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We had a discussion in the chat once trying to explain how we thought pregnant bellies were shaped. I distinctly remember G saying he imagined all his as hamburgers. The navel being the pickle.

This article does contain images that could be misconstrued as nude for any over-the-shoulder peeks by co-workers or family. (Aka Not safe for work)

I’m gonna try to explain how I do a basic (omg boring) picture. Most of this applies to my style and realistic or slightly larger women.  Later we might get to exaggerating further.  Once you know the basics you can apply it to different poses.

A good way to start is to draw a normal woman.  You should know how to do this before you try to distort the anatomy.  Usually I just start right with the belly on and sometimes have to erase it when it’s not supposed to be there.  There are plenty of websites with references out there.  DeviantArt has a good stock area.  Modeling sites have women without butterface.

So I’ll start with the basic frame work for a normal boring pose woman.  I know I am one, but I almost never draw fat chicks.  It’s just how I learned to draw.  While women do gain weight in other areas by over eating during pregnancy many still stay skinny.  Some guys also find that more attractive.  Just make sure the woman you draw looks capable of holding up her own weight. No toothpick limbs.  If a woman is too skinny it usually causes a low birth weight(aka smaller belly).

DO NOT just use the circle tool. The belly is rarely, if ever, a sphere. The other bad thing people will do from this point is just tack a belly on. For a normal sized pregnancy it doesn’t look all that bad. But we all know how often normal gets used around here. So Lydia McLargehuge on the end looks unnatural.  She looks unbalanced.  You’d expect her to face plant at any minute.

Some alterations need to be done. As the baby, or babies, grow larger the woman’s pelvis begins to tip forward.  Her spine will curve more to accommodate standing upright. The female pelvic bone can even spread and separate accommodating large pregnancies.

With the pelvis spreading the legs spread as well. Obviously there’s a limit. You don’t want the woman’s legs to be coming from her side because she’s so huge. (No, I’m not drawing that.)

Another thing I try to do is show that she still has a crotch, unless there’s a loose shirt obscuring it.  I don’t mean in a perverted manner.  But some people like to dip the belly down low in the front so it just looks like the legs are sprouting from a ball.  I woman that is standing up is usually leaning back a bit which would point her belly up or at least perpendicular with the floor.  Some people can get away with the droopy ball look depending on their style.  You just have to be able to judge whether you are one of them.  Me, I’m not.

Often, as the woman gains weight the skin of the back will pinch and form rolls just like tight shirts they wear will pinch right there. The boobs will be pushed up and out, but make sure not to go too far. In this example I think I actually did them a bit too high.

PROTIP: The breast tissue starts in the armpit. If your braless female has ball shaped boobs that start from her collar bone UR DOIN IT RONG.

I’d say the main thing is to observe your subject as much as possible. I wager most of you guys do a lot of that so I’m not sure about the problem exactly. You’re not going to be good over night.  You’re not even going to be good in month.  If you truly want to be an artist and practice you will be good eventually.  Artists never stop learning and growing.  Teehee, growing.

P.S. Feel free to not point out how many times I break these “rules”. These are just guidelines.  Following them should make you better, then you can break the hell out of them.

Also if anyone has any questions or wants to see more tips from me or the others that contribute to this page feel free to ask.