The Back — Mirror of the Front

The back is actually more complex than the front and contains some of the most visually dramatic muscle groups. A well-drawn back view can be more powerful than any front view.

KEY CONCEPTS

Trapezius: the large diamond/kite shape from neck to mid-back
Latissimus Dorsi (lats): the wing muscles that create the V-taper from behind
Shoulder blades (scapulae): visible surface plates that move dramatically with arm motion
Spine: a central groove — the erector spinae muscles flank it on both sides
When arms raise, shoulder blades rotate — know this movement
The back is also a barrel — treat it as the back face of the rib cage cylinder

The most important back muscle for figure drawing is the trapezius — the large, kite-shaped muscle that runs from the base of the skull down to the mid-spine and out to both shoulders. It is always visible and gives the figure its "powerful neck and shoulders" look that reads as strength from any distance.

The lats (latissimus dorsi) are the large wing-like muscles that create the V-taper when viewed from behind. They originate at the lower spine and insert into the upper arm. When a character spreads their arms wide or reaches upward, the lats fan out dramatically — this is one of the most visually powerful muscular moments in any figure drawing.

The four-step back construction: (1) Draw the spine as a single vertical stroke. (2) Place the shoulder blades as two angular triangular plates flanking it. (3) Add the trapezius as a large diamond shape connecting the blades to the neck. (4) Add the lat curves swooping down and inward to the waist. You have the complete back structure in four marks.

VOCABULARY

Trapezius — The large kite-shaped muscle covering the upper back and neck
Latissimus Dorsi — The large wing-like muscles of the mid-to-lower back — the "lats"
Scapula — The shoulder blade — a triangular bone that floats on the back of the rib cage
Erector Spinae — Two columns of muscle flanking the spine — create the back's central groove

TRY THIS — 10 MINUTESDraw the back view in four steps: (1) vertical spine stroke, (2) two triangular shoulder blade shapes flanking it at the upper back, (3) trapezius diamond connecting them to the neck, (4) lat curves swooping from armpits down and inward to the waist. Compare your drawing to a reference. These four marks capture all the major back structure.