- 1). Draw studies of the subject. These quick sketches on scratch paper will offer you the opportunity to get the proportions right and practice any tricky parts. Add color to your sketches using paint or colored pencils.
- 2). Photograph the child for reference. If you are working from life, these photographs will capture details you may need later. Even if you are working exclusively from photographs, take several different shots so you can capture the best pose and lighting.
- 3). Outline the picture on the canvas. Instead of focusing on details, get the rough shapes correct. A child's heads is large in comparison to his body. A young child is about four heads tall.
- 4). Fill in large areas of flat color with a large brush, including the major shapes of the subject and the background.
- 5). Paint areas of light and shadow to define the three-dimensional shapes. Be aware of your medium. Oil and acrylic paints allow you to paint over the same area many times, while watercolors are difficult to lighten.
- 6). Paint the details of the face and body with a small brush. Use photographs as a reference for positioning and shape of the features.
- 7). Rework any detail that looks out of proportion after allowing the painting to dry for several hours. When you come back to your work, you may notice mistakes that you had overlooked.
- 8). Spray the painting with a fixative or varnish to protect it from damage or fading.
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