Study of the Human Figure (when you don't have a body)

A lot of people, like me, cannot have the pleasure of live models posing at their whim. I know it is better to have that practical experience, but they are not lining up at my door yelling "draw me". There are some apps that can help with those days no one is around:

For my iPod I downloaded the free version of Randompose. The full version is only $4.49 at the app store and is made by Art and Mobile. There are over 15000 images of nude reference poses for drawing study that were taken from posemaniac.com archives. They are the muscles of the human body and the poses are challenging. I try to pick a random one each day to study some sketch ups. The screen is really small on the iPod for my eyes...so for my pc

I downloaded Kindle and bought the "Art Models 6: The Female Figure in Shadow and Light" by Maureen and Douglas Johnson. There are several version of these type of books, but this offers shadows and a good variety of body types. This is another daily exercise of picking one figure to work out.




The more practice you get at working out how the body moves and is shaped the better you can work out your compositions and figures for paintings/drawings/whatever. One day I use pencils to work on lines, and another charcoal to develop shadows and be loose with the composition. There will be a day I can proper studies, but there are at least alternatives for us busy artists to enlist.

As I said, I am practicing - never said I was good at it.


My hubby and I are researching about becoming one of the growing numbers of grey nomads roaming the roads in a caravan working when needed. I want more time to draw and sell, he wants to be able to fish at least once a month. The more we look into buying a home the more we know it could never be paid off in our lifetime to enjoy it. We have joined the Workabout Australia Club and looking into what type of "home" would serve our needs. The hardest part is figuring out what we can and cannot have in such a smaller space when my art gear already overpowers a bedroom. This may be my opportunity to put my toe in the art market, weekend markets, etc. I will definitely have more time for developing possibilities. It will be discussed more while we are on holiday in the USA, but this seems to be more a planning time than a question of doing it.

Don't forget about my new merchandise store...new content added daily.
www.cafepress.com/shops/CroftAngleArt
Any help to get us on the road would be greatly appreciated.