Art Tip: Drawing mature-looking males

[HigurashiKira]

Since I promised that I would do something like this, here's my tutorial for drawing males. No, not those pretty, sparkly bishounen, but actual guys (You know, the ones most people draw as ugly looking?)

Numbers a correspondent to the numbers below

• 1)The Jaws
  Males generally have almost squared jaws, even those who have narrow faces have a squared jawline. Also, the chin is never pointed, it's either squared, clefted, or rounded (As in the example) And the lower jawline is defined in the male physique, it dosen't smoothly curve into the socket like in most bishie drawings. (Note, the noticable jawline is something that naturally exists in both males and females, but in a lot of artistic renditions, the defined jaw is usually a masculine feature) Also, before I forget, males have muscular necks (usually, sort of like in my example) and, in some cases, Adam's Apples While the definition of these two aren't needed, it does add a bit more realism to your guys.
  
  2)The Eyes
  You know those pretty eyes a lot of bishounen are drawn with? Yeah, you can just forget about those here. In manga styles, the eyes are a defining feature, since they show the characters emotions. However, a manly looking guy with large eyes looks creepy, so we're going to shrink them. In my examples, these are just a few ways I do my eyes, but there are many others. The thing to keep in mind is to keep them from being too big (This is where a bit of realism comes in) At their largest, the eyes should reach just where the bridge of the nose begins. (This is also something you can take back and apply into older females as well.)
  
  3)The Arms and Body Overview
  When a male is going through puberty, their muscles become more defined. Even the scrawniest of males has some sort of muscle on their arms (unless they're malnourished,in which case bony arms are acceptable) they also develop muscles on their abdomens and legs during puberty (Again, unless they are either malnourished or underweight). Though, something that I've noticed in most bishie drawings, you can't be scrawny AND have noticeable muscles. It can only be one or the other. (This is because muscle can make the abdomen much larger since it is denser and larger than fat)
  
  4) Facial and Body Hair
  The bane of all Otome lovers: male body hair. The moment the guy enters puberty, he begins a lifelong battle to control the growth of hair on his body and face. Ladies and gentlemen, facial hair CAN be attractive (It is defininately in real life) and can be a lazyman's way of showing a character's age and experience just like a guy's clothes and posture (Ex. A guy with a soul patch, dressed in a unbuttoned dress shirt and cargo shorts probably gives you the image of a laid-back kind of guy.) So don't be afraid to add a bit of fuzz to your guys, since us males naturally grow it whether we like it or not! And as for body hair: most guys grow a noticeable amout of hair on their arms, legs, and chests(Also known as the Carpet of Virility) Dosen't mean it's impossible to find guys who grow no hair in these places, but it's rare (Unless they wax frequently, or got some expensive treatment)

One last thing before I finish: TAKE WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN AND PRACTICE IT
I'm not saying that this is the only way to draw masculine males, but it is ONE way. Take what you want to learn and use it.

EDIT
Never writing another tutorial before I go to bed. Here's a handy proportion chart:

That last chart does have generalizations, so don't bite my head off for it if you think it's incorrect.

[Omnificent]

As someone who draws male characters with X-BoxHueg eyes on a regular basis, I must respectfully disagree with the assessment of small eyes as the way to go. Large eyes on male characters does indicate a certain character type (young, naive, boy-next-door, quite possibly the protagonist) but is still appropriately masculine when combined with other male-type traits, just as narrower eyes on a female character is still recognizably feminine when combined with other female-type traits. Having a variety of eyes leads to a variety of character design possibilities for both sexes.

Another point in regards to eyes is that any eyes look more feminine if there is a thick line suggesting larger eyelashes on top. That's an interesting distinction because more often than not that is the difference between shounen and shoujo-style male faces, particularly nowadays.



Aside from the jaw thing, the most important thing to make a male character distinguishable as such is body proportion. Males have two more ribs, which means their ribcage is longer and their waist is lower down. They are generally wider overall and have broader shoulders, making for a kind of upside-down triangle shape. Female characters tend to have broader hips, so the most confusing thing you can possibly do if you want a character to be read as male is to give them a skinny body with broad hips.



Even the flattest girl in the world, with a buzz cut, will read as feminine if she has wide hips.

EDIT:

[HigurashiKira]

As someone who draws male characters with X-BoxHueg eyes on a regular basis, I must respectfully disagree with the assessment of small eyes as the way to go. Large eyes on male characters does indicate a certain character type (young, naive, boy-next-door, quite possibly the protagonist) but is still appropriately masculine when combined with other male-type traits, just as narrower eyes on a female character is still recognizably feminine when combined with other female-type traits. Having a variety of eyes leads to a variety of character design possibilities for both sexes.

Another point in regards to eyes is that any eyes look more feminine if there is a thick line suggesting larger eyelashes on top. That's an interesting distinction because more often than not that is the difference between shounen and shoujo-style male faces, particularly nowadays.



Aside from the jaw thing, the most important thing to make a male character distinguishable as such is body proportion. Males have two more ribs, which means their ribcage is longer and their waist is lower down. They are generally wider overall and have broader shoulders, making for a kind of upside-down triangle shape. Female characters tend to have broader hips, so the most confusing thing you can possibly do if you want a character to be read as male is to give them a skinny body with broad hips.



Even the flattest girl in the world, with a buzz cut, will read as feminine if she has wide hips.

I forgot to write about body types Orz *swears to never write another tutorial at 11pm*
Thanks for bringing that up. About the eyes: The examples I linked are medium sized; not really big but at the same time still noticeable. Though, personally, I think the large eyes should be reserved for the truly youthful since (as I said) older looking guys look creepy with big eyes. (However, that is more personal taste than anything, but it really does make a character look older)

[Reikun]

Don't forget about ethnicity/genes too! Some men just DON'T HAVE any body hair xD Polynesian peoples naturally have very little body hair because evolutionarily, they live in a hot/humid climate where body hair is disadvantageous. Nordic people are hairy because they need to stay warm, etc.

And then I'll just leave this here:

I guess in the end it depends on how you define "big" eyes. Also, hairy men can be bishies too officially contaminates thread with fail bishie

[Fawn]

The best tip is really to study from life and read good anatomy books such as Bridgman's "Drawing from life" or Stephen Rogers Peck's "Atlas of Human Anatomy for the Artist". Both books heavily focus on male anatomy.

[Auro-Cyanide]

I don't think it is quite right to say 'Actual' males because it is rather exclusive of different people. It's like say 'Actual' women must have feminine curves otherwise they aren't really women. Saying feminine males are not 'actual' males is a little offensive to the guys who are feminine looking, from the younger guys who just haven't hit their masculine stride yet, to the boy band people to the guy I saw on the train who was one of the prettiest people I have ever seen. I think what you are really trying to go for is a greater diversity of males in VNs, which is something I can support.

So I'll add to this with some general tips for giving people visual cues to masculinity (plus this was something I struggled with when I first started drawing) when I have some time. And like Fawn said, anything like this should be used in conjunction with actual anatomical study. I'll only be pointing out stuff I have noticed and stuff I draw attention to.

[HigurashiKira]

I don't think it is quite right to say 'Actual' males because it is rather exclusive of different people. It's like say 'Actual' women must have feminine curves otherwise they aren't really women. Saying feminine males are not 'actual' males is a little offensive to the guys who are feminine looking, from the younger guys who just haven't hit their masculine stride yet, to the boy band people to the guy I saw on the train who was one of the prettiest people I have ever seen. I think what you are really trying to go for is a greater diversity of males in VNs, which is something I can support.

So I'll add to this with some general tips for giving people visual cues to masculinity (plus this was something I struggled with when I first started drawing) when I have some time. And like Fawn said, anything like this should be used in conjunction with actual anatomical study. I'll only be pointing out stuff I have noticed and stuff I draw attention to.

My main gripe for really writing this is because a lot of "bishounen" (there's a reason for the quotes) could easily pass for women since a lot of those kinds of artists simply do what they would do for females, except making them long-limbed and scrawny. Even an adrogynous man IRL has some masculine features (Unless they have Klinefelter's syndrome) And I do say that my way isn't the only way (Which seems to be ignored despite the part above it being in bold)

And, you know, maybe I should change the title since it seems that's what I'm getting slammed on for >_>

EDIT:
To go into a bit of detail about my argument- The community I grew up in (Hispanic) there is almost no such male that can come close to the apperance of a bishounen, and usually masculine features as I detailed above are viewed as handsome. But upon entering this community, suddenly it's reversed: androgynous, almost feminine-like men are viewed as attractive while those with masculine features are painted as ugly, or perverted. And while I wouldn't have any trouble in small quantities, the almost ridiculus amount of these kinds of men can make a lot of people sick of it (I'm just the most vocal of them) and it's the reason I dfirst labeled the tutorial as "Draw ACTUAL men" since a very miniscule amount of artists can draw them well.

I really just want to see a bit more testosterone injected into the males of these games, because, sorry to say ladies, those pretty men are nowhere near reality for both certain cultures and areas.

[Auro-Cyanide]

I do see your side of the argument, especially since females have to suffer through the same thing. But I'd suggest that you target your frustration at promoting diversity and knowledge. There ARE men who look feminine in real life that have no such disorder, like this guy who is a very famous model http://grazia.ninemsn.com.au/img/blogs/ ... gynous.jpg You have to also remember that not being 'masculine' enough is quite a big real life problem for some guys out there and it leads to a lot of body issues. The complete domaniance of androgyny would be just as bad, but it is only a very small part of the idea of beauty compared to the idea of masculinity that is promoted everywhere else from games to Hollywood. If you feel frustrated, how do you think those guys feel?

[Enigma]

I do see your side of the argument, especially since females have to suffer through the same thing. But I'd suggest that you target your frustration at promoting diversity and knowledge. There ARE men who look feminine in real life that have no such disorder, like this guy who is a very famous model http://grazia.ninemsn.com.au/img/blogs/ ... gynous.jpg You have to also remember that not being 'masculine' enough is quite a big real life problem for some guys out there and it leads to a lot of body issues. The complete domaniance of androgyny would be just as bad, but it is only a very small part of the idea of beauty compared to the idea of masculinity that is promoted everywhere else from games to Hollywood. If you feel frustrated, how do you think those guys feel?

I just figure I'd add, that masculinity can be achived through personality as well, I think Giorno Giovana is a good example of that. Also, how do we know this guy has no such disorder? I'm just wondering, because if a male lacks BIOLOGICAL male traits, there's a problem. Still, I'd love to see fewer bishounen, because looking at them all day is frustrating.

a greater variety of female body types would be nice too, but not what this thread is about so it's spoilered. Please no one discuss this here.

. Still, my main concern when designing characters (notice I say design, I don't draw them, just tell people what to draw!) is to have cool looking characters, so I really don't care what they end up looking like as long as it's cool. Aslo the thing about imagining how guys with feminine traits feel, I'd think pretty good cause they get all the girls

this is a joke on my part, no one take it seriously.

However, feminine guys are kind of well represented (well, not in Hollywood, I'll give you that), compared to other minorites.

[HigurashiKira]

I do see your side of the argument, especially since females have to suffer through the same thing. But I'd suggest that you target your frustration at promoting diversity and knowledge. There ARE men who look feminine in real life that have no such disorder, like this guy who is a very famous model http://grazia.ninemsn.com.au/img/blogs/ ... gynous.jpg You have to also remember that not being 'masculine' enough is quite a big real life problem for some guys out there and it leads to a lot of body issues. The complete domaniance of androgyny would be just as bad, but it is only a very small part of the idea of beauty compared to the idea of masculinity that is promoted everywhere else from games to Hollywood. If you feel frustrated, how do you think those guys feel?

I'm not aiming for political correctedness, though I wrote this with no malice towards androginity, but Androgynous men still PHYSICALLY male. Bishounen are technicaly, only male in name.

And here's a clearing up: imagine two drawings, one of a male and one of a female, both of which are nude drawings in the same pose. The female drawing is praised as art, while the male one is considered pornographic and might outright be destoryed. It's a double standard, and that's what bothers me about the whole bishounen thing: the male physique is detested, so in order to still have attractive males, they need to resort to feminizing them unrealisticly.

[LateWhiteRabbit]

And here's a clearing up: imagine two drawings, one of a male and one of a female, both of which are nude drawings in the same pose. The female drawing is praised as art, while the male one is considered pornographic and might outright be destoryed. It's a double standard, and that's what bothers me about the whole bishounen thing: the male physique is detested, so in order to still have attractive males, they need to resort to feminizing them unrealisticly.

What? That's not true. There are just as many works and sculptures featuring nude men as there are those featuring nude women, and both are considered art. Think of Michelangelo's David, or Rodin's The Thinker. Or Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin's Young Male Nude Seated Beside the Sea. Or Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man.

I've found in my experience that a person either accepts the naked human body as art or they don't. I find it rare for a person to declare one naked gender art but refuse the same classification to the other gender.

Now as to what we find attractive, that varies from person to person and time period to time period. Saying bishounen are men in name only isn't correct. Bishounen may not be the image of men that you personally prefer, but that doesn't preclude their classification as male. Just like with women, the image of the "ideal" man has changed from era to era and place to place.

At many times in history, the more boyish and "feminine" looking men were praised as the ideal. At other times it was the most rugged burly men that were the ideal. Look at the difference between Donatello's David - with its smooth, thin body, long curly hair, tiny penis, and described as a "beautiful youth" - and Michelangelo's much more bulky and square-jawed version of David carved nearly 100 years later.

Calling for more diversity in male figures and types is great, but declaring one side or the other as wrong or "in name only" is unhelpful.

[HigurashiKira]

And here's a clearing up: imagine two drawings, one of a male and one of a female, both of which are nude drawings in the same pose. The female drawing is praised as art, while the male one is considered pornographic and might outright be destoryed. It's a double standard, and that's what bothers me about the whole bishounen thing: the male physique is detested, so in order to still have attractive males, they need to resort to feminizing them unrealisticly.

What? That's not true. There are just as many works and sculptures featuring nude men as there are those featuring nude women, and both are considered art. Think of Michelangelo's David, or Rodin's The Thinker. Or Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin's Young Male Nude Seated Beside the Sea. Or Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man.

I've found in my experience that a person either accepts the naked human body as art or they don't. I find it rare for a person to declare one naked gender art but refuse the same classification to the other gender.

Now as to what we find attractive, that varies from person to person and time period to time period. Saying bishounen are men in name only isn't correct. Bishounen may not be the image of men that you personally prefer, but that doesn't preclude their classification as male. Just like with women, the image of the "ideal" man has changed from era to era and place to place.

At many times in history, the more boyish and "feminine" looking men were praised as the ideal. At other times it was the most rugged burly men that were the ideal. Look at the difference between Donatello's David - with its smooth, thin body, long curly hair, tiny penis, and described as a "beautiful youth" - and Michelangelo's much more bulky and square-jawed version of David carved nearly 100 years later.

Calling for more diversity in male figures and types is great, but declaring one side or the other as wrong or "in name only" is unhelpful.

I am not declaring neither side right or wrong, I was just clearing up a point. (Though rereading my post, it does sound like that) I'm just really tired of seeing the same porcaline-skinned bony men.

And about the drawing thing: to artists, you could care less about the subject (as in,the person being drawn/photographed) and pay more attention to the work as a whole, but to the generic non-artistic person that is usually the idea they have in their head (If they're not bothered by nudity)

EDIT: I'm not arguing about this anymore, you've all made your point. I can see that trying to inspire a bit of change is just too much.