Nude Figure Drawings

Nude Figure Drawings

A catalogue of nude figure drawings from 2014 to present. I always draw from a live model, usually in a life drawing session, or from imagination. 

Nude figure drawings are nude studies and sketches which can be done in pencil, conté, chalk, charcoal, ink or watercolour. Basically, I use whatever drawing tool I have close at hand. I like to diversify and experiment with different drawing mediums, papers and drawing techniques.

Drawing the human figure is especially rewarding and challenging in my art practice. It is the basis for most of my paintings, and I’ve slowly improved over the years.

My lines have gradually loosened and I’ve become a lot more comfortable and intuitive in my drawing sessions. But it took many years of hard work and practice to get here.

I still have a long way to go, and I still have off days, but bad drawing days don’t bother me as much, and I really enjoy sketching nudes now. It just feels very natural and so much easier at this point.

Learning anatomy helps a lot, but most of all, I would say that getting the basic form within the borders of the page is the first step.

Too often, an artist who doesn’t plan ahead can run out of space for the head or feet, and you end up with amputated extremities!

I also notice a lot of amateur artists getting frustrated and being obsessed with measuring everything with an outstretched ruler or pencil. As if that degree of carefulness can fix a stiff or unproportioned drawing.

While measuring can help, it also slows you down a lot while the timer is going. I prefer to measure intuitively, based on my rough shapes that I draw lightly as scaffolding.

I glance quickly at the distance between easily recognisable points on the body, see what’s in line, and judge my spaces and lines almost without thinking.

This practice has helped me to have looser, easier drawings that flow better, look better to me, and are ultimately, more of a pleasure to draw.

When I have my headphones on, playing lovely and inspiring music in figure drawing class, I’m in my own world.

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