Figure study
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A figure study is a painting, drawing or sculpture made for study purposes with a live model as the subject matter. The live model can be clothed, partly clothed or nude and the art work is a representation of the full body of the model. Figure studies are usually completed in a relatively short length of time that can last from a few minutes up to a few hours. Therefore these studies often have a sketchy character. For more elaborate art works we do not use the term 'figure study'; the art work is called nude, nude painting, figure piece or figure painting.
'Figure study' usually refers to an artist's finished work, but it can also be used to describe the creative process.