Artists follow basic steps when painting figures.
A basic understanding of human anatomy helps when you sketch or paint the nude figure. Whether working from memory, photographs, artistic figurines or a live model, the outline of the figure and key details are lightly sketched before adding more detail and paint. Painting techniques vary, as do the types of paint an artist can use, but the basic steps to painting the nude figure are the same. They also are the same for non-human figures.
Instructions
1. Find a picture or image to paint, or attend a painting class that incorporates live nude models. Look at the basic shapes that make up the image or model, such as rectangles, triangles, circles and squares. If using a live model, settle on the location for your canvas so the painting will produce the desired angle of the model.
2. Sketch, with the pencil, the basic shapes and a rough outline of the nude figure. You can sketch some or all of the background as well. When the outline is complete, sketch any key areas in the portrait, such as fingernails, facial features, cloth draped over part of the nude figure and key anatomy that becomes noticeable from the given perspective.
3. Fill in the background or surrounding area on the canvas, if that area will be darkened in the finished portrait. Consider painting any major background items now to avoid mistakes over the nude figure later.
4. Mix or choose the colors for the flesh tone. Apply most of the flesh paint to the nude figure on the canvas, taking care to reconstruct outlined areas if the background design overlaps anywhere. Allow the flesh paint to dry.
5. Examine the nude image or model for muscle tone or definition. Mix or select the flesh tone again and darken slightly with a color two or three shades darker. Use this darker version to begin building muscle and create the painted representation. Darken the flesh color further and repeat as needed for the darker areas of the nude's image. Allow the paint to dry.
6. Sketch, very lightly with a pencil, the facial features if the model or image faces you in the portrait. Lightly sketch any other key features visible in the portrait; at least provide a light pencil mark to signify where the given anatomical feature belongs.
7. Use variations of the flesh tone in different shades, as well as some gray, white and brown to capture the true image and all the natural highlights and lowlights. You can use pinks and reds, as well as some gold and olive, depending on skin tone (pigment), lighting and your design.
8. Paint the hair last. If it's long, it will be painted over the body; if it's short, the flesh colors should still be painted beneath it. Additionally, layering the paint and colors produces a depth to the finished painting.
