Observing the human figure through a series of sketches

I was able to use my reluctant husband as a model for observing the human figure. I repositioned him several times, which caused him great annoyance. He was uncomfortable with being nude, and the first two paintings reveal this. I used lightly pencilled in grids to get perspectives right and aid in foreshortening. I drew in equal boxes, before outlining him, to keep his body in proportion. Supporting structures, such as a bed, chair, couch and floor helped me assess his size in space. Because he didn’t have thirty-six hours to remain in a stagnant pose, I had to photograph his exact positions so that when time allowed, he could return to them for the subsequent paintings.