Paint Figures
Recreating the human body on paper is a lifelong project for artists. The endless possibilities of body shapes, sizes and poses make the subject of the human figure an enduring one. Some basic techniques will guide you to more realistic paintings of the human form, whatever medium you choose to work in.
Instructions
1. Observe a nude figure with a pencil in hand. The particular structures and shapes of human figures are best observed without clothes. This is the standard for figure drawing and painting courses and will allow you to develop a foundation of anatomical knowledge to use when you paint clothed figures. Draw the lines of muscle and bone that you see, and allow whatever part of the body that stands out to you the most become the focal point of this sketch.
2. Study the head. The head and face are integral to a realistic or identifiable abstract figure painting. Use a soft, large brush to outline the shape of the head and hairline. From here, use a smaller, bristled brush to fill in the darker parts of the face and features. As with the rest of the body, let one aspect of the face or head stand out and be the central feature of the painting. A furrowed eyebrow or squinting eye can, when given your attention, speak volumes of personality.
3. Use brushes to mark, blend and soften. Take a small brush with a very small amounts of paint on it and blend the dark and light portions of your face and figure. Create contours and depth by blending lights and darks around corners. Trust what you see in your model and preliminary sketches. Those shadows and bright spots are falling as they are for a reason, and recreating them will give your image depth and realism.
4. Notice the eyes. The eyes of your subject hold clues to their body position, and the emotional potential of your painting. The direction of the models gaze is an excellent way to orient your painting. Are they peering down? Consider drawing as if from slightly below. Try painting the figure as if he or she is looking directly out of the painting at the viewer. Even if your subject is turned away from you, develop the eyes with dark tone colors and precise strokes, so that their consciousness is a part of the image.
5. Add color. You can add color to your painting at any point in the process and change the colors anytime you wish by painting over and blending. Consider the tonal properties of some colors. Use stronger purples and oranges versus cool greens, for example. Experiment with using colors not found on your figure in life to accentuate certain aspects of the figure and bring it to life in a non-realistic but entirely recognizable way.
