How to Paint a Lady's Back & Shoulders

Muscles and bones cause natural highlights on a woman's shoulders.

The back and shoulders of the female form provide an anchor of strength for the entire body. To capture these features, you must first study the anatomy of the back. The spinal column supports the upright figure, and any painting of a woman's back and shoulders should begin with the curve of the spine. When a figure sits comfortably, the spine naturally falls into an "S" curve. To form the shoulders, begin by suggesting the bones and muscles of the upper body.

Things You'll Need

• Flesh colored paint
• White paint
• Dark brown paint
• Paint Brush

Instructions

Draw the Back and Shoulders

1. Observe your subject. Whether using photographs or a model, take note of the shadows, highlights and proportions of your sitter's form.

2. Start by drawing a long, slightly arching, vertical line. This line forms the spine. Do not make this line straight or rigid. Draw curves at the top and bottom to keep the form organic.

3. Draw a downward-sloping, loose semicircle at the top of this line. This line suggests the form of the shoulders, so keep it broad and curving.

4. Using the semicircle as a top, draw an upside down, triangular form that terminates about halfway down the spinal line. This triangle builds the form of the rib cage and upper back.

5. Draw a partial, upright triangle that touches the bottom of the first one at the tip. Only draw the sides of this triangle, with no base. These lines suggest the waist and upper hips.

Paint the Back and Shoulders

1. Use flesh colored paint that is appropriate to the skin tone of your subject to build the form of the back around your sketch. Follow the line of the shoulders and paint in the area over the triangles. Connect the shoulder line and triangles with loose, big curves to build an hourglass form over the triangles. Keep your shoulders and upper triangle wider than the hip portion.

2. Mix white paint with the flesh colored paint. Apply this hue to the tops of the shoulders.

3. Using the light color, draw a large, broad "C" shape in the right, top quadrant of the back. Repeat with an inverted "C" shape on the left side. Blend these highlights into the surrounding flesh colored paint. These highlights define the shoulder blades.

4. Add highlights to the right and left sides of the waist and to the tops of the hips with the light paint.

5. Mix dark brown paint into your flesh color. Apply this darker color over the spine, widening this shadow towards the base of the back.

6. Paint shadows to the shoulder blades by following directly around the highlights with your brown mixture. Make these shadows broaden on the bottoms of the "C" shapes.

Tips & Warnings

• Thoroughly blend the highlights and shadows into the surrounding flesh color to keep your surface smooth and even.

References

• Smashing Magazine: 50 Clever Tips and Techniques on Traditional Drawing