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Blonde, Brunette and Black – Drawing Hair Colours

Aug 15, 2010 Drawing

I recently got an e-mail from a reader asking me how to draw dark hair. Drawing different coloured hair has more to do with the pencils you use than using different techniques. Here are the guidelines I use when drawing blonde, brunette, and black hair.

To learn more about the specific techniques for drawing realistic hair, read my hair drawing tips and check out my step-by-step tutorial.

Blonde Hair

Here I have used only two pencils: a 2H and a B. I started with the 2H as the bottom layer, pulling each stroke towards the highlight in the centre. It’s important to let a few pencil strokes go all the way through the highlight. Then I used the B to darken the shadows, also pulling a few strokes all the way across the highlight.

With blonde hair, the shadows aren’t as dark and the highlight area is usually larger and brighter.

Brown or Brunette Hair

Brunette hair requires more layers than blonde hair to create the darker values. I used exactly the same method and technique as I did for blonde hair, but I also used a 2B pencil to create the darker shadows.

You’ll notice that the highlighted area is smaller and looks more like individual hairs are reflecting light. For brunette hair, you will want to draw more pencil strokes through the highlight.

Black Hair

Again, I started with a 2H pencil, then a B pencil, then a 2B pencil. For black hair, I use an even darker pencil to create the rich, dark shadows. Here I’ve used a 4B and a 6B pencil. It’s all about creating layers to simulate the texture of the hair.

I’ve also made sure to continue the dark pencil lines throughout the highlight. At the very end, I used a kneaded eraser to pick up a few bright highlights.

Conclusion

As you can see, it’s not really a matter of using different techniques. Drawing darker hair requires more layers and softer pencils. Light hair has a big, broad highlight and dark hair has highlights on just a few hairs.

As always, use a good reference image and pay close attention to the value. When working with pencil, it’s the value that will communicate the hair colour!

Tags: drawing tips, hair, portraits, texture

From Smooth to Extreme: Texture in Painting

Jul 20, 2010 Painting

Whether you want a super-smooth finish or a rough, grainy feel, there are strategies you can use to enhance the texture of your painting. Whatever style you prefer, texture is not an element to be over-looked.

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Smooth

If you’re painting style is highly detailed and realistic, you may want a smooth texture. To achieve a smooth surface for your paintings, you have to start with your support. Canvas has its own texture, so try a finer fabric like linen. Pre-stretched linen can be purchased from an art supply store. Another option is masonite board. This is what Lori McNee uses for her paintings. Read her tutorial on how to gesso a masonite panel.

Brushstroke Texture

One of the beauties of paint (oil especially) is the texture you can achieve simply by applying paint. Visible brushstrokes add another layer of interest to your work. From far away, the viewer can see the image you have rendered, up close they begin to see the paint and the way you’ve used it. Stapleton Kearns has an excellent article on how to prevent “licking,” the smoothing away of visible brushstrokes. I highly recommend reading this article!

Use Mediums

Gel mediums are a great way to add texture to your paintings. These are substances that you can use to prep your canvas to start with a textured ground or add to your paintings as you work. They come in a range of different textures. Read more about painting mediums.

Extreme Texture

Don’t be afraid to get wild and experiment with textures. You can use gel medium to glue almost any substance to your canvas and make richly textured paintings. Try things like tissue paper, saran wrap, sand, and anything else you can come up with. This can be an all-over texture, or localized to create a focal point. Take a look at Julia Trops’ still life painting. She is a great example of an artist using extreme texture.

The type of texture you use depends on your style and subject matter. Experiment with different techniques and decide what is right for you!

Tags: art tips, Painting, texture

Acrylic Mediums: Add Dimension to Your Paintings

May 23, 2010 Painting

One of the drawbacks to acrylic paints is their consistency and finish. Acrylics dry very flat and plastic-y. They lack the solidity and substance of oil paints.

Luckily, there is a great variety of products available that can help us alter the consistency of the paint. Here’s an overview of some of the common mediums.

Acrylic Gel Medium

This is basically paint without pigment. It dries clear on its own, but can be added to paint to help it go further and can be used to make glazes. It is available in matte and gloss, so it also alters the paint’s finish. Gel medium on its own is an excellent glue and can be used to fix objects to your canvas.

Impasto Gel

Use this medium if you want lots of texture. Unlike gel medium, which flattens as it dries, impasto gel will hold its shape and dry in sharp peaks. This means that you can build up layers of texture and brush strokes. You can also use impasto to create a textured ground on your canvas before painting.

Self Leveling Gel

This medium lets you blend your paints and produce flat areas of colour without brush strokes. The paint essentially “levels” itself, making it flat and uniform.

Acrylic Retarder

I’ve mentioned this one before, but it doesn’t hurt to talk about it again! This medium won’t change the finish or texture of your paint, but it will extend its workability. Retarder slows drying time and lets you work the paint longer.

Other Mediums

There is a slew of other mediums available that will add all different textures to your paint. You can get sand and pumice mediums that produce a grainy texture, you can even get mediums with tiny glass beads in them. Check out Golden’s page on acrylic mediums for more information on what is available and how to use them.

And don’t forget to enter to win free drawing supplies!

Tags: acrylic mediums, acrylic painting, paintings, texture