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Using a Measuring Stick

Observation of the figure can be facilitated by visually measuring the figure. This can be done by using a measuring stick or pencil.

Measuring the Figure: Try the process below. Always keep your arm straight and hold the pencil the same way each time you measure or significant distortions will occur.

• Grip the pencil in your fist leaving the thumb free.
• Hold your arm out straight in a relaxed fashion with the thumb and pencil protruding straight up.
• Close one eye and measure off the distance from the top of the head to the chin. Move the top of your thumb down until it lines up with the chin.
• Now hold that measurement from the top of the pencil to the thumb and line it up with the bottom of your last measurement.
• Repeat this process and count how many head lengths make up the distance from the top of the head to the back of the heel.
• This will give you the overall length of the figure in relation to one head.
• Repeat this with the width, only turn your pencil to the side (90 degrees from the last orientation).

The average human figure is between 6-8 heads high. This will vary from individual to individual, but is a good standard to use. Figures also tend to be three heads width from shoulder to shoulder.

[measuring]		[body proportions]		[facial proportions]		[skeleton]		[muscles]

Questions or comments can be forwarded to Ralph Larmann at the University of Evansville.

The image above is shows a method for visually measuring the figure. Most people are between 6-7 heads high. This model is almost 8 heads high because that looks more correct in a drawing.

created 6/15/98 by R. M. Larmann
updated 7/2/04