw Hand Bones - Proko (9-14 min)

    • URL: Search "Proko hand bones anatomy" on YouTube
    • Complete "Drawing Hands" series (~2.5 hours total)

  2. HOW TO DRAW HANDS & FEET - Marc Brunet (15-25 min)

  3. Anatomy Quick Tips: Hands - Sinix Design (13-14 min)

    • Essential aspects, structure, flow
    • 2.7M views - highly popular

  4. Muscle Anatomy of the Hand - Proko (15-20 min)

Session Structure:

Hand Simplification: Palm Block + Cylinder Fingers

The Palm Block:

The Fingers:

Key Hand Facts:

Exercise: Hand Construction Drill

Steps (4 minutes per hand):

  1. Gesture (30 sec):

    • Overall hand shape and direction
    • Major action line

  2. Palm block (1 min):

    • Draw palm as 3D box
    • Show perspective
    • Mark knuckle line

  3. Finger cylinders (1 min):

    • Add all 5 fingers as cylinders
    • Show 3 segments each (except thumb)
    • Add ellipses at joints
    • Check lengths

  4. Refinement (1 min):

    • Add contours
    • Show knuckle wrinkles
    • Indicate nails
    • Refine thumb position

  5. Shading (30 sec):

    • Major shadow shapes only

Reference Resources:

Daily Hand Goals:

Common Hand Mistakes

  • Fingers too uniform (vary lengths!)
  • Thumb wrong position (attaches lower!)
  • Palm too small (should be ~half hand)
  • No foreshortening (hands are 3D!)
  • "Banana fingers" (add knuckle bumps!)

Week 3: Feet Bootcamp

Daily Practice (60 min):

📹 Essential Video Tutorials:

  1. How to Draw Feet with Structure - Proko (10-15 min)

  2. Constructing and Shading the Foot - Proko (42 min)

  3. HOW TO DRAW HANDS & FEET - Marc Brunet (15-25 min)

Foot Simplification: Wedge Shape + Cylinder Toes

The Foot Wedge:

Key Foot Facts:

Exercise: Feet from Multiple Angles

Same structure as hands bootcamp:

Critical Foot Angles to Practice:

  1. Standing foot (side view)
  2. Foot from front (toes toward viewer)
  3. Foot from back (heel toward viewer)
  4. Top view (looking down)
  5. Relaxed/pointed foot (like dancer)

Week 4: Value and Form Rendering

Daily Practice (60 min):

📹 Essential Video Tutorials:

  1. Shading Light and Form - Basics - Proko (15-20 min)

    • URL: Referenced at painting.tube/shading-light-and-form-basics/
    • Elements: highlight, halftone, shadow, reflected light, core shadow, cast shadow

  2. How to Shade a Drawing - Proko (20-25 min)

  3. Improve Your Art with Better Shadows - Sinix Design (15-20 min)

    • Video ID: ZJkIaMECW6c
    • Better shadow shapes and colors

  4. Figure Drawing I: Rendering - New Masters Academy (25-35 min)

Focus: 3-5 Major Shadow Shapes (Ignore Complex Gradients)

The 3-Value Approach:

  1. Light - where light hits directly
  2. Mid-tone - transition areas
  3. Shadow - areas blocked from light

Exercise: Simple Value Studies

Setup:

Steps per figure:

  1. Line drawing (3 min):

    • Quick construction/gesture
    • Establish proportions

  2. Identify shadow shapes (2 min):

    • Squint at reference
    • See only 2-3 BIG shadow shapes
    • Draw shadow edges with line

  3. Fill values (5 min):

    • Leave lights white
    • Fill shadows dark
    • Add mid-tones in transition
    • NO gradients yet - flat shapes only

Study How Light Reveals Form:

Form Principles:

Cylinder Study Before drawing full figures:

  • Draw 20 cylinders at various angles
  • Show light source
  • Render with core shadow, reflected light, cast shadow
  • This is fundamental to understanding limbs

Month 5 Milestones

By Week 4, you should:

Test:

Month 6: Dynamic Poses and Imagination Drawing

#month-6 #foreshortening #dynamic-poses #imagination-drawing

Focus: Challenging poses and drawing without reference

Week 1-2: Foreshortening and Dynamic Poses

Daily Practice (60-90 min):

📹 Essential Video Tutorials:

  1. How to Draw Structure - Robo Bean - Proko (20 min + 30 min premium)

  2. How to Simplify Motion - The Bean - Proko (15-18 min)

  3. 4 Easy Steps to Conquer Foreshortening - Love Life Drawing (20-25 min)

  4. Intro to Dynamic Sketching - moderndayjames (45-60 min)

    • Building and rotating primitives
    • Forms at any angle

Understanding Foreshortening:

Foreshortening = forms coming toward/away from viewer appear compressed

The Four Torso Motions (Bean/Robo Bean Method):

  1. Tilt: Front-to-back rotation (bending forward/back)
  2. Lean: Side-to-side bending
  3. Twist: Ribcage and pelvis rotate opposite directions
  4. Foreshortening: Forms compress in perspective

Exercise: Cylinders in Perspective Mastery

Part 1: Pure Cylinder Practice (10 min):

Part 2: Limb Studies (30 min):

Part 3: Full Figures (30-40 min):

Dynamic Pose Priorities:

  1. Strong gesture (clear action line)
  2. Exaggerated motion (push the pose!)
  3. Clear foreshortening (commit to compression)
  4. Balance/weight distribution
  5. Anatomy (last priority - motion first!)

Week 3-4: Drawing from Imagination

Daily Practice (60-90 min):

📹 Essential Video Tutorials:

  1. How to Draw Figures from Memory - Proko (37 min)

  2. How to Draw Any Pose from IMAGINATION - Love Life Drawing (25-30 min)

  3. Drawing Figures From Imagination - New Masters Academy (30-40 min)

This Reveals What You TRULY Understand

Exercise: Memory Drawing Method

Structure (60 min total):

Part 1: Look-Away Drawing (20 min, 4 cycles):

  1. Study pose for 30 seconds (really LOOK)
  2. Hide reference
  3. Draw from memory for 2 minutes
  4. Compare with reference
  5. Redraw from observation for 2 minutes (note what you missed)

Part 2: Pure Imagination (20 min):

  1. Set specific pose mentally:
    • "Standing figure, weight on left leg, arms crossed"
    • "Crouching figure viewed from above"
    • "Running figure, side view"
  2. Draw for 10 minutes
  3. Find similar reference photo
  4. Compare and identify knowledge gaps

Part 3: Gap Analysis (20 min):

  1. List what you struggled with
  2. Look up those specific topics
  3. Do 5-10 quick studies of weak areas

Common Imagination Drawing Gaps:

Progressive Imagination Challenges:

Week 3:

Week 4:

The Best Teacher Drawing from imagination is the BEST way to identify weaknesses. Whatever you struggle with from imagination = what you need to study more from reference.

Month 6 Milestones

By Week 4, you should:

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: 🎉 You have solid figure drawing fundamentals and are ready to stylize!

This is a significant milestone. You now understand:

Phase 3: Stylization and Mastery (Months 7-12+)

#phase-3 #stylization #bara #yaoi #shounen #anime

Understanding Your Target Styles

#style-characteristics #bara #yaoi #shounen

Before transitioning to stylization, you must understand the defining characteristics of bara, yaoi, and shounen styles.

Bara Characteristics

Created by/for: Gay men Aesthetic: Masculine emphasis with exaggerated musculature

📹 Learning Resources (Limited YouTube Content):

Limited Direct Tutorials YouTube has very limited dedicated bara tutorials. Most content is on:

  • TikTok (short-form demonstrations)
  • DeviantArt (static tutorials)
  • Specialized Discord servers and Patreon

Available Resources:

Technical Characteristics:

  1. Body Types:

    • "The Dorito": Athletic, broad shoulders, sharp angles
    • "Thicc": Chubby/stocky, rounder shapes
    • "OVA Dio": Muscular + substantial

  2. Muscle Emphasis:

    • 150-200% beyond natural limits
    • Significantly broader shoulders
    • Thicker neck and trapezius
    • Substantial body hair
    • Masculinized facial features (heavy brows, strong jaw)

  3. Line Work:

    • Bold, defined lines
    • Heavy line weight for masculine effect
    • Round shapes for soft areas
    • Sharp angles for muscle definition

  4. Hands:

    • Realistic or slightly enlarged
    • Emphasize strength

Key Artists to Study:

Yaoi Characteristics

Created by/for: Women for female audiences Aesthetic: Bishōnen (beautiful boys), delicate features

Available Resources:

Technical Characteristics:

  1. Distinctive Visual Elements:

    • "Yaoi hands": Exaggerated large hands (1.5-2x natural)
    • Triangle chins
    • Large expressive eyes (2-3x natural)
    • Slim proportions, narrow builds
    • Softer facial features
    • Long flowing hair often

  2. Body Modifications from Realism:

    • Reduce overall body mass
    • Narrow shoulders
    • Minimize muscle definition
    • Elongate limbs slightly
    • Soften all angles (face and body)

  3. Line Work:

    • Softer, flowing lines
    • Less muscle definition emphasis
    • Delicate quality overall

Key Artists to Study:

Shounen Characteristics

Created for: Young male audiences Aesthetic: Action-oriented, energy and movement emphasis

📹 Video Tutorials:

General Anime/Manga Anatomy:

Technical Characteristics:

  1. Style Elements:

    • Angular lines (good for fight scenes)
    • Broad shoulders
    • Defined but not overly detailed musculature
    • Simplified anatomy for clarity
    • Dynamic poses emphasized

  2. Proportions:

    • Relatively grounded (6.5-7.5 heads tall)
    • Despite stylization, maintains believability

  3. Drawing Approach:

    • Simplify muscle rendering to clean shapes
    • Angular bone structure
    • Slightly enlarge hands/feet for visual impact
    • Reduce anatomical detail for clarity in action

  4. Narrative Focus:

    • Regular characters vs. extraordinary opponents
    • David vs. Goliath dynamic
    • NOT Western-style superheroes

Key Artists to Study:

Key Differences in Audience and Intent

Style Audience Intent Body Emphasis
Bara Gay men Masculinity, explicit content Muscular, hyper-masculine
Yaoi Women Aestheticize/romanticize relationships Delicate, androgynous
Shounen Young males Action, adventure Athletic, dynamic

Months 7-9: Transition Methodology

#transition-process #realism-to-style #systematic-stylization

Focus: Bridge from realistic foundations to stylized expressions

The Systematic Stylization Process

Step-by-step progression:

  1. Master realistic foundation ✅ (You did this!)
  2. Break down into simple shapes
  3. Understand measurement systems
  4. Simplify muscle definition
  5. Identify features to exaggerate
  6. Practice target style extensively
  7. Develop your stylistic choices

Week-by-Week Rotation Structure

Rotate through each style OR focus on one:

Week 1: Analyze Style

Week 2: Comparative Studies

Week 3: Copy Master Works

Week 4: Original Work in Style

Daily Practice Structure (60-90 min)

Session Template:

  1. 10 min: Realistic gesture warm-up (maintain fundamentals!)
  2. 30 min: Style-specific practice
    • Exaggerate target proportions
    • Practice characteristic line work
    • Work on style's distinctive features
  3. 20-30 min: Creative application
    • Draw original character designs
    • Practice storytelling through poses
    • Experiment with combining style elements

Bara-Specific Practice Methods

📹 Recommended Approach: Since YouTube content is limited:

  1. Study TikTok short-form bara demonstrations
  2. Join Discord communities for bara artists
  3. DeviantArt tutorials for static guides
  4. Apply realistic anatomy with bara modifications

Exercise: Progressive Muscle Emphasis

Steps (30 min, 6 drawings at 5 min each):

  1. Drawing 1: Realistic male figure (baseline)
  2. Drawing 2: Same pose, 125% muscle emphasis
  3. Drawing 3: Same pose, 150% muscle emphasis
  4. Drawing 4: Same pose, 175% muscle emphasis
  5. Drawing 5: Same pose, 200% muscle emphasis (full bara)
  6. Drawing 6: Original pose in bara style

Focus Areas for Bara:

Technical Practice:

Yaoi-Specific Practice Methods

Exercise: Progressive Body Reduction

Steps (30 min, 6 drawings at 5 min each):

  1. Drawing 1: Realistic male figure
  2. Drawing 2: Slim down shoulders, reduce muscle
  3. Drawing 3: Further reduce mass, elongate limbs slightly
  4. Drawing 4: Soften all angles, minimize muscle definition
  5. Drawing 5: Enlarge eyes, add characteristic features
  6. Drawing 6: Full yaoi style with exaggerated hands

Focus Areas for Yaoi:

Technical Practice:

Shounen-Specific Practice Methods

Exercise: Angular Simplification

Steps (30 min, 6 drawings at 5 min each):

  1. Drawing 1: Realistic anatomical figure
  2. Drawing 2: Identify major muscle shapes, outline them
  3. Drawing 3: Convert muscle shapes to clean geometric forms
  4. Drawing 4: Simplify further - fewer lines, clearer shapes
  5. Drawing 5: Add angular bone structure emphasis
  6. Drawing 6: Full shounen style with dynamic posing

Focus Areas for Shounen:

Technical Practice:

Digital Layer Strategy for Style Study

Procreate Workflow:

Layer 1 (20% opacity): Realistic construction

Layer 2 (100% opacity): Stylized version

Toggle between layers to see exactly how you're modifying proportions.

Save progression files showing your development over time.

Months 7-9 Milestones

By Month 9, you should:

Months 10-12+: Style Integration and Personal Voice

#personal-style #integration #mastery #portfolio

Focus: Integrate multiple style influences, develop unique voice

Your Unique Fusion: Bara + Yaoi + Shounen

Since you want "bara and yaoi styles with shounen influences," experiment with combinations:

Possible Combinations:

The Key: Make Deliberate Choices

Ask yourself for EACH element:

Practice Structure Shift: 40% Drills / 60% Creative

Maintain Fundamentals (10-15 min warm-ups):

Creative Application (Most of session):

Character Design Practice

Exercise: Character Design Sheet (60-90 min per character)

Create comprehensive sheets including:

  1. Multiple angles:

    • Front view
    • 3/4 view
    • Side view
    • Back view

  2. Expression studies:

    • Happy, sad, angry, surprised, neutral
    • 5-10 facial expressions

  3. Pose variations:

    • Standing neutral
    • Action pose
    • Sitting/relaxed
    • Dynamic movement

  4. Detail callouts:

    • Hand studies
    • Facial feature close-ups
    • Clothing/costume details

  5. Style notes:

    • Proportions used
    • Line weight choices
    • Characteristic features

Sequential Art Practice

Exercise: 4-Panel Comic Strip

Weekly goal: Create 2-3 short sequential pieces

Benefits:

Subjects:

Seeking Feedback and Community

Post work to communities:

Reddit:

Other Platforms:

For ADHD Accountability:

Master Study Deep Dives

Exercise: Analyze Professional Work

Pick 5-10 favorite artists in your target styles:

For each, study:

  1. Proportions: Measure their head-height ratios
  2. Line work: Analyze line weight variations
  3. Shape language: How do they construct forms?
  4. Detail level: What do they emphasize vs. simplify?
  5. Color/value: How do they use shading?

Create "Swipe File":

Professional Practice Development

Develop consistent workflow:

  1. Thumbnail sketches (explore compositions)
  2. Rough gesture (establish movement)
  3. Refined construction (accurate proportions)
  4. Clean line work (final outlines)
  5. Values/shading (form and depth)
  6. Details (refinement)

Time yourself:

Months 10-12+ Milestones

By Month 12, you should:

Achievement Unlocked: You have mastered figure drawing fundamentals and developed your unique bara-yaoi-shounen fusion style.

Sample Practice Schedules

#schedules #practice-routines #time-management

30-Minute Daily Session (Beginner Baseline)

Time Block Breakdown:

Minutes 0-5: Warm-up and Easy Win

Minutes 5-25: Focused Skill Work (Rotate Daily)

Monday - Proportions:

Tuesday - Anatomy Study:

Wednesday - Construction:

Thursday - Values/Shading:

Friday - Gesture Refinement:

Minutes 25-28: Application

Minutes 28-30: Review and Celebration

Weekly Total: 2.5 hours across 5 days

Distributed Practice Effect 2.5 hours spread across 5 days > one 2.5-hour session Memory consolidation happens between sessions

60-Minute Daily Session (Optimal Progress)

Time Block Breakdown:

Minutes 0-5: Warm-up

Minutes 5-35: Core Skill Development

Segment 1 (15 min): Deliberate practice on specific weakness Segment 2 (15 min): Related skill or apply Segment 1 learning

Example Monday:

Minutes 35-40: Physical Break

Minutes 40-58: Application and Creative Work

Minutes 58-60: Review and Next-Session Prep

Weekly Total: 5 hours across 5 days

Weekly Variety Structure (ADHD-Optimized)

The "Anchored Variety" System:

Monday: Gesture and Flow (30-45 min)

Tuesday: Construction and Structure (45-60 min)

Wednesday: Anatomy Focus (45-60 min)

Thursday: Problem Area Drilling (30-45 min)

Friday: Integration and Experimentation (60 min)

Saturday: Project Work (90-120 min)

Sunday: Rest or Light Sketching (Optional)

Weekly Total: ~6-8 hours

Benefits:

Measuring Progress and Success Metrics

#progress-tracking #milestones #self-assessment

Monthly Self-Assessment Checkpoints

Create Standard Test Battery (Every 30 days):

90-Minute Test Session:

  1. 5 gesture drawings (30 seconds each) - 2.5 min total
  2. 3 proportion drawings (5 minutes each) - 15 min total
  3. 2 anatomical drawings with muscle emphasis (10 min each) - 20 min total
  4. 1 value study with shading (20 minutes) - 20 min total
  5. 1 imagination drawing (30 minutes, no reference) - 30 min total

Total: 87.5 minutes

Archive these tests:

The Digital Overlay Accuracy Check

Procreate Method:

  1. Draw figure on Layer 1
  2. Place reference image on Layer 2 at 50% opacity
  3. Create Layer 3 in red
  4. Mark errors on Layer 3:
    • Proportion errors (measure differences)
    • Angle errors (shoulder, pelvis, limbs)
    • Anatomy mistakes
  5. Count error types
  6. Focus next month on most common error category

Quantitative Metrics to Track

Monthly Tracking (Spreadsheet or Notebook):

Metric Goal Actual
Total practice hours 40-60 hours ___
Total drawings created 300+ gestures ___
Days practiced 20+ days ___
Average session length 30-60 min ___
Topics studied (list) ___

ADHD Benefit:

Success Indicators by Month

Month 1 Success:

If missing: Need more gesture volume—increase daily session count/duration

Month 3 Success:

If missing: Likely not using construction method enough—dedicate full sessions to building from shapes

Month 6 Success:

If missing: Anatomy study insufficient—increase focused anatomy sessions, use 3D app more

Month 12 Success:

If missing: Likely too much exploration, not enough deliberate practice—return to structured drilling

Warning Signs Requiring Course Correction

After 3 months, if 30-second gestures still not fluid:

After 6 months, if figures still look flat without dimension:

After any period, if same mistakes repeat without improvement:

If constant overwhelm and practice avoidance:

If bored and unmotivated:

Realistic Timeline and Expectations

#timeline #expectations #mastery-journey

The Long View: Measured in Years

Professional-level figure drawing typically requires:

Your pace (30-60 min daily):

Realistic Milestones:

6-12 Months:

2-3 Years:

Historical Context

Stan Prokopenko notes that most professional artists trained for 5-10 years to reach proficiency.

Modern focused curricula can accelerate this, but there are no shortcuts to genuine skill.

The Key to Success: Consistency Over Intensity

30 minutes daily > 3 hours weekly

Every. Single. Time.

Why:

Your ADHD Advantage

With this ADHD-optimized structure:

You are positioned for success IF you maintain consistency.

What This Curriculum Provides

You now have:

✅ Foundational pedagogy from master educators ✅ Comprehensive anatomy resources for male figure mastery ✅ ADHD-accommodated practice structures with immediate rewards ✅ Complete iPad digital workflow ✅ Style-specific guidance for bara/yaoi/shounen ✅ Concrete exercises with measurable parameters ✅ Progressive schedules from daily to yearly scales ✅ Specific verified resources with URLs ✅ Video tutorials for every exercise

Next Steps: Start Today

#action-plan #getting-started #first-session

Your First Practice Session

Tomorrow morning, 30 minutes:

  1. Set up:

  2. Warm up (5 min):

    • 10 gestures at 30 seconds each
    • Just capture movement
    • Have fun!

  3. Practice (20 min):

    • 10 gestures at 1 minute each
    • Add head, ribcage, pelvis masses
    • Still loose and gestural

  4. Review (5 min):

    • Star your best 3
    • Take photo of page
    • Write: "Tomorrow I'll do 30-second gestures again"

Create Your Wins Log

Set up tracking system:

Log after each session:

Join a Community

Choose one and post introduction:

Make the Commitment

Your Promise to Yourself "I commit to 30 minutes of deliberate practice, 5 days per week, for the next 3 months. I will track my progress, celebrate small wins, and be patient with the process. In 12 months, I will have skills I can't imagine right now."

Remember

Your journey to mastering figure drawing and developing your unique bara-yaoi-shounen fusion style begins with a single gesture line drawn today.

Start now. Draw one figure. Then another. Then another.

In 12 months, you'll barely recognize how far you've progressed.

#resources #quick-access

Practice Sites

Course Platforms

YouTube Channels

Apps

Communities