Someone with long legs in comparison with their torso might look taller than someone of the same height with a long torso, and they might also look skinnier. The torso to legs ratio is also a skeletal ratio. The hip to shoulder ratio is skeletal, and someone with wider shoulders might look more powerful or masculine, and someone with wider hips might look more grounded or feminine. The two main ways they differ is skeletally and in fat distribution. In addition to differences in the amount of body fat, bodies vary vastly in their proportions. This is possibly because the eye is (usually) drawn first to the face. The face and neck can be immediate indicators as to how much fat the rest of the body has when someone loses or gains weight, it’s initially obvious in the face. However, these are common places people store fat: It is important to remember that people gain and lose weight differently, and this is true no matter how fat or skinny one gets. On average, people store fat mostly in core areas like the bust, the waist, and the hips.
One of the most obvious ways bodies differ is in their amount of fat. So! Bodies! I’m going to use women for this tutorial because I feel they have more variety in their bodies. I think it’s very important for artists to vary the types of bodies they draw! Not only does it add visual interest and diversity, but different body types can enhance your characters! (Plus it’s more realistic when was the last time you walked down the street and everyone had the same body type?) I know I have a hard time drawing different bodies, especially with men, so I’m making this tutorial to teach myself as well (I’ve heard the best way to cement learning something is to teach someone else).