I have seen so many beautiful female figure studies here at Steemit. I felt inspired to do a study using the method of "crosshatching". This is a method where shading is done using a series of alternating stripes that overlap to provide shading and highlights.
Step One...Gesture Sketch.
In digital painting I can put any background on a "layer" underneath the sketching layer. Here I chose a rough parchment texture. Then I do a "gesture" sketch - a quick set of short pencil strokes to get a feel of the "rhythm" of the pose.
Step Two - Musculature Indicators
Some features of underlying muscles and bones are indicated with a few lines. It always interests me to study the way muscles and sinews would react under certain body positions.
Step Three - More Detail
Make corrections where necessary. (As mentioned on my caricature blog, mirror the image which will show many inconsistencies and mistakes)
Step Four - More Detail
Add more detail to the shadows.
Step Five - Further Detail
I prefer adding details in feet and hands - something often glossed over in figure sketches.
Step Six - Adding Highlights
Here I used white and a color similar to the background to "mold" the sketch to give it depth and shape.
Seven - Time to Stop
OK... it was an enjoyable exercise. I wonder if anyone knows who the model is?
Thank you Steemian community for visiting my blog.
I am keen to do this in pencil and charcoal soon. It was enjoyable and I'm glad to share it here. Looking forward to your comments and suggestions!
