Hair is a dynamic element that can be challenging to capture in drawings. However, with practice, your skills will improve rapidly! In this article, we will explore some helpful techniques for drawing hair that will bring your artwork to life.
Sketching the Outline
When starting a hair drawing, it’s important to remember that hair doesn’t lie flat on the scalp. Even the shortest hairstyle will have volume and shape. Begin by lightly sketching the parting line, and then outline the hair around the subject’s face.
To convey the flow of the hair, use longer lines that gently cascade down. Keep in mind that you don’t need to draw individual hairs; instead, focus on capturing the way strands rise from the scalp and descend.
Creating Volume
Each hair is composed of multiple strands, which contribute to its overall volume. While drawing, incorporate stray hairs to break up the smoothness of each strand. As the strands become longer, they divide into smaller sections, visible throughout the head.
Enhancing Texture and Flow
To emphasize the natural direction of the hair, pay attention to how it rises along the parting. Define the outline of the entire hairstyle using smooth lines that accentuate the flow. Remember to work lightly, as hair is soft and doesn’t have a hard outline.
For added texture, use pencil lines to create waves that follow the hair’s growth pattern as it lengthens. To depict highlights, use a putty eraser to lift out sections of the pencil marks. Hair doesn’t grow in straight lines, so allow the strands to intersect and form narrow “Y” shapes, both upright and inverted.
Shading Techniques
To give the hair more contrast and depth, draw darker lines along the strands. It’s crucial to maintain a light touch, using a B or 2B pencil. Remember that the lighter areas of the hair are just as important as the darker ones.
When shading, think in terms of strands rather than individual hairs. Introduce stray hairs here and there to enhance the realism of your drawing. Use long pencil strokes to build up the thickness of the hair and add shading for depth and form. Blend everything smoothly and selectively lift areas of light using a putty eraser.
Key Points to Remember
- Align your pencil lines with the direction of the hair.
- Vary the darkness and lightness of your pencil lines to create depth.
- Curls and curved hair sections will produce areas of light and dark due to light sources.
- Blend your pencil lines to achieve a smooth, gray tone before adding highlights.
- Frizzy and permed hair have less defined curls, with strands changing direction and overlapping randomly.
- Don’t forget to check out our fantastic face drawing tutorial for more inspiration!
Remember, practice is crucial to improving your hair drawing skills. Embrace the unique characteristics of each hairstyle and let your creativity shine through your artwork.
