Mastering the Construction Method: The Secret to Drawing Characters with Depth and Structure

Have you ever looked at your drawings and thought, Something’s off, but I can’t tell what? Maybe your characters feel flat, their proportions seem inconsistent, or they just don’t have that solid, polished look you see in professional art.

If that sounds familiar, you’re in for a treat! Today, we’re diving into one of the most essential techniques for cartoonists, illustrators, and animators—the Construction Method.

Developed by Preston Blair and Andrew Loomis, and later refined by modern animation legends like Glen Keane, this method is the foundation of creating believable, well-structured characters.

The good news? Anyone can learn it! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, mastering the Construction Method will take your drawings to the next level. Let’s break it down and have some fun along the way!

What is the Construction Method?

The Construction Method is all about building characters using simple geometric shapes like spheres, cylinders, cubes, and cones before adding details. Instead of diving straight into outlines and facial features, you start with a basic framework that makes your drawing:

More solid and three-dimensional
Easier to pose and modify
More consistent across different angles

Think of it like building a snowman. You wouldn’t start sculpting the details before rolling out the big snowballs for the body, right? The same logic applies to drawing!

Why is the Construction Method Important?

1. It Helps You Draw in 3D

One of the biggest challenges artists face is making their drawings look solid rather than flat. Construction teaches you to think in three dimensions, so your characters look like they have depth instead of feeling like paper cutouts.

2. It Improves Your Proportions

Have you ever drawn a character where one arm is way bigger than the other, or the head looks too small for the body? By breaking the character down into simple forms first, you get proportions right before committing to details.

3. It Makes Pose Drawing Easier

A stiff character is a boring character! When you use basic shapes, it’s easier to pose your characters before adding details. This method is especially useful for animators, who need to keep characters consistent and expressive across multiple frames.

4. It Speeds Up Your Drawing Process

At first, it might feel like an extra step, but once you get the hang of it, construction actually makes drawing faster. Instead of guessing where things go, you have a solid structure to guide you.

The Basic Shapes of Construction

Before we jump into full character construction, let’s talk about the building blocks of this method.

1. Spheres – The Secret to Round Forms

The sphere is used for anything round, like:

Heads
Joints (shoulders, elbows, knees)
Soft, organic forms like muscles

Tip: To make spheres look three-dimensional, draw a centerline (like a globe) to indicate the direction it’s facing.

2. Cylinders – The Secret to Limbs

Cylinders are great for:

Arms and legs
The torso
Tail-like structures

Tip: Instead of just drawing two straight lines for an arm, use a cylinder to give it depth and volume.

3. Cubes – The Secret to Solid Forms

Cubes help define:

The torso
The pelvis
Anything that needs solid structure

Tip: A cube can help you see the tilt and perspective of a character’s body, especially when they’re twisting or leaning.

4. Cones – The Secret to Tapered Forms

Cones work well for:

Legs
Ears
Certain hairstyles

Tip: Use cones to taper limbs and add variety in shape—legs and arms shouldn’t be perfectly straight cylinders!

How to Apply the Construction Method

Now that we understand the basic shapes, let’s break down how to apply construction to character drawing in a few simple steps.

Step 1: Sketch the Basic Shapes

Start with the biggest shape first (usually the torso or head).
Use spheres, cylinders, and cubes to block out the major parts of the body.
Keep it light and loose—you’re just setting up the foundation!

Step 2: Define the Pose

Before adding details, decide on the character’s posture and movement.
Use a line of action to keep the pose dynamic.
Adjust the basic shapes to fit the movement—don’t be afraid to stretch or tilt them!

Step 3: Add Features and Details

Now that you have a solid structure, start refining.
Add facial features, fingers, clothing, and smaller details.
Make sure everything flows naturally from the base shapes.

Step 4: Clean Up Your Lines

Erase the construction lines (or lower the opacity if you’re working digitally).
Add final linework, shading, or colors to complete the drawing!

Common Mistakes (And How to Fix Them!)

Mistake 1: Skipping Construction Altogether

It’s tempting to jump straight into details, but skipping construction leads to stiff, flat drawings. Always start with basic shapes first!

Mistake 2: Using Only Circles for Heads

A head isn’t a perfect circle—it’s more like a sphere with a jaw attached. Try adding an angular jawline instead of sticking with a simple round shape.

Mistake 3: Forgetting Overlaps

If everything is outlined separately, characters look disjointed. Use overlapping lines to show depth—like drawing the torso slightly in front of the hips.

Mistake 4: Ignoring the Perspective of the Shapes

Make sure your cylinders and cubes follow proper perspective. If a character is facing slightly sideways, the shapes should tilt accordingly.

Fun Construction Exercises

Want to get better at construction? Try these fun exercises!

1. Shape Breakdown Challenge

Find pictures of your favorite cartoon characters and break them down into spheres, cylinders, and cubes. This helps you understand how professionals use construction.

2. Gesture + Construction Combo

Do gesture drawing first (quick movement sketches), then add construction shapes on top to build a full character.

3. Random Shape Characters

Draw random blobs or shape combinations, then turn them into unique characters! This pushes creativity and helps you see how simple forms can become complex designs.

4. Rotating Objects in 3D

Draw a simple cube or cylinder, then try rotating it in space. If you can turn a shape, you can turn a character!

Final Thoughts

The Construction Method is one of the most powerful tools an artist can learn. It makes characters solid, dynamic, and easy to pose, and once you master it, drawing becomes so much easier.

At first, it might feel like extra work, but with practice, it’ll become second nature—and your drawings will improve dramatically.

So, grab a pencil, start breaking things down into shapes, and have fun with it! Your characters will thank you for it.

What’s your biggest struggle with construction? Let’s chat in the comments!