Feet: a wedge, a heel, and the character stands

Building a foot in four steps

1. Step 1A wedge

   Seen from the side, the foot is a wedge: high at the ankle, sloping down to the toes. Start with this simple shape.

2. Step 2The heel

   Add a ball under and behind the ankle. The heel sticks out to the back: without it, the character tips over.

3. Step 3The arch

   On the inner side, the foot doesn't touch the ground in the middle: carve an arch between the heel and the ball of the foot. On the outer side, it stays almost flat.

4. Step 4Toes as a block

   First draw the toes as one rounded block, then separate the big toe from the other four. They step down toward the outside.

Landmarks to remember

• The inner ankle bone is higher than the outer one.
• Seen from the front, the foot widens toward the toes: narrow at the heel, wide at the front.
• The big toe is separated from the others by a small gap and points straight ahead.
• From the front, you mostly see the top of the foot and shortened toes: the heel disappears behind.
• When the character walks, the back foot bends at the toes, heel lifted.

The foot from three angles

1. Step 1From the side

   The easiest view: the wedge, the heel, the arch. Always start with it to understand a foot.

2. Step 2From the front

   A trapezoid widening toward the bottom, the toes in a fan, the ankle above. The nearest toes partly hide the top of the foot.

3. Step 3Three-quarter view

   A mix of both: you see the arch on one side and the top of the foot. Keep the heel visible, even slightly.

Shoes

A shoe is drawn like clothing: around the foot, never instead of it.

1. Step 1The foot first

   Draw the foot, even roughly, then the shoe over it, a little bigger. The shape of the foot must stay readable underneath.

2. Step 2The sole

   Draw the sole as a flat box under the foot, following the curve of the arch. The thicker it is, the heavier the shoe looks.

3. Step 3The sneaker

   A rounded toe, laces following the curve of the top of the foot, a padded collar around the ankle.

4. Step 4The boot

   The foot plus a cylinder for the shaft, running up the calf. Add a few folds at the ankle, where it bends.

The coach's tips

• Your own feet are free models: draw them from several angles, with and without shoes.
• Always draw a ground line under the feet: you'll see right away if the character stands.
• The foot carrying the weight is flat; the other one can lift, turn or rest on its toes.
• Don't draw both feet exactly alike and parallel: they point slightly outward.
• In the app, pick full-body characters and look at how their shoes follow the shape of the foot.

Practice right now

Once the lesson is read, draw this exercise: it takes about 10 minutes.