How do I paint a thin material that shows the body’s outline? Andrew Laird, England
Answer
Nick replies
Sometimes when a bright light is behind someone, that’s just what happens. Fabric appears translucent and the person’s form appears as a silhouette through it. It all depends on the type of fabric and the pose. For example, a heavy brocade is unlikely to generate this effect, where chiffon or silk can.
The silhouette cast also depends upon the tailoring of the outfit. Extra folds of material such as in a full skirt or long robe can affect the lighting where areas overlap. The best way to tackle such an effect would be to set up good reference, but here I’m working without one.
I pick a pose with a clear silhouette. Clear silhouettes are a great general rule of thumb for illustration or animation in most cases. Using ArtRage I sketch out and block in a leggy and unclothed female character in a basic pose. Whichever way your character is facing, you need backlighting for the effect, so I shade her accordingly. Now I add a dress; I decide on a flared skirt being blown by the wind. I block in the shape on a layer above, with reduced opacity. Remember to follow the contours of the body. When I’ve established the folds I can gauge where fabric doubles up and where it doesn’t. Those areas will be darker and/or throw more shadows.