- 1). Establish the stance. Use basic lines and shapes to orient the positions of his body, shield and weapon. Sketch lightly so you can continually erase and move parts around. Draw in terms of a stick figure overlaid with ovals. Keep erasing and adjusting this simple framework to orient his posture. Draw lines to indicate the curve of his spine, arms and legs. Draw round shapes to add volume to the structural lines to indicate segments of his arms, legs, torso and head. Use a large oval for the shield and a straight line for his sword or spear.
- 2). Draw the basic shapes of his armor and weapon over the body using light lines. Achilles often wore a sleeveless chest plate. Draw this by adding boxy shapes over his torso while focusing on its angles and bulk rather than precise contours. Outline his pleated metal skirt using similar boxy shapes. He also wore bracers on his forearms and shins. Outline these using simple triangle and rectangle shapes. Draw the main frame of his helmet using a circle contouring around the rear of his head and arced lines to place the Mohawk-like plume.
- 3). Adjust and articulate the body and armor. Start connecting the structural shapes by adding more refined lines to show parts such as shoulders, knees, elbows and neck. Draw facial features. Draw more precise curves on the armor to show sections such as how the helmet opens around the face and showing cheek and nose guards. Draw the two sides of the blade on the spear or sword. Add more angles and curves on the armor sections so they look less boxy and more refined. Focus on sculpting the forms like clay into more refined structures. Erase old lines from previous steps that you no longer need.
- 4). Draw details and dark shadows. Because Achilles' form is now in place, you can commit to dark defining lines to create drama and intensity. Draw dark shadows around the curve of the shield. Draw shadows around the large muscles of his arms and legs using dark curves and gradations. One side of his weapon can be outlined in intense darks to emphasize its power. Move from one area to the other continuously to establish rhythm in your drawing process and create balanced shadows. Add engravings to his chest plate and shield. Be creative and design your own details to highlight the various parts.
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