Painting the human figure is a very rewarding challenge. Here you'll find helpful tips, essential techniques, anatomy for artists, and step-by-step demonstrations on figure painting and portraiture.
An in-depth look at how to paint skin tones (both realistic and expressionist), what pigment colors to use, and how to mix suitable skin tones.
Learn how to paint small figures using photos of people as a starting point.
Tips for how to successfully paint small figures to place in a landscape or cityscape.
While no-one's built exactly the same, there are a few underlying rules which are invaluable for getting proportions accurate in figure painting.
Facial features are crucial to our identity and while we like to believe we're unique, there are a few underlying rules which apply.
Children are not mini-adults when it comes to body proportions. Babies' heads are extremely large in proportion to the rest of their body. As a child grows up, the head becomes smaller in proportion to the rest of the body.
A step-by-step figure painting demonstration of painting a figure, concentrating on conveying a mood.
An illustrated, step-by-step demonstration of a self-portrait painting I did in acrylics. Each of the six parts have an explanation of what I did in that step, what I felt was working and what not.
While no-one's built exactly the same, there are certain standard proportions that help when painting figures and portraits.
Browse through the photo gallery of self-portraits from the "Expressive Self-Portraits Painting Project" for inspiration and motivation.
An example of mixed media painting showing a figure painted using wax resist with pen and watercolor.
Figure painting definitely a subject where regular practise pays off. This collection of figure studies and sketches provides examples.
A step-by-step explanation of how the figure painting shown was created with pen, watercolour wash, and wax resist.
What are the advantages to you as an artist from painting self portraits? Find out here...
The Thin Line Between Portraiture and Caricature
Whether you've got a professional model or a friend posing for you, it's important to establish a good working relationship so you get the most from the sessions.
A selection of recommended books that provide not only help on the basics such as anatomy, proportion, and techniques, but also inspiration through the paintings and drawings reproduced in them.
A three-part tutorial on drawing hair from About.com's Drawing Guide.
There are some fundamental differences between men and women when it comes to anatomy. Be aware of these and it'll make your figure painting a little easier.
Five articles setting out the fundamentals of human proportion, from how to use a measuring stick and overall body proportion, to the underlying skeletal structure.
An excellent tutorial on understanding basic poses of people, whether sitting, running, or throwing something, using a stick figure.
See how the simple act of putting some small figures in a painting shifts the focus from the surroundings to the figures.
A great variety of clear, black-and-white photos of hands in all kinds of gestures and poses. Click on a photo to get a larger picture.
Looking for a life painting or drawing class? This directory list is a good place to start.
Believe it or not, someone took the time to scan in a whole human body! Scroll down for the small arrow that'll take you to the next (or previous) page.
