Hot Drawing & Illustration How-Tos
How To: Draw a simple scenery
In this video, we learn how to draw a simple scenery. Start by drawing a horizontal line across the page. From here, draw reference boxes along the middle of the line. Now you can start filling in more details, making buildings out of the boxes. After this, make people outside of the buildings, then make a street and trees in the background. Fill in shading and lines to make the picture more realistic. The key to this is to learn how to start with your reference point to make everything flow ...
How To: Refill ink in a pocket brush pen
In this video, we learn how to refill ink a pocket brush pen with Henry Lee. First, mix water with the ink, depending on the color of ink you want. After this, you will take the pen and soak it in water, then into the ink. Turn the knob on the handle as you do this so the ink starts to infuse into the pen. To get more ink in, point the brush to the sky and turn the knob slowly to drive the extra air out of the pen. Then, dip the pen into the ink and turn the knob in the other direction. Conti...
How To: Draw and color a city with art markers
In this video, we learn how to draw and color a city with art markers. First, draw a horizontal line as your reference point to where the city buildings are going to go. Make a point in the middle as the background line. Now, start to draw in the buildings around the middle line, making diagonal straight lines, then drawing in the details of the buildings. Draw in taller buildings in the back, then start to draw the larger details in the front of the drawing. Add in shading and details as nee...
How To: Write the letter U in calligraphy copperplate
In this video, you will learn how to write the letter U in calligraphy copperplate. Capital U: Take the calligraphy pen with black ink and scaled calligraphy paper. Make a narrow, looped curve to start the "U". After the loop, make a broad brush stroke down. Narrow the brush on the up stroke and broaden again on the down stroke. Narrow the brush on the final upstroke.
How To: Write the letter H in calligraphy copperplate
In this video, we learn how to write the letter H in calligraphy copperplate. To make the upper-case letter, start off drawing into a thick line, with a curve at the end of the letter. Make the curve end touching the line, then draw it out to the right side of the letter, bringing it back down to a line to make the "h" shape. Next, draw a line across the two lines with a curve at both ends. To make the lower-case letter, start by drawing a thin line to make a loop at the top, then bring it do...
How To: Draw a red and yellow bird with a pencil sketch and colored markers
Using your favorite pencil, you can sketch the picture of a bird (like a red-breasted robin) and then use markers to color it in. The tutorial shows you the steps, starting from a blank piece of paper, to draw a multicolored bird.
How To: Draw a sketch of a creepy alien or monster
Watch a sketch artist draw a creepy monster with a bulbous head and long, clawed arms. A shading technique to make everything look creepy is also demonstrated. This piece of fantasy art can be replicated whenever you need to know how to draw something scary to terrify your friends with!
How To: Draw a side shot of The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk, the result of Bruce Banner being exposed to an intense amount of Gamma Rays. Gets stronger the more you hurt him, and can break tanks in half no sweat. Wouldn't you like to be able to draw the green giant? In this video you will learn how to draw The Incredible Hulk from a side view, watch him start from the outline all the way down to the coloring of the finished picture.
How To: Draw faces just like Steven Sanchez in Adobe Photoshop CS3
Comic book art is not only awesome, but it takes a really keen eye, and talent, to draw great comic book art. Steven Sanchez has a unique style and tone to his artwork, and in this great two-part video, you will learn how to draw the faces and heads that make Steven stand out from other artists.
How To: Draw an eye with amazing detail
One of the most emotional and striking things that you can draw is the human eye. It can say everything that you want to say without a single piece of text. But to draw like that requires skill and talent. In this amazing video you will watch as he shows you all the various steps and techniques that he uses to make a truly amazing eye, starting with pencil and eventually finishing with ink.
How To: Draw manga shoes from a side angle
In these great videos you'll learn how to draw each shoe from a 3/4 view. This is a pretty tough style, and Koizu takes his time, showing you the exact steps you need to take to getting the right look, also his voice reminds me of that one "happy clouds" guy. You know the one!
How To: Draw a large room with sectioned off spaces
When vanishing point perspective was first discovered in the early Renaissance, artists were astounded by how the draftsman tool was able to transform a flat, 2D space (that until then always looked like a flat, 2D space without perspective) into a believable 3D image. We've been using vanishing point perspective ever since, and architects would die without it.
How To: Draw an entryway space using complex space
If you need to refine your building draftsmanship for architecture school or simply because you enjoy the streamlined aesthetics of modern architecture, then this tutorial is a perfect way to practice and hone the art of architectural drawing.
How To: Draw a city full of skyscrapers and tall buildings
Maybe it's just us, but this city reminds us a lot of the dreamscape Parisian city from Cristopher Nolan's mind heist movie "Inception," aside from the whole city folding back over itself thing and whatnot.
How To: Create realistic looking drawings and paintings
Merrill offers up some of this best tips for making your works of art more realistic. There's three very important strategies for improving your the lifelike quality of your drawings and paintings, and in this video, he demonstrates them for you.
How To: Trace a picture accurately of an apartment complex
Imitation is the best form of flattery, right? In the case of this picture of a roadside apartment complex, imitation will help you learn about perspective and vanishing points, and how architectural features align with these two drawing caveats to create a realistic picture.
How To: Draw a large truck under a bridge with shading
Sometimes the most common, everyday subjects are also the best for practicing basic drawing methods like drafting and shading and contouring. Just take the truck, people, bridge, and garden in this drawing tutorial, for instance.
How To: Make a duct tape checkerboard/chessboard easily
Think you still need to purchase all your games at the store? If you have two differently colored duct tapes, then you can actually craft your own chessboard or checkerboard easily.
How To: Draw a buxom Frank Frazetta style vampirella
Illustrator Frank Frazetta knew women. At least, he knew what men desired in the "perfect" woman physically: Sumptuous curves that made men weak in the knees with a single shake, deep-set eyes, and bombshell assets.
How To: Draw illusionistic stairway steps with balls
Perhaps one of the most difficult technical challenges of drawing is creating illusionistic images, mazes, or steps. Like in the movie "Inception," illusionistic spaces involve a dream-like atmosphere and paradoxes in structure, like a neverending staircase. If you're interested in stretching the limits of your mind, go see "Inception." Just kidding. Do go see it, but also check out this drawing tutorial.
How To: Draw Captain America with correct anatomy and contouring
Now that the "Avengers" movie and the "Captain America" movie starring Chris Evans have been confirmed, fanboy hype about Marvel heroes has officially reached fever pitch. Though shooting for "Captain America" has just begun, pictures of Evans wearing his Captain American costume have surfaced, showing a very body contouring costume and a very fit Evans.
How To: Draw a realistic male manga face in profile
If you excel at drawing faces directly facing the front but can't seem to wrap your mind - and finger - around turning that face to the side and performing a profile sketch, then you're not alone. Adjusting a face to the side adds another dimension of facial contouring and structure.
How To: Write the letter C in calligraphy copperplate
In this video, we learn how to write the letter "c" in calligraphy copperplate. First, dip your calligraphy pen into ink and start out making a large half circle on the paper. Dip the pen into ink again and make a loop with the top of the letter, then drag the pen down, making the "c" shape. End the letter with a loop on the bottom that isn't touching the inside of the letter. Make the lower case "c" by drawing the basic shape of the letter and adding a ball filled in with ink to the top of t...
How To: Write the letter D in calligraphy copperplate
In this video, we learn how to write the letter D in calligraphy copperplate. Start off by drawing a thin line down the paper, pressing on the pen harder to make a thicker line in the middle, then thinning out at the end. Drag the line to the left making a thin line, then loop it around to the front of the line and make the D shape. After you make the shape, bring the line to the back of the original line and loop it. Do make a lower case letter, make an oval shape with a thick line on the le...
How To: Write the letter J in calligraphy copperplate
In this video, we learn how to write the letter J in calligraphy copperplate. For the uppercase letter, start by grabbing your calligraphy pen and drag it down so you have a thick black line with a thin line at the top. End the letter with a loop around it, then bring the top line to the left and loop it around, making a semi-thick line with it. To make the lower case letter, make a thin line going diagonally to the right, then dip the pen in ink and bring the pen down in a thick line down. C...
How To: Write the letter Y in calligraphy copperplate
In this tutorial, we learn how to write the letter Y in calligraphy copperplate. First, make a thin line with the pen, going thicker as you go down, make a loop and then come back down. Make a "u" shape, then connect a curved line to the other side finished with a dot on the bottom to complete the letter. To make the lower case letter, make a small thin hump, then drag the pen down to a thicker line. Make a new line on the other side, making a thicker line and connect it with the other shape ...
How To: Draw a manga or anime girl
In this video, we learn how to draw a manga or anime girl on the computer. Start off by drawing the torso, with the arm coming out. Have her leaning on the pillow on an incline, then draw her legs. Continue to draw up the body, making the head and hair, then the other arm. Draw in the details on the body and the face, then start to fill in with a bold tool to bring out all the features. Go over all your construction lines, then erase whatever is in the background that you don't need as a guid...
How To: Draw steps in perspective
In this tutorial, we learn how to draw steps in perspective. Start off by drawing a dot in the middle of the paper. From here, draw lines using a ruler coming from the middle diagonally on the top middle and sides. Now, you will be able to draw your pictures using these as a reference point. The lines at the top will show the steps that are at the top and farthest away the closer they get to the dot in the middle. After this, fill in the details of the picture making different items around th...
How To: Write the letter T in calligraphy copperplate
In this video, we learn how to write the letter T in calligraphy copperplate. Start by drawing a thick line that follows out a loop that curves to the left hand side. After this, create a loop at the top of the line, on the left hand side. Draw this out and cross the line over the top to make the T shape, ending with a slight curve at the end. To make the lower cased letter, draw a thin line, then draw a thick line over it, then cross a thin line across the top middle of the letter. Now you w...
How To: Draw a cartoon dragon with a big head
In this video, we learn how to draw a cartoon dragon with a big head. First, draw the outline of the dragon, making the head much larger than the body. After this, add in small details to the dragon using the light pencil mark. Next, take a bold marker and trace over the pencil lines that you made, filling in the eyes, nose, teeth, wings, tail, ears, etc. After you do this, color the dragon completely green. Then, take a darker green color and apply it to the edges and where you want shadowin...
How To: Write the letter K in calligraphy copperplate
In this video, we learn how to write the letter K in calligraphy copperplate. Start by running your calligraphy pen on the paper going from a thin line to a thick, making a line curved to the left ending with a dot at the end of a small loop. Next, make a loop to drag out across the top on the right hand side and curve it down to make the K letter. Do the same to make the lower case letter, except making a loop for the top of the letter instead. When finished, let the ink dry and you've got y...
How To: Write the letter O in calligraphy copperplate
In this video, we learn how to write the letter O in calligraphy copperplate. Take your calligraphy pen and make a medium thick half loop at the top, dragging it down into a thicker line on the left side of the word. Then, continue onto the other side of the O with a lighter touch of the pen making a very thin line, finishing with a loop in the middle. Make the smaller O just like normal, making the thick line on the side and finishing with a small loop bending out to the right at the end. Wh...
How To: Draw a fist
In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a fist. Start off by drawing for circles linked to each other, then draw lines coming down from the middle of each circle. Then, draw a line across the bottom of each vertical line, going horizontally. After this, use a dark line to outline around the circles and the bottom of the lines. Make sure to draw a line in between each of the individual lines. Next, add a couple of curved lines to make a thumb appear on the side. To finish, erase the original ci...
How To: Draw an urban garden using complex levels
Too often in the hustle and bustle of life we forget to take a deep breath, calm down, and embrace the quiet. Many of us are so wired to the point that the quiet scares us, leading to a state of constant overstimulation in which we develop stress, hypertension, and cardiovascular problems. Doesn't sound so fun, does it?
How To: Draw realistic hands in resting and action poses
We know of several artist friends who are practically reborn Monets with their pencils and brushes and can sketch out anything they imagine, except for hands. Not that they can't draw hands, but it seems that hands are the Achille's heel for many art students.
How To: Draw an elevated urban street with complex levels
Have you always secretly harbored a love for urban design or architecture but your parents made it clear to you that they would only financially support you through school if you studied pharmacy? We know your situation sucks, but just because you can't get a degree in urban planning doesn't mean you can't sketch out designs of beautiful cities.
How To: Draw a daffodil for St David's Day
In this tutorial, we learn how to draw a daffodil for St. David's Day. Start off by drawing a circle to measure out where all of the different petals are going to go, then draw a circle in the middle you know where the middle will go. Next, start to draw out the petals onto the circle. After this, draw the middle of the daffodil with the seeds that are in the middle. After this, draw the lines that are in the middle of the leaves. You might want to use a real flower for a reference picture on...
How To: Write the letter S in calligraphy copperplate
In this video, we learn how to write the letter "S" in calligraphy copperplate. First, dab your calligraphy into ink, then start to writ on a your paper. Make a large half bowl shaped curved line, then make a loop and go down, creating a curved line with a dot at the end. To make the lowercase letter, make a thin line, followed by a thick outer line that curves into the large line making a lower case s. When you are finished with both of these, you will have beautiful letters that look great ...
How To: Draw cartoon caricatures
In this tutorial, we learn how to draw cartoon caricatures. Start off by drawing the eyes and the eyebrows. Next, draw in the hair on the forehead and then start to make the face surrounding the hair. After this, you will need to draw in the ears and make a note to draw in any prominent features that the person you are drawing has. Make sure to draw larger lips and a small neck, making the head look larger. For men, do the same thing and give each of the pictures a bit of personality! Don't b...
How To: Draw Neopet cartoon cats
In this tutorial, we learn how to draw Neopet cartoon cats. First, use a small brush to create the outline of each of the cats. Use light strokes to make the outline, then start to add in the details onto the cat with a darker colored brush. Add in the details of the face, including the whiskers, mouth, and eyes. Don't forget to add on the ears as well. Erase and lines that are on the back of the drawing, so all you see is the darker and more exact lines. Continue on drawing the body, making ...