What gives you the inspiration to try something new?

Is it watching someone do something incredible or fascinating?

Or, maybe it's looking at something already created that you find interesting or amazing. You see it and think, "Wow, I'd love to be able to do that!"

Whether it is learning how to do something new or trying to make something new, most people get the desire to learn a new skill after seeing it done, or modeled, by someone else.

When it comes to drawing people, many people who do not draw that often get inspired to take up the habit after seeing works of art by other artists.
<h3>Drawing Under the Influence</h3>
I can tell you from a personal standpoint that, long before I started watching people in the process of drawing, I saw completed images of drawn people everywhere. As a kid I saw them in sketch books my friends had, in books, magazines, posters, comic books, on television in the form of cartoons...you name it. I wanted to replicate those simple images of people. I remember even creating characters to my own fictitious comic book and cartoon series, writing out the story lines and drawing the characters in action poses on the pages. The artwork from these media sources <strong>influenced </strong>my own art.

It wasn't until I got much older that I discovered the possibilities of realistic people drawings completed in pencil. Once again, this came from stumbling across the works of other artists. Those works that I saw in books and galleries modeled the possibilities and inspired me to want to do the same. Once again, this work <strong>influenced </strong>me to create work like it...realistic pencil portraits.

The more I sketched or drew people and shared my work with family, friends, and others, the more I heard them respond that THEY would love to be able to do the same. Now my artwork was <strong>influencing </strong>theirs!

Just like a recording artist grows up listening to music that influences the music s/he eventually records, a portrait artist has experience viewing artwork that influences the artwork s/he creates.
<h3>But What If I Am Already Inspired?</h3>
I assume that if you are on this website and reading this post, then you are already inspired to draw people. So, should you still look at people drawings done by other artists? <strong>Absolutely!</strong> There is much to learn by studying the works of other artists. Regardless of the ability level of the artist whose artwork you are viewing, you can still discover something regarding technique, method, subject matter, style, etc. that can cause you to reflect on your own work. You may even get reinspired to try a new approach with your artwork!

I still like to take a look at sketches and drawings of people by other artists before I make a portrait drawing of my own. I am not saying it is necessary before every drawing you make. It is a good habit to at least take some time on a regular basis to sit down and study the works of other artists.
<h3>What Should I Look For?</h3>
While it is nice sometimes to just sit (or stand) back and admire artwork, it is best to view portraits with a purpose in mind. This is especially true if our goal is to learn from what we see and enhance our own people drawings. The following is an assembly of just a few things to look for while looking at drawings by other artists.
<h4>Make Careful Observations</h4>
Hone your powers of observation. This means real-life people watching and looking at photographs of people, as well as portrait drawings and sketches of people. Watch how people look when they are moving and when they are still. Be aware of the nuances of their movements, the changes in their faces and bodies, how they hold their hands, how they cross their legs, how their feet and arms appear when they are walking, reading, gesturing or eating, etc. Make mental notes of all the obvious and subtle differences between like facial features. How does one nose differ from another? What does an artist include in the drawing of eyes to relay character and personality? How do two different artists make unique representations of  similar hair styles? Be very mindful of the details.

IDENTIFY TECHNIQUES THE ARTISTS USED

NOTE WHAT YOU WANT TO REPLICATE AND WHAT YOU WANT TO AVOID

COMPARE TO WHAT YOU ALREADY DO - YOUR CURRENT STYLE AND ABILITIES

LIST OF CURRENT GALLERIES WITH LINKS TO POSTS

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To help guide you on how to better illustrate people, drawings made by both beginner and experienced artists can be especially useful and informative, so use them whenever you can. Read books on portraiture and figure illustration, study paintings and sketches by other artists and apply what you have learned to your own drawing. Look for technique, positioning, perspective, shading, and the use of light and color. After all, everything you need to learn as an artist is in the details.

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