How to Paint the Human Figure
Some painting styles use natural colors while others depict vivid colors to express emotions. Color gradations are used in many forms of painting, but the human figure can also be depicted as an assemblage of flat planes. There are some general proportions to the human body, using the head as a measuring unit; these units include an average height of 7 heads.
The legs are equal to the head and torso combined; hands come to the half-way point on the thighs and the two parts of the arm are equal in length. Female forms have more curves than males.
Things You'll Need
- Burnt Umber
- Raw sienna
- Yellow ochre
- Permanent red
- Titanium white
- Cobalt blue
- Ultramarine blue
- Solvent
- Canvas
- Brushes
Instructions
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1
Paint the basic human proportions of the pose you are painting. Use shapes to delineate the various parts of the body, such as head, shoulders, trunk and appendages. Use diluted sienna or burnt umber as your medium, so you can make adjustments as you see fit. Water is the solvent for acrylic and watercolor paints; turpentine or linseed oil will dilute oil paints.
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2
Doodle around with this form until you are pleased with the composition. Make quickly painted sketches as studies for the finished work.
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3
Portray the human body with attention to the center of gravity. Especially when standing, a human will put more weight on one foot, and this can be noted to give realism to your pose. Imagine the muscles and bones holding the figure together.
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4
Fill the areas inside the outline of the figure with a yellow ochre wash. Pay attention to the shadows, and put more colors on these areas.
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5
Mix burnt umber with a small bit of permanent red to accent the shadows.
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6
Combine titanium white and yellow ochre to paint the highlights. Take note of the light source and where it is creating light focal points.
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7
Mingle the shadows with the highlights by blending the edges together.
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8
Paint the darkest shadow areas with another layer of pigment. Use a combination of colors to create the darkest areas instead of using black. A good mixture starts with raw umber, a dash of ultramarine blue and permanent red. Colors are ultimately a personal choice.
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9
Model the figure with continued paint to achieve the effect you want.
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10
Add facial features and other details.
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Tips & Warnings
Some painting styles employ natural colors while others use vivid colors to express emotions. Color gradations are used in many forms of painting but the figure can also be depicted as an assemblage of flat planes.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
