CasualPretzels

One thing that you can see, is the orange parts of the leg are grossly exaggerated on the bottom. In my style, I have tried to focus on effect rather than accuracy. I reduce my characters down to easy shapes, then try and just get the concept of the shapes across- rather than deliberate accuracy.

It’s not correct- or accurate- and goofy perspectives turn out terribly in most sketches- but you have to break out of the mold that is oddly enough your own artstyle.

As for anatomy, this is incredibly applicable. I had a large era of my art where I focused on drawing anatomy accurate to human beings. While it wasn’t enjoyable, I got a lot better- and it made my cartoons better.

But before I tried realistic, I HATED drawing that way. But I had to break from that.

From my own experience, I’ve found that just straight up trial and error, goofing around, and purposefully bending your characters is absolutely necessary. The torso on the right is not at all a triangle- the pelvis is not a weird trapezoid- and the legs are way too long, the lower arms way too short- but the shapes are exaggerated.

Without doing goofy or uncomfortable mediums or tactics with my art, I would’ve never improved. Both of these were after my realism phase, but one was before my attempts to break from the comfortable

For instance, this was a sketch from November 27th 2025

Within the last 8 or so months, I’ve tried breaking free of keeping anatomically correct: here’s the same character on the left that I drew today (granted this is traditional versus digital, but I’ve always found I draw incredibly similar skill wise on both due to my technique)

His proportions are heavily exaggerated, pulled and twisted into simple shapes rather than actual human bodies.

The hands are not drawn the same in either, one being too long and the other with small square palms- the upper legs don’t quite match in both- but I’m not going for accuracy- moreover conveying the character and his attitude, along with the motions of action.

So all in all, do I recommend focusing on realism? I did for a year, but you can see it only did so much in November. You need to push past your own “conventional.” Anatomy is very closely linked to your own artstyle.

Simply by experimenting, through trial and error of sketches and perspectives, you’ll find your own flow.

Granted, I’m a very trial and error person- I find it works, and I think it’s a system that’s unique to you.

Also- I find drawing and learning from reference doesn’t work for me- I don’t use reference poses. I make up my poses in my head because when I end up tracing or referencing them they’re too stiff- but that DEFINITELY won’t work for everyone, and do what works for you- but DONT BE AFRAID TO TRY SOMETHING HARD- like no reference. (Honestly anatomy is all about understand how shapes look in a 3D space if I had to boil it all down- but that’s for another time)

When I draw him angry I draw him so much more humanly proportioned- almost like he’s loosing his magic