How to draw a female figure

drawing of a naked woman with someone drawing it
(Image credit: Patrick J Jones)

Figure drawing is a fundamental skill for artists, but one of the hardest to truly master. In this article, I explain my personal process for drawing the female form and offer some advice to help you improve your figure drawings. Also see my guide to how to draw the male form.

Although having knowledge of the proportions of a human figure is important, bear in mind that these are only a guide. Trying to shoehorn every person you draw into an eight-head-high ideal is a shortcut to uninspiring figure drawing.

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Patrick J Jones is an artist, teacher and the author of Sci-fi & Fantasy Oil Painting Techniques, The Anatomy of Style and The Sci-fi & Fantasy Art of Patrick J Jones.
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