Simple Methods to Sketch a Figure on Canvas Before Painting

Sketching Your Figure – Simple Methods to Sketch a Figure on Canvas Before Painting

Card 4 of 52: Acrylic Figure Painting For Beginners Card Deck

This “Sketching A Figure” post covers Card 4 of 52 of the Acrylic Figure Painting for Beginners: A Card Deck Guide. Why choose my art card deck tutorial over a book or YouTube video? Because cards are way more fun—especially if you have Adult ADHD like me, and flipping through them keeps things exciting!

Sketching your figure before painting is one of the most crucial steps in the acrylic painting process.

It’s where your vision begins to take shape, and it provides a roadmap for where your paint will go. But fear not—this doesn’t have to be intimidating, even if you’re new to figure drawing.

With a few simple methods, you can confidently sketch a figure on your canvas and set yourself up for a successful painting.

In this post, we’ll walk through straightforward ways to sketch a figure, break down proportions, and use basic tools that can make the process easier and more approachable, even if you don’t consider yourself a “drawer.”

Why Sketching is Important in Figure Painting

Sketching is the framework for your painting.

Just like a house needs a blueprint, your painting needs an underdrawing to guide where your colors, shapes, and details will go.

Without a sketch, it’s easy to lose track of proportions, end up with awkwardly placed limbs, or even realize halfway through that something just isn’t working.

A simple sketch allows you to adjust any errors before paint even touches the canvas.

4 reasons why you should sketch before diving in:

1. Proportion & Scale: A light sketch ensures that the body is in proportion and fits well on the canvas.
2. Composition: You can visualize where the figure fits within the overall composition.
3. Adjustments: Mistakes on a sketch are easy to fix. Mistakes with paint, not so much.
4. Confidence: A sketch gives you a guide to follow, reducing the chances of getting overwhelmed when adding paint.

The 5 Basic Tools You’ll Need for Sketching

Before we dive into the techniques, let’s quickly go over the FIVE basic tools you’ll need for sketching your figure:

1. Graphite Pencils or Charcoal: A soft graphite pencil (like a 4B or 6B) or vine charcoal is great for light sketches. These materials are easy to erase and won’t interfere with your paint.
2. Eraser: A soft, kneaded eraser works best for lightening or removing marks without damaging your canvas.
3. Fixative (optional): If you’re using charcoal, a light spray of fixative can help prevent smudging before you begin painting.
4. Ruler or Proportion Divider: Helpful for ensuring proportions are accurate, especially if you’re using a reference image.
5. Reference Image: Whether from life, a photo, or your imagination, having a reference makes the process much easier.

The 8 Steps For Sketching A Figure On Canvas Before Painting

Here are the 8 steps for sketching a figure on canvas before painting:

Step 1: Plan Your Composition

Before sketching, spend a moment thinking about the overall composition of your painting.

How do you want the figure to fit within the canvas?

Where will the focal points be? Is the figure central, or are they off to one side?

A good rule of thumb is to think about the rule of thirds—dividing your canvas into three equal sections both horizontally and vertically, and placing your figure or key elements along these lines or at the intersections.

This simple compositional guideline often results in a more balanced and visually interesting painting.

Step 2: Start With Simple Shapes

When you’re sketching a figure, it’s easy to get bogged down in the details too soon.

Instead, start by blocking out the basic shapes of the figure.

Think of the body as a collection of geometric forms: circles, ovals, rectangles, and triangles.

This is called the gesture drawing phase and helps you establish the figure’s pose, proportions, and movement.

Here are the steps how to break it down:

1. Head: Start with an oval for the head.
2. Torso: Draw a rectangle or trapezoid for the torso.
3. Pelvis: Below the torso, draw a smaller oval or rectangle for the pelvis area.
4. Arms and Legs: Use simple lines and circles to represent the joints and limbs. Think of the arms and legs as cylinders.

This step is all about gesture and proportion, not precision. Don’t worry about making it perfect—just capture the overall shape and movement of the figure. You want to create a sense of action or rest in the body, depending on the pose.

Step 3: Refine the Shapes

Once you have the basic structure, you can start refining the shapes. Add more detail to the torso, arms, and legs. Begin to shape the body and define key features like the neck, shoulders, and hips.

Pay close attention to proportion:

• Head to Body Ratio: In a typical adult figure, the height of the body is about 7–8 heads tall. Keeping this ratio in mind can help you get the right proportions.
• Shoulders and Hips: The shoulders are generally about two head-widths wide, and the hips are slightly narrower than the shoulders.

Using these proportional guidelines, adjust your shapes and begin fleshing out the figure. Start to taper the arms and legs and add more definition to the body’s curves and joints. If something looks off, now’s the time to tweak it.

Step 4: Add Details and Landmarks

Once the basic shapes and proportions are in place, you can start adding finer details.

Look for the landmarks of the body—bony points like the collarbones, elbows, knees, and ankles.

These landmarks give the figure structure and make it look more natural and grounded.

Here are three key things to consider when adding details:

1. Hands and Feet: Keep the shapes simple at first. Hands and feet can be tricky, so start with basic blocks and refine them later.
2. Facial Features: If your figure includes facial details, lightly sketch the general placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth. A crosshair on the head (a vertical and horizontal line) can help with alignment.
3. Clothing: If your figure is clothed, add the basic outlines of the fabric, but don’t worry about every fold just yet. Focus on how the clothing drapes over the body’s form.

The idea is to block out these elements in a loose, flexible way. You’ll refine these further with paint, so don’t get too caught up in perfection here.

Step 5: Lighten Your Sketch

Before you start applying paint, it’s a good idea to lighten your sketch.

You want your lines to be visible enough to guide your painting but not so dark that they’ll show through the acrylic layers.

Use a kneaded eraser to gently lift some of the graphite or charcoal without removing the sketch entirely.

If you’re working with charcoal, you can spray a light layer of fixative to prevent smudging. Be sure to let the fixative dry fully before painting over it.

Step 6: Grid Method (Optional for Beginners)

If you’re a beginner and feeling a bit overwhelmed by freehand sketching, the grid method can be an incredibly helpful tool.

It’s a technique that involves drawing a grid over both your reference image and your canvas, then transferring the image one square at a time.

Here’s how to use the grid method:

1. Print or view your reference image, and draw a light grid over it.
2. Divide your canvas into the same number of grid squares.
3. Focus on transferring the contents of each individual square, which helps break down the figure into manageable sections.

The grid method is great for getting proportions and placement right, especially if you’re working from a photo or detailed reference.

Step 7: Use a Projector (Another Optional Tool)

If you’re looking for a faster, more tech-savvy method to transfer your figure sketch onto the canvas, consider using a projector.

You can project your reference image directly onto the canvas, trace the outline, and save yourself a lot of time and effort.

This method isn’t cheating—it’s just another tool in your artist’s toolkit.

Many professional artists use projectors to quickly block out compositions, especially when working on large canvases or murals. Just be sure to adjust the transparency and only trace the basic outlines, leaving room for artistic freedom when you start painting.

Step 8: Stay Loose and Flexible

The most important part of sketching is to stay loose and flexible.

Sketching should feel organic and spontaneous, not rigid or overly detailed.

Think of sketching as a guideline or a map that you can deviate from as needed once you start applying paint.

Remember, this is the first step of the painting process—you’ll be layering over it, adding details, and refining as you go. Don’t stress if it’s not perfect. The beauty of acrylic paint is that you can easily make changes and corrections as your painting evolves.

George’s Conclusion: Sketching as a Foundation

Sketching is the foundation of figure painting.

By taking the time to lay out your figure, define proportions, and capture the gesture of the pose, you’re setting yourself up for success when it comes to the painting stage.

Whether you choose to keep things loose and freehand or use tools like grids and projectors, sketching is a skill that becomes easier with practice.

So, take your time, enjoy the process, and remember that a good sketch is the first step toward creating a compelling and well-composed painting.