If you’ve never opened Illustrator before—or if you’ve opened it and struggled—our new course is for you! From the Top: Adobe Illustrator for Beginners will show you the easy way to make beautiful artwork in Adobe Illustrator.
What You’ll Learn
In this course, you’re going to learn everything you need to get up and running using Adobe Illustrator. Your instructor, Daniel Scott, will take you through all of the essential tools and features of the program while showing you how to create some simple illustrations.
This course is for beginners, so you don’t need any previous knowledge of Illustrator, and you don’t need design or illustration skills. You’ll start right at the beginning, and you can work your way through each topic step by step.
Here are some free lessons from this course, as a preview of what you can expect:
Drawing With Shapes and Lines
In this video, you’ll learn how to draw many common objects in Illustrator by creating and adjusting simple shapes and lines.
Drawing With the Shape Builder
In this video, you’ll take your drawing to the next level by learning how to transform simple overlapping shapes into complex images using the Shape Builder tool.
Drawing With the Pen Tool
In this lesson, you’ll learn how you can use the Pen Tool in addition to the Curvature Tool to draw more complex yet easily adjustable shapes.
Take the Course
This was just a small sample of videos from the course. There’s much more in the full course of 20 videos, which takes you through the full setup process and introduces you to a lot more Illustrator tools and techniques.
You can take our new course straight away with a subscription to Envato Elements. For a single low monthly fee, you get access not only to this course, but also to our growing library of over 1,000 video courses and industry-leading eBooks on Envato Tuts+.
Plus you now get unlimited downloads from the huge Envato Elements library of 680,000+ creative assets. Create with unique fonts, photos, graphics and templates, and deliver better projects faster.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the Mesh Toolin Adobe Illustrator to create a light bulb with some nature elements!
If you want to skip the tutorial and just use these flowers in your work, you can purchase the Eco Light Bulb from GraphicRiver!
1. How to Draw the Light Bulb
Step 1
Let’s learn how to use Gradient Mesh!
Begin by drawing a rectangle and filling it with #3E4A56. Next, take the Mesh Tool (U) and create a mesh grid inside the object by clicking on different spots.
Bend
the object into the shape seen in the screenshot below. Once the shape
and the mesh grid match the image, select the edge nodes and
color them with #D2D6E0.
Continue by selecting and coloring the indicated nodes with the respective colors.
You will need these:
#3E4A56
#D2D6E0
#FFFFFF
#F4F4F4
#D0D5DF
#A0A8B2
Step 2
Change the light bulb’s Transparency mode to Multiply.
Next, draw a grey shape, filled with #B4B4B5. Change it to Screen with 80% Opacity.
Place the highlight on the bulb.
Step 3
Begin drawing the base of the light bulb with Mesh.
You will need these colors:
#212631
#FAFAFB
#66707A
Step 4
Draw one more part.
#212631
#C7CAD0
#FFFFFF
#5B5F66
Step 5
Draw the base.
#26292E
#626872
#CBCFD4
Step 6
Construct the part.
Step 7
Put the light bulb together.
Step 8
To add the patch of grass and the ladybug, consult these tutorials:
Learn how to create a vector nature background with a wooden sign, grass, leaves and a ladybug using Gradient Mesh in Adobe Illustrator!
Fit them into the outline of the bulb, and then Make a Clipping Mask.
Step 9
Place the mesh bulb on top of the grass.
Draw a mesh highlight—black outline with a white middle. Set it to Screen with 80% Opacity and place it on top of the bulb.
You can add a couple of Gradient shadows under the light bulb.
Step 10
Draw a white rectangle with a mesh grid, and make its upper edge transparent.
Step 11
Place a reflected copy of the bulb under the original, and then place the mesh on top of it.
2. How to Draw the Butterfly
Step 1
Draw black outlines for the wing.
Step 2
Draw mesh inserts. Use black for the outline and #FFF3A0 for the middle.
Step 3
Draw some more elements with the same colors.
Step 4
Draw six more elements using black and #FF6000.
Step 5
Draw one more mesh element. Use these colors:
#000000
#FFFFFF
#BDDEDD
Step 6
Create different copies of the element.
Step 7
Create two more modified copies.
Step 8
Assemble the top part of the wing.
Step 9
Assemble the bottom part.
Step 10
Assemble the wing.
Step 11
Create a reflected copy of the wing, and then use the Shear Tool with an angle of 211° at a Horizontal Axis on it.
Attach the modified wing to the original.
Step 12
Draw the body of the butterfly with Mesh.
#160C0B
#4A3828
#4C4A3F
Step 13
Draw another black part using a specific Stroke profile. Expand the object.
Step 14
Assemble the body.
Step 15
Add the wings.
Step 16
Place the butterfly on top of the light bulb!
Awesome Work, You’re Now Done!
What now? You can try any of my other tutorials from my profile or check out my portfolio on GraphicRiver, as well as the original vector we recreated in this tutorial.
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and I would be super happy to see any results in the comments below.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the Mesh Toolin Adobe Illustrator to create a light bulb with some nature elements!
If you want to skip the tutorial and just use these flowers in your work, you can purchase the Eco Light Bulb from GraphicRiver!
1. How to Draw the Light Bulb
Step 1
Let’s learn how to use Gradient Mesh!
Begin by drawing a rectangle and filling it with #3E4A56. Next, take the Mesh Tool (U) and create a mesh grid inside the object by clicking on different spots.
Bend
the object into the shape seen in the screenshot below. Once the shape
and the mesh grid match the image, select the edge nodes and
color them with #D2D6E0.
Continue by selecting and coloring the indicated nodes with the respective colors.
You will need these:
#3E4A56
#D2D6E0
#FFFFFF
#F4F4F4
#D0D5DF
#A0A8B2
Step 2
Change the light bulb’s Transparency mode to Multiply.
Next, draw a grey shape, filled with #B4B4B5. Change it to Screen with 80% Opacity.
Place the highlight on the bulb.
Step 3
Begin drawing the base of the light bulb with Mesh.
You will need these colors:
#212631
#FAFAFB
#66707A
Step 4
Draw one more part.
#212631
#C7CAD0
#FFFFFF
#5B5F66
Step 5
Draw the base.
#26292E
#626872
#CBCFD4
Step 6
Construct the part.
Step 7
Put the light bulb together.
Step 8
To add the patch of grass and the ladybug, consult these tutorials:
Learn how to create a vector nature background with a wooden sign, grass, leaves and a ladybug using Gradient Mesh in Adobe Illustrator!
Fit them into the outline of the bulb, and then Make a Clipping Mask.
Step 9
Place the mesh bulb on top of the grass.
Draw a mesh highlight—black outline with a white middle. Set it to Screen with 80% Opacity and place it on top of the bulb.
You can add a couple of Gradient shadows under the light bulb.
Step 10
Draw a white rectangle with a mesh grid, and make its upper edge transparent.
Step 11
Place a reflected copy of the bulb under the original, and then place the mesh on top of it.
2. How to Draw the Butterfly
Step 1
Draw black outlines for the wing.
Step 2
Draw mesh inserts. Use black for the outline and #FFF3A0 for the middle.
Step 3
Draw some more elements with the same colors.
Step 4
Draw six more elements using black and #FF6000.
Step 5
Draw one more mesh element. Use these colors:
#000000
#FFFFFF
#BDDEDD
Step 6
Create different copies of the element.
Step 7
Create two more modified copies.
Step 8
Assemble the top part of the wing.
Step 9
Assemble the bottom part.
Step 10
Assemble the wing.
Step 11
Create a reflected copy of the wing, and then use the Shear Tool with an angle of 211° at a Horizontal Axis on it.
Attach the modified wing to the original.
Step 12
Draw the body of the butterfly with Mesh.
#160C0B
#4A3828
#4C4A3F
Step 13
Draw another black part using a specific Stroke profile. Expand the object.
Step 14
Assemble the body.
Step 15
Add the wings.
Step 16
Place the butterfly on top of the light bulb!
Awesome Work, You’re Now Done!
What now? You can try any of my other tutorials from my profile or check out my portfolio on GraphicRiver, as well as the original vector we recreated in this tutorial.
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and I would be super happy to see any results in the comments below.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the Mesh Toolin Adobe Illustrator to create a light bulb with some nature elements!
If you want to skip the tutorial and just use these flowers in your work, you can purchase the Eco Light Bulb from GraphicRiver!
1. How to Draw the Light Bulb
Step 1
Let’s learn how to use Gradient Mesh!
Begin by drawing a rectangle and filling it with #3E4A56. Next, take the Mesh Tool (U) and create a mesh grid inside the object by clicking on different spots.
Bend
the object into the shape seen in the screenshot below. Once the shape
and the mesh grid match the image, select the edge nodes and
color them with #D2D6E0.
Continue by selecting and coloring the indicated nodes with the respective colors.
You will need these:
#3E4A56
#D2D6E0
#FFFFFF
#F4F4F4
#D0D5DF
#A0A8B2
Step 2
Change the light bulb’s Transparency mode to Multiply.
Next, draw a grey shape, filled with #B4B4B5. Change it to Screen with 80% Opacity.
Place the highlight on the bulb.
Step 3
Begin drawing the base of the light bulb with Mesh.
You will need these colors:
#212631
#FAFAFB
#66707A
Step 4
Draw one more part.
#212631
#C7CAD0
#FFFFFF
#5B5F66
Step 5
Draw the base.
#26292E
#626872
#CBCFD4
Step 6
Construct the part.
Step 7
Put the light bulb together.
Step 8
To add the patch of grass and the ladybug, consult these tutorials:
Learn how to create a vector nature background with a wooden sign, grass, leaves and a ladybug using Gradient Mesh in Adobe Illustrator!
Fit them into the outline of the bulb, and then Make a Clipping Mask.
Step 9
Place the mesh bulb on top of the grass.
Draw a mesh highlight—black outline with a white middle. Set it to Screen with 80% Opacity and place it on top of the bulb.
You can add a couple of Gradient shadows under the light bulb.
Step 10
Draw a white rectangle with a mesh grid, and make its upper edge transparent.
Step 11
Place a reflected copy of the bulb under the original, and then place the mesh on top of it.
2. How to Draw the Butterfly
Step 1
Draw black outlines for the wing.
Step 2
Draw mesh inserts. Use black for the outline and #FFF3A0 for the middle.
Step 3
Draw some more elements with the same colors.
Step 4
Draw six more elements using black and #FF6000.
Step 5
Draw one more mesh element. Use these colors:
#000000
#FFFFFF
#BDDEDD
Step 6
Create different copies of the element.
Step 7
Create two more modified copies.
Step 8
Assemble the top part of the wing.
Step 9
Assemble the bottom part.
Step 10
Assemble the wing.
Step 11
Create a reflected copy of the wing, and then use the Shear Tool with an angle of 211° at a Horizontal Axis on it.
Attach the modified wing to the original.
Step 12
Draw the body of the butterfly with Mesh.
#160C0B
#4A3828
#4C4A3F
Step 13
Draw another black part using a specific Stroke profile. Expand the object.
Step 14
Assemble the body.
Step 15
Add the wings.
Step 16
Place the butterfly on top of the light bulb!
Awesome Work, You’re Now Done!
What now? You can try any of my other tutorials from my profile or check out my portfolio on GraphicRiver, as well as the original vector we recreated in this tutorial.
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial, and I would be super happy to see any results in the comments below.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to create an amazing pastel photo effect in Adobe Photoshop. I will explain everything in so much detail that anyone can create it, even those who have just opened Photoshop for the first time.
The effect shown above is the one I will show you how to create in this tutorial. If you would like to create the even more advanced pastel effects shown below, using just a single click and in only a few minutes, then check out my Pastel Photoshop Action.
What You’ll Need
To recreate the design above, you will need the following resources:
First, open the photo that you want to work with. To open your photo, go to File > Open, choose your photo, and click Open. Now, before we get started, just check a couple of things:
Your photo should be in RGB Color mode, 8 Bits/Channel. To check this, go to Image > Mode.
For best results, your photo size should be 2000–3000 px wide/high. To check this, go to Image > Image Size.
Your photo should be the Background layer. If it is not, go to Layer > New > Background from Layer.
Step 2
Now we need to expand the canvas on the left and right so we have more space around the subject on these sides. Go to Image > Canvas Size and use the settings below:
Step 3
We are going to do the same thing for the bottom side of the canvas. Go to Image > Canvas Size and use the settings below:
2. How to Create the Pastel Brush
Step 1
In this section, we are going to create the pastel brush. You can take a pencil and paper and draw the texture, and then scan it out, or you can use a grunge texture. Here is my result:
Step 2
Now go to Edit > Define Brush to define this texture as a brush, and name it Temp_Brush.
Step 3
Now that we have defined our brush, we need to adjust its settings and then define it again as a new brush. Press B on your keyboard, Right-click anywhere inside the canvas, select the Temp_Brush brush, and hit Enter. Then go to Window > Brush and, in the Brush window, use the settings below:
Step 4
To define this brush with new settings as a new brush, click on the top right icon in the bottom right corner of the Brush panel, and name it Pastel_Brush.
3. How to Create the Background
Step 1
In this section, we are going to create the background. Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color to create a new solid color fill layer, name it Background color, and choose the color #d9d9d9 as shown below:
Step 2
Now select the Background layer and press Control-J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer. Then, drag this layer to the top of the Layers panel.
Step 3
Go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Sketch > Photocopy and set the Detail to 2 and Darkness to 5.
Step 4
Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Multiply and change the Opacity to 50%. Then, name this layer Photo Outlines.
Step 5
Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All to add a layer mask that reveals the whole layer.
Step 6
Now set the foreground color to #000000, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick a soft brush, and brush over the outline of the canvas to remove it.
4. How to Create the Base
Step 1
In this section, we are going to create the base that
determines the subject in our photo. Go to Layer > New > Layer to create a new layer and name it Base.
Step 2
Hide the Photo Outlines and Background Color layers. Then, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick a soft brush, and brush over your subject. It doesn’t matter
what color you use. After that, show all layers again.
5. How to Create the Subject Textures
Step 1
In this section, we are going to create the subject textures. Go to Layer > New > Layer to create a new layer and name it ST_1.
Step 2
Now set the foreground color to #000000, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick the Pastel_Brush brush, and brush over the color fill area of the Base layer as well as around the color fill. Feel free to use different brush sizes.
Step 3
Hide the ST_1 layer and select the Base layer. Then, go to Layer > New > Layer to create a new layer and name it ST_2.
Step 4
Now set the foreground color to #000000, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick the Pastel_Brush brush, and brush over the same area again but this time much lighter. Once again, feel free to use different brush sizes.
Step 5
Change the Opacity of this layer to 30% and hide the Base layer.
Step 6
Now Control-click on the Base layer thumbnail to make a selection of this layer. Then, select the Background layer, and press Control-J on your keyboard to create a new layer using the selection. After that, drag this new layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel.
Step 7
Select the ST_1 layer and go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All to add a layer mask that reveals the whole layer.
Step 8
Now hide the Photo Outlines layer, go to Image > Apply Image, and use the settings below:
Step 9
Press Control-I on your keyboard to invert the layer mask. Then, go to Image > Adjustments > Levels and use the settings below:
Step 10
Now show the ST_1 and Photo Outlines layers again. Then, select the Layer 1 layer, and press Control-Shift-U on your keyboard to desaturate it.
Step 11
Go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Artistic > Film Grain and set the Grain to 5, Highlight Area to 0, and Intensity to 10.
Step 12
Now go to Edit > Fade Filter Gallery and set the Opacity to 100% and Mode to Darken.
Step 13
Change the Blending Mode of this layer to Soft Light and set the Opacity to 70%. Then, name this layer Subject Details.
6. How to Color the Sketch
Step 1
In this section, we are going to color some parts of the subject textures. Control-click on the thumbnail of the Base layer to make a selection of this layer. Then, select the Background layer, and press Control-J on your keyboard to create a new layer using the selection. After that, drag this new layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel.
Step 2
Now go to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All to add a layer mask that hides the whole layer.
Step 3
Set the foreground color to #ffffff, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick the Pastel_Brush brush, and brush over the area of your subject that you want to color. Feel free to use different brush sizes.
Step 4
Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Color and set the Opacity to 60%. Then, name this layer Subject Color.
7. How to Make the Final Adjustments
Step 1
In this section, we are going to make some final adjustments. Select the Subject Details layer, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels to create a new levels adjustment layer, and name it Overall Brightness.
Step 2
Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and, in the Properties panel, enter the settings below:
Step 3
Change the Opacity of this layer to 33%.
Step 4
Now press D on your keyboard to reset the swatches. Then, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map to create a new gradient map adjustment layer and name it Textures Contrast.
Step 5
Control-click on the Base layer thumbnail to make a selection of this layer. Then, set the foreground color to #000000, go to Edit > Fill, and set Contents to Foreground Color, Mode to Normal, and Opacity to 100%.
Step 6
Now press Control-D on your keyboard to deselect the selection. Then, change the Blending Mode of this layer to Overlay and set the Opacity to 58%.
Step 7
Right-click on the Base layer and choose Delete Layer. Then, select the Subject Color layer, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves to create a new curves adjustment layer and name it Color Look.
Step 8
Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and in the Properties panel enter the settings below:
Step 9
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Vibrance to create a new vibrance adjustment layer and name it Overall Vibrance/Saturation.
Step 10
Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and, in the Properties panel, set the Vibrance to +28 and Saturation to +19.
Step 11
Press Control-Alt-Shift-E on your keyboard to make a screenshot, and then press Control-Shift-U to desaturate this layer. Then, go to Filter > Other > High Pass and set the Radius to 2 px.
Step 12
Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Hard Light and name it Overall Sharpening.
You Made It!
Congratulations, you have succeeded! Here is our final result:
If you would like to create the even more advanced pastel effects shown
below, using just a single click and in only a few minutes, then check
out my Pastel Photoshop Action.
The action will create professional and realistic pastel sketch effects from your photos with no work at all from your side! You simply brush over your photo with a
color and just play the action. It’s really that simple! The action
will do all the work for you, leaving you fully layered and customizable results that you can further modify.
The action is made so that every time you run the action you will get a unique result, even if you use the same brushed area. The action will always create a unique variation of pastel textures, so you can create an unlimited number of
results! The action also creates 35 preset color looks that you can choose from.
The action comes with a detailed video tutorial that demonstrates how to use the action and customize the results to get the most out of the effect.
In this tutorial, I’m going to teach you how to create a Photoshop sketch effect. You will learn how to turn your photos into amazing, advanced sketches. I…
In this tutorial you will learn how to create an amazing, artistic effect inspired by art style of the Grand Theft Auto video game, using Adobe Photoshop.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to create an amazing pastel photo effect in Adobe Photoshop. I will explain everything in so much detail that anyone can create it, even those who have just opened Photoshop for the first time.
The effect shown above is the one I will show you how to create in this tutorial. If you would like to create the even more advanced pastel effects shown below, using just a single click and in only a few minutes, then check out my Pastel Photoshop Action.
What You’ll Need
To recreate the design above, you will need the following resources:
First, open the photo that you want to work with. To open your photo, go to File > Open, choose your photo, and click Open. Now, before we get started, just check a couple of things:
Your photo should be in RGB Color mode, 8 Bits/Channel. To check this, go to Image > Mode.
For best results, your photo size should be 2000–3000 px wide/high. To check this, go to Image > Image Size.
Your photo should be the Background layer. If it is not, go to Layer > New > Background from Layer.
Step 2
Now we need to expand the canvas on the left and right so we have more space around the subject on these sides. Go to Image > Canvas Size and use the settings below:
Step 3
We are going to do the same thing for the bottom side of the canvas. Go to Image > Canvas Size and use the settings below:
2. How to Create the Pastel Brush
Step 1
In this section, we are going to create the pastel brush. You can take a pencil and paper and draw the texture, and then scan it out, or you can use a grunge texture. Here is my result:
Step 2
Now go to Edit > Define Brush to define this texture as a brush, and name it Temp_Brush.
Step 3
Now that we have defined our brush, we need to adjust its settings and then define it again as a new brush. Press B on your keyboard, Right-click anywhere inside the canvas, select the Temp_Brush brush, and hit Enter. Then go to Window > Brush and, in the Brush window, use the settings below:
Step 4
To define this brush with new settings as a new brush, click on the top right icon in the bottom right corner of the Brush panel, and name it Pastel_Brush.
3. How to Create the Background
Step 1
In this section, we are going to create the background. Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color to create a new solid color fill layer, name it Background color, and choose the color #d9d9d9 as shown below:
Step 2
Now select the Background layer and press Control-J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer. Then, drag this layer to the top of the Layers panel.
Step 3
Go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Sketch > Photocopy and set the Detail to 2 and Darkness to 5.
Step 4
Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Multiply and change the Opacity to 50%. Then, name this layer Photo Outlines.
Step 5
Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All to add a layer mask that reveals the whole layer.
Step 6
Now set the foreground color to #000000, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick a soft brush, and brush over the outline of the canvas to remove it.
4. How to Create the Base
Step 1
In this section, we are going to create the base that
determines the subject in our photo. Go to Layer > New > Layer to create a new layer and name it Base.
Step 2
Hide the Photo Outlines and Background Color layers. Then, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick a soft brush, and brush over your subject. It doesn’t matter
what color you use. After that, show all layers again.
5. How to Create the Subject Textures
Step 1
In this section, we are going to create the subject textures. Go to Layer > New > Layer to create a new layer and name it ST_1.
Step 2
Now set the foreground color to #000000, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick the Pastel_Brush brush, and brush over the color fill area of the Base layer as well as around the color fill. Feel free to use different brush sizes.
Step 3
Hide the ST_1 layer and select the Base layer. Then, go to Layer > New > Layer to create a new layer and name it ST_2.
Step 4
Now set the foreground color to #000000, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick the Pastel_Brush brush, and brush over the same area again but this time much lighter. Once again, feel free to use different brush sizes.
Step 5
Change the Opacity of this layer to 30% and hide the Base layer.
Step 6
Now Control-click on the Base layer thumbnail to make a selection of this layer. Then, select the Background layer, and press Control-J on your keyboard to create a new layer using the selection. After that, drag this new layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel.
Step 7
Select the ST_1 layer and go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All to add a layer mask that reveals the whole layer.
Step 8
Now hide the Photo Outlines layer, go to Image > Apply Image, and use the settings below:
Step 9
Press Control-I on your keyboard to invert the layer mask. Then, go to Image > Adjustments > Levels and use the settings below:
Step 10
Now show the ST_1 and Photo Outlines layers again. Then, select the Layer 1 layer, and press Control-Shift-U on your keyboard to desaturate it.
Step 11
Go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Artistic > Film Grain and set the Grain to 5, Highlight Area to 0, and Intensity to 10.
Step 12
Now go to Edit > Fade Filter Gallery and set the Opacity to 100% and Mode to Darken.
Step 13
Change the Blending Mode of this layer to Soft Light and set the Opacity to 70%. Then, name this layer Subject Details.
6. How to Color the Sketch
Step 1
In this section, we are going to color some parts of the subject textures. Control-click on the thumbnail of the Base layer to make a selection of this layer. Then, select the Background layer, and press Control-J on your keyboard to create a new layer using the selection. After that, drag this new layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel.
Step 2
Now go to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All to add a layer mask that hides the whole layer.
Step 3
Set the foreground color to #ffffff, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick the Pastel_Brush brush, and brush over the area of your subject that you want to color. Feel free to use different brush sizes.
Step 4
Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Color and set the Opacity to 60%. Then, name this layer Subject Color.
7. How to Make the Final Adjustments
Step 1
In this section, we are going to make some final adjustments. Select the Subject Details layer, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels to create a new levels adjustment layer, and name it Overall Brightness.
Step 2
Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and, in the Properties panel, enter the settings below:
Step 3
Change the Opacity of this layer to 33%.
Step 4
Now press D on your keyboard to reset the swatches. Then, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map to create a new gradient map adjustment layer and name it Textures Contrast.
Step 5
Control-click on the Base layer thumbnail to make a selection of this layer. Then, set the foreground color to #000000, go to Edit > Fill, and set Contents to Foreground Color, Mode to Normal, and Opacity to 100%.
Step 6
Now press Control-D on your keyboard to deselect the selection. Then, change the Blending Mode of this layer to Overlay and set the Opacity to 58%.
Step 7
Right-click on the Base layer and choose Delete Layer. Then, select the Subject Color layer, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves to create a new curves adjustment layer and name it Color Look.
Step 8
Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and in the Properties panel enter the settings below:
Step 9
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Vibrance to create a new vibrance adjustment layer and name it Overall Vibrance/Saturation.
Step 10
Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and, in the Properties panel, set the Vibrance to +28 and Saturation to +19.
Step 11
Press Control-Alt-Shift-E on your keyboard to make a screenshot, and then press Control-Shift-U to desaturate this layer. Then, go to Filter > Other > High Pass and set the Radius to 2 px.
Step 12
Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Hard Light and name it Overall Sharpening.
You Made It!
Congratulations, you have succeeded! Here is our final result:
If you would like to create the even more advanced pastel effects shown
below, using just a single click and in only a few minutes, then check
out my Pastel Photoshop Action.
The action will create professional and realistic pastel sketch effects from your photos with no work at all from your side! You simply brush over your photo with a
color and just play the action. It’s really that simple! The action
will do all the work for you, leaving you fully layered and customizable results that you can further modify.
The action is made so that every time you run the action you will get a unique result, even if you use the same brushed area. The action will always create a unique variation of pastel textures, so you can create an unlimited number of
results! The action also creates 35 preset color looks that you can choose from.
The action comes with a detailed video tutorial that demonstrates how to use the action and customize the results to get the most out of the effect.
In this tutorial, I’m going to teach you how to create a Photoshop sketch effect. You will learn how to turn your photos into amazing, advanced sketches. I…
In this tutorial you will learn how to create an amazing, artistic effect inspired by art style of the Grand Theft Auto video game, using Adobe Photoshop.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to create an amazing pastel photo effect in Adobe Photoshop. I will explain everything in so much detail that anyone can create it, even those who have just opened Photoshop for the first time.
The effect shown above is the one I will show you how to create in this tutorial. If you would like to create the even more advanced pastel effects shown below, using just a single click and in only a few minutes, then check out my Pastel Photoshop Action.
What You’ll Need
To recreate the design above, you will need the following resources:
First, open the photo that you want to work with. To open your photo, go to File > Open, choose your photo, and click Open. Now, before we get started, just check a couple of things:
Your photo should be in RGB Color mode, 8 Bits/Channel. To check this, go to Image > Mode.
For best results, your photo size should be 2000–3000 px wide/high. To check this, go to Image > Image Size.
Your photo should be the Background layer. If it is not, go to Layer > New > Background from Layer.
Step 2
Now we need to expand the canvas on the left and right so we have more space around the subject on these sides. Go to Image > Canvas Size and use the settings below:
Step 3
We are going to do the same thing for the bottom side of the canvas. Go to Image > Canvas Size and use the settings below:
2. How to Create the Pastel Brush
Step 1
In this section, we are going to create the pastel brush. You can take a pencil and paper and draw the texture, and then scan it out, or you can use a grunge texture. Here is my result:
Step 2
Now go to Edit > Define Brush to define this texture as a brush, and name it Temp_Brush.
Step 3
Now that we have defined our brush, we need to adjust its settings and then define it again as a new brush. Press B on your keyboard, Right-click anywhere inside the canvas, select the Temp_Brush brush, and hit Enter. Then go to Window > Brush and, in the Brush window, use the settings below:
Step 4
To define this brush with new settings as a new brush, click on the top right icon in the bottom right corner of the Brush panel, and name it Pastel_Brush.
3. How to Create the Background
Step 1
In this section, we are going to create the background. Go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color to create a new solid color fill layer, name it Background color, and choose the color #d9d9d9 as shown below:
Step 2
Now select the Background layer and press Control-J on your keyboard to duplicate this layer. Then, drag this layer to the top of the Layers panel.
Step 3
Go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Sketch > Photocopy and set the Detail to 2 and Darkness to 5.
Step 4
Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Multiply and change the Opacity to 50%. Then, name this layer Photo Outlines.
Step 5
Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All to add a layer mask that reveals the whole layer.
Step 6
Now set the foreground color to #000000, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick a soft brush, and brush over the outline of the canvas to remove it.
4. How to Create the Base
Step 1
In this section, we are going to create the base that
determines the subject in our photo. Go to Layer > New > Layer to create a new layer and name it Base.
Step 2
Hide the Photo Outlines and Background Color layers. Then, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick a soft brush, and brush over your subject. It doesn’t matter
what color you use. After that, show all layers again.
5. How to Create the Subject Textures
Step 1
In this section, we are going to create the subject textures. Go to Layer > New > Layer to create a new layer and name it ST_1.
Step 2
Now set the foreground color to #000000, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick the Pastel_Brush brush, and brush over the color fill area of the Base layer as well as around the color fill. Feel free to use different brush sizes.
Step 3
Hide the ST_1 layer and select the Base layer. Then, go to Layer > New > Layer to create a new layer and name it ST_2.
Step 4
Now set the foreground color to #000000, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick the Pastel_Brush brush, and brush over the same area again but this time much lighter. Once again, feel free to use different brush sizes.
Step 5
Change the Opacity of this layer to 30% and hide the Base layer.
Step 6
Now Control-click on the Base layer thumbnail to make a selection of this layer. Then, select the Background layer, and press Control-J on your keyboard to create a new layer using the selection. After that, drag this new layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel.
Step 7
Select the ST_1 layer and go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All to add a layer mask that reveals the whole layer.
Step 8
Now hide the Photo Outlines layer, go to Image > Apply Image, and use the settings below:
Step 9
Press Control-I on your keyboard to invert the layer mask. Then, go to Image > Adjustments > Levels and use the settings below:
Step 10
Now show the ST_1 and Photo Outlines layers again. Then, select the Layer 1 layer, and press Control-Shift-U on your keyboard to desaturate it.
Step 11
Go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Artistic > Film Grain and set the Grain to 5, Highlight Area to 0, and Intensity to 10.
Step 12
Now go to Edit > Fade Filter Gallery and set the Opacity to 100% and Mode to Darken.
Step 13
Change the Blending Mode of this layer to Soft Light and set the Opacity to 70%. Then, name this layer Subject Details.
6. How to Color the Sketch
Step 1
In this section, we are going to color some parts of the subject textures. Control-click on the thumbnail of the Base layer to make a selection of this layer. Then, select the Background layer, and press Control-J on your keyboard to create a new layer using the selection. After that, drag this new layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel.
Step 2
Now go to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All to add a layer mask that hides the whole layer.
Step 3
Set the foreground color to #ffffff, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick the Pastel_Brush brush, and brush over the area of your subject that you want to color. Feel free to use different brush sizes.
Step 4
Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Color and set the Opacity to 60%. Then, name this layer Subject Color.
7. How to Make the Final Adjustments
Step 1
In this section, we are going to make some final adjustments. Select the Subject Details layer, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels to create a new levels adjustment layer, and name it Overall Brightness.
Step 2
Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and, in the Properties panel, enter the settings below:
Step 3
Change the Opacity of this layer to 33%.
Step 4
Now press D on your keyboard to reset the swatches. Then, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map to create a new gradient map adjustment layer and name it Textures Contrast.
Step 5
Control-click on the Base layer thumbnail to make a selection of this layer. Then, set the foreground color to #000000, go to Edit > Fill, and set Contents to Foreground Color, Mode to Normal, and Opacity to 100%.
Step 6
Now press Control-D on your keyboard to deselect the selection. Then, change the Blending Mode of this layer to Overlay and set the Opacity to 58%.
Step 7
Right-click on the Base layer and choose Delete Layer. Then, select the Subject Color layer, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves to create a new curves adjustment layer and name it Color Look.
Step 8
Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and in the Properties panel enter the settings below:
Step 9
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Vibrance to create a new vibrance adjustment layer and name it Overall Vibrance/Saturation.
Step 10
Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and, in the Properties panel, set the Vibrance to +28 and Saturation to +19.
Step 11
Press Control-Alt-Shift-E on your keyboard to make a screenshot, and then press Control-Shift-U to desaturate this layer. Then, go to Filter > Other > High Pass and set the Radius to 2 px.
Step 12
Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Hard Light and name it Overall Sharpening.
You Made It!
Congratulations, you have succeeded! Here is our final result:
If you would like to create the even more advanced pastel effects shown
below, using just a single click and in only a few minutes, then check
out my Pastel Photoshop Action.
The action will create professional and realistic pastel sketch effects from your photos with no work at all from your side! You simply brush over your photo with a
color and just play the action. It’s really that simple! The action
will do all the work for you, leaving you fully layered and customizable results that you can further modify.
The action is made so that every time you run the action you will get a unique result, even if you use the same brushed area. The action will always create a unique variation of pastel textures, so you can create an unlimited number of
results! The action also creates 35 preset color looks that you can choose from.
The action comes with a detailed video tutorial that demonstrates how to use the action and customize the results to get the most out of the effect.
In this tutorial, I’m going to teach you how to create a Photoshop sketch effect. You will learn how to turn your photos into amazing, advanced sketches. I…
In this tutorial you will learn how to create an amazing, artistic effect inspired by art style of the Grand Theft Auto video game, using Adobe Photoshop.
Camels have an
unmistakable silhouette, with their humped back, short tail, long, slim legs,
and a neck that dips downward and rises to a small, narrow head. The English
word ‘camel’ is thought to derive from the Arabic word ‘jamāl’, which means
‘handsome’ or ‘beauty’. What an apt name for this admirable animal!
Camels efficiently
adapted to the harsh conditions of their
habitat; for this reason, they are called “the ships of the desert”.
In this tutorial,
we’ll learn what distinctive features allow camels to be capable, strong, and
endurable. And, of course, we’ll create a couple of beautiful drawings!
You may also be
interested in these drawing tutorials:
In order to
complete this project, you’ll need the following equipment:
an HB graphite
pencil
a 3B graphite
pencil
an eraser
drawing paper
1. How
to Draw the Dromedary Camel
Step 1
The dromedary,
also known as the Arabian camel, inhabits the Middle East and the Horn of
Africa.
Dromedaries have
only one hump, but they do employ it to great effect; their humps store up to
80 pounds of fat, which a camel can break down into water and energy when
sustenance is scarce. Humps give camels their legendary ability to travel up to
100 desert miles without water.
We’ll depict the dromedary camel in a side view. With the HB graphite pencil, I outline a rough
shape of the head; it resembles a triangle with smoothed angles.
I also add the
shapes of the ear and the eye.
Step 2
I draw a curved
line for the camel’s neck, marking its general direction. Please be sure to
leave enough space for the rest of the body on the sheet of paper.
Then I add an oblong
shape for the camel’s body.
Step 3
Let’s draw the
framework of the long legs, adding one segment at a time. First, I outline the
upper parts of the limbs; they are divided into portions to make the task
easier.
I present the
joints as circles—the simpler, the better.
I add the lower
parts of the limbs; they are more slender compared to the upper ones.
I complete the
framework with the rough shapes of the feet.
Step 4
I refine the neck,
giving it some thickness with a contour.
Step 5
I add a sketchy shape
of the hump to the camel’s back.
Step 6
Now I draw the
line of its tail; camels have relatively short tails.
Step 7
Let’s work on the
facial features of our camel—and explore why they are perfectly suited to the
desert environment.
Although camels
have relatively small heads, their eyes are large and prominent. They enable
the animal to see for long distances.
A protruding ridge
of bone and bushy eyebrows protect the eyes from the hot sun. There are also two
sets of long eyelashes in addition to a third thin 'eyelid’; together, they serve
as a defense from the sand.
I draw the eye,
making it as contrasting and expressive as possible (don’t forget about the
highlight), and the ear. The ears are quite small, almost indiscernible from a
distance.
Camels have
nostrils lined with hairs that stop any sand from entering the nose. What’s
more, they can shut their nostrils at will!
Their lips are
thick and protruding;
the upper lip is split into
two sections that move independently. It’s another form of adaptation—thick,
rubbery lips allow them to eat prickly desert plants without feeling pain. In fact,
most of the water that camels take in comes from grazing on the thorny bushes that grow in a desert.
Step 8
I refine the
contour of the camel’s back, erasing the unnecessary lines. I add some new
features of the tail, too—now it is tufted near the end.
Also, I mark some
skinfolds on the neck to make the sketch more credible.
Step 9
I refine the upper
parts of the limbs. The dromedary has callosities (thick, hardened skin) on the joints of the legs and
on the chest, upon which it rests in a kneeling position. They enable the
animal to withstand the heat of the desert sand.
Now I refine the
lower parts of the limbs, accenting the elbows and knees. Each foot has broad,
flat, leathery pads with two toes. When a camel places its foot on the ground,
the pads spread so that the foot does not sink in the sand.
Step 10
The outline is
complete, but we can make our drawing more realistic. With the HB pencil, I
apply some hatching, accenting the darker areas, such as the core shadows on
the legs and the abdomen.
The hair is
concentrated on the throat, the shoulders, and the hump; I create an illusion of
this texture with longer or curvy hatches.
As a finishing
touch, I add a hint at a drop shadow under the animal; it’s also possible to
blend it with a special blending stump, a cotton bud, or just a clean, dry
fingertip.
Step 11
With the 3B
pencil, I accentuate the darker areas on the camel’s body and increase the
contrast in general. The drawing of the dromedary camel is complete!
2. How to Draw the
Bactrian Camel
Step 1
In contrast to the
single-humped dromedary camel, the Bactrian camel has two humps on its back.
Its population inhabits Central Asia, including the historical region of
Bactria.
The Bactrian camel
is also the largest mammal in its native range and is the largest living camel.
Actually, the Arabian and the Bactrian camels share many features, so we can speed
up the drawing process.
I mark the camel’s
head, and then add the shape of the body nearby.
Step 2
I join the head
and body with a line.
In fact, the silhouette
of the Bactrian camel’s neck is usually slightly different—the curve is more
accentuated, compared to the neck of the dromedary.
I also mark the
eye and the ear of the camel.
Step 3
I add the contour
lines of the neck and the rough shapes of two humps on the back, and mark the tail
line.
Step 4
I add the
framework of the limbs, just in the same manner as we were drawing the
dromedary camel.
Step 5
I refine the
contour of the camel’s body, erasing the subsidiary graphite lines.
The facial
features need some attention, too—let’s draw a happy camel with a hint at a
smile!
Step 6
The Bactrian camel
has long, slender legs, but its body forms a stouter, heavier impression than
the body of the dromedary.
The feet are very
tough—it’s another adaptive feature; these camels are migratory, and their habitat
ranges from rocky mountain massifs to flat desert, stony plains, and sand
dunes. The Bactrians are designed for extreme environments!
The feet have undivided
soles and two broad toes on each foot.
Step 7
I enhance the
sketch with the HB graphite hatching, darkening the sides of the humps and the
underside of the body. The Bactrians have long hair on the neck and throat (a
‘mane’ and ‘beard’).
The long, wooly
coat protects the Bactrians from extreme cold (as low as −40 °C in winter) and
is shed in warmer months. By the way, the most satisfactory camel fiber is
gathered particularly from the Bactrian camels.
Step 8
With the 3B
pencil, I increase the contrast in the drawing. I also make subtle changes to the
contour line of the camel’s body, making it more ‘hairy’ to imitate the shorter, slimmer undercoat.
Your Drawing Are
Complete
Congratulations!
You’ve created two beautiful drawings and, hopefully, learned a lot about
camels.
May your further
creative journey be full of joy and inspiration! If you enjoyed this tutorial, you may also be interested in these:
Camels have an
unmistakable silhouette, with their humped back, short tail, long, slim legs,
and a neck that dips downward and rises to a small, narrow head. The English
word ‘camel’ is thought to derive from the Arabic word ‘jamāl’, which means
‘handsome’ or ‘beauty’. What an apt name for this admirable animal!
Camels efficiently
adapted to the harsh conditions of their
habitat; for this reason, they are called “the ships of the desert”.
In this tutorial,
we’ll learn what distinctive features allow camels to be capable, strong, and
endurable. And, of course, we’ll create a couple of beautiful drawings!
You may also be
interested in these drawing tutorials:
In order to
complete this project, you’ll need the following equipment:
an HB graphite
pencil
a 3B graphite
pencil
an eraser
drawing paper
1. How
to Draw the Dromedary Camel
Step 1
The dromedary,
also known as the Arabian camel, inhabits the Middle East and the Horn of
Africa.
Dromedaries have
only one hump, but they do employ it to great effect; their humps store up to
80 pounds of fat, which a camel can break down into water and energy when
sustenance is scarce. Humps give camels their legendary ability to travel up to
100 desert miles without water.
We’ll depict the dromedary camel in a side view. With the HB graphite pencil, I outline a rough
shape of the head; it resembles a triangle with smoothed angles.
I also add the
shapes of the ear and the eye.
Step 2
I draw a curved
line for the camel’s neck, marking its general direction. Please be sure to
leave enough space for the rest of the body on the sheet of paper.
Then I add an oblong
shape for the camel’s body.
Step 3
Let’s draw the
framework of the long legs, adding one segment at a time. First, I outline the
upper parts of the limbs; they are divided into portions to make the task
easier.
I present the
joints as circles—the simpler, the better.
I add the lower
parts of the limbs; they are more slender compared to the upper ones.
I complete the
framework with the rough shapes of the feet.
Step 4
I refine the neck,
giving it some thickness with a contour.
Step 5
I add a sketchy shape
of the hump to the camel’s back.
Step 6
Now I draw the
line of its tail; camels have relatively short tails.
Step 7
Let’s work on the
facial features of our camel—and explore why they are perfectly suited to the
desert environment.
Although camels
have relatively small heads, their eyes are large and prominent. They enable
the animal to see for long distances.
A protruding ridge
of bone and bushy eyebrows protect the eyes from the hot sun. There are also two
sets of long eyelashes in addition to a third thin 'eyelid’; together, they serve
as a defense from the sand.
I draw the eye,
making it as contrasting and expressive as possible (don’t forget about the
highlight), and the ear. The ears are quite small, almost indiscernible from a
distance.
Camels have
nostrils lined with hairs that stop any sand from entering the nose. What’s
more, they can shut their nostrils at will!
Their lips are
thick and protruding;
the upper lip is split into
two sections that move independently. It’s another form of adaptation—thick,
rubbery lips allow them to eat prickly desert plants without feeling pain. In fact,
most of the water that camels take in comes from grazing on the thorny bushes that grow in a desert.
Step 8
I refine the
contour of the camel’s back, erasing the unnecessary lines. I add some new
features of the tail, too—now it is tufted near the end.
Also, I mark some
skinfolds on the neck to make the sketch more credible.
Step 9
I refine the upper
parts of the limbs. The dromedary has callosities (thick, hardened skin) on the joints of the legs and
on the chest, upon which it rests in a kneeling position. They enable the
animal to withstand the heat of the desert sand.
Now I refine the
lower parts of the limbs, accenting the elbows and knees. Each foot has broad,
flat, leathery pads with two toes. When a camel places its foot on the ground,
the pads spread so that the foot does not sink in the sand.
Step 10
The outline is
complete, but we can make our drawing more realistic. With the HB pencil, I
apply some hatching, accenting the darker areas, such as the core shadows on
the legs and the abdomen.
The hair is
concentrated on the throat, the shoulders, and the hump; I create an illusion of
this texture with longer or curvy hatches.
As a finishing
touch, I add a hint at a drop shadow under the animal; it’s also possible to
blend it with a special blending stump, a cotton bud, or just a clean, dry
fingertip.
Step 11
With the 3B
pencil, I accentuate the darker areas on the camel’s body and increase the
contrast in general. The drawing of the dromedary camel is complete!
2. How to Draw the
Bactrian Camel
Step 1
In contrast to the
single-humped dromedary camel, the Bactrian camel has two humps on its back.
Its population inhabits Central Asia, including the historical region of
Bactria.
The Bactrian camel
is also the largest mammal in its native range and is the largest living camel.
Actually, the Arabian and the Bactrian camels share many features, so we can speed
up the drawing process.
I mark the camel’s
head, and then add the shape of the body nearby.
Step 2
I join the head
and body with a line.
In fact, the silhouette
of the Bactrian camel’s neck is usually slightly different—the curve is more
accentuated, compared to the neck of the dromedary.
I also mark the
eye and the ear of the camel.
Step 3
I add the contour
lines of the neck and the rough shapes of two humps on the back, and mark the tail
line.
Step 4
I add the
framework of the limbs, just in the same manner as we were drawing the
dromedary camel.
Step 5
I refine the
contour of the camel’s body, erasing the subsidiary graphite lines.
The facial
features need some attention, too—let’s draw a happy camel with a hint at a
smile!
Step 6
The Bactrian camel
has long, slender legs, but its body forms a stouter, heavier impression than
the body of the dromedary.
The feet are very
tough—it’s another adaptive feature; these camels are migratory, and their habitat
ranges from rocky mountain massifs to flat desert, stony plains, and sand
dunes. The Bactrians are designed for extreme environments!
The feet have undivided
soles and two broad toes on each foot.
Step 7
I enhance the
sketch with the HB graphite hatching, darkening the sides of the humps and the
underside of the body. The Bactrians have long hair on the neck and throat (a
‘mane’ and ‘beard’).
The long, wooly
coat protects the Bactrians from extreme cold (as low as −40 °C in winter) and
is shed in warmer months. By the way, the most satisfactory camel fiber is
gathered particularly from the Bactrian camels.
Step 8
With the 3B
pencil, I increase the contrast in the drawing. I also make subtle changes to the
contour line of the camel’s body, making it more ‘hairy’ to imitate the shorter, slimmer undercoat.
Your Drawing Are
Complete
Congratulations!
You’ve created two beautiful drawings and, hopefully, learned a lot about
camels.
May your further
creative journey be full of joy and inspiration! If you enjoyed this tutorial, you may also be interested in these:
Camels have an
unmistakable silhouette, with their humped back, short tail, long, slim legs,
and a neck that dips downward and rises to a small, narrow head. The English
word ‘camel’ is thought to derive from the Arabic word ‘jamāl’, which means
‘handsome’ or ‘beauty’. What an apt name for this admirable animal!
Camels efficiently
adapted to the harsh conditions of their
habitat; for this reason, they are called “the ships of the desert”.
In this tutorial,
we’ll learn what distinctive features allow camels to be capable, strong, and
endurable. And, of course, we’ll create a couple of beautiful drawings!
You may also be
interested in these drawing tutorials:
In order to
complete this project, you’ll need the following equipment:
an HB graphite
pencil
a 3B graphite
pencil
an eraser
drawing paper
1. How
to Draw the Dromedary Camel
Step 1
The dromedary,
also known as the Arabian camel, inhabits the Middle East and the Horn of
Africa.
Dromedaries have
only one hump, but they do employ it to great effect; their humps store up to
80 pounds of fat, which a camel can break down into water and energy when
sustenance is scarce. Humps give camels their legendary ability to travel up to
100 desert miles without water.
We’ll depict the dromedary camel in a side view. With the HB graphite pencil, I outline a rough
shape of the head; it resembles a triangle with smoothed angles.
I also add the
shapes of the ear and the eye.
Step 2
I draw a curved
line for the camel’s neck, marking its general direction. Please be sure to
leave enough space for the rest of the body on the sheet of paper.
Then I add an oblong
shape for the camel’s body.
Step 3
Let’s draw the
framework of the long legs, adding one segment at a time. First, I outline the
upper parts of the limbs; they are divided into portions to make the task
easier.
I present the
joints as circles—the simpler, the better.
I add the lower
parts of the limbs; they are more slender compared to the upper ones.
I complete the
framework with the rough shapes of the feet.
Step 4
I refine the neck,
giving it some thickness with a contour.
Step 5
I add a sketchy shape
of the hump to the camel’s back.
Step 6
Now I draw the
line of its tail; camels have relatively short tails.
Step 7
Let’s work on the
facial features of our camel—and explore why they are perfectly suited to the
desert environment.
Although camels
have relatively small heads, their eyes are large and prominent. They enable
the animal to see for long distances.
A protruding ridge
of bone and bushy eyebrows protect the eyes from the hot sun. There are also two
sets of long eyelashes in addition to a third thin 'eyelid’; together, they serve
as a defense from the sand.
I draw the eye,
making it as contrasting and expressive as possible (don’t forget about the
highlight), and the ear. The ears are quite small, almost indiscernible from a
distance.
Camels have
nostrils lined with hairs that stop any sand from entering the nose. What’s
more, they can shut their nostrils at will!
Their lips are
thick and protruding;
the upper lip is split into
two sections that move independently. It’s another form of adaptation—thick,
rubbery lips allow them to eat prickly desert plants without feeling pain. In fact,
most of the water that camels take in comes from grazing on the thorny bushes that grow in a desert.
Step 8
I refine the
contour of the camel’s back, erasing the unnecessary lines. I add some new
features of the tail, too—now it is tufted near the end.
Also, I mark some
skinfolds on the neck to make the sketch more credible.
Step 9
I refine the upper
parts of the limbs. The dromedary has callosities (thick, hardened skin) on the joints of the legs and
on the chest, upon which it rests in a kneeling position. They enable the
animal to withstand the heat of the desert sand.
Now I refine the
lower parts of the limbs, accenting the elbows and knees. Each foot has broad,
flat, leathery pads with two toes. When a camel places its foot on the ground,
the pads spread so that the foot does not sink in the sand.
Step 10
The outline is
complete, but we can make our drawing more realistic. With the HB pencil, I
apply some hatching, accenting the darker areas, such as the core shadows on
the legs and the abdomen.
The hair is
concentrated on the throat, the shoulders, and the hump; I create an illusion of
this texture with longer or curvy hatches.
As a finishing
touch, I add a hint at a drop shadow under the animal; it’s also possible to
blend it with a special blending stump, a cotton bud, or just a clean, dry
fingertip.
Step 11
With the 3B
pencil, I accentuate the darker areas on the camel’s body and increase the
contrast in general. The drawing of the dromedary camel is complete!
2. How to Draw the
Bactrian Camel
Step 1
In contrast to the
single-humped dromedary camel, the Bactrian camel has two humps on its back.
Its population inhabits Central Asia, including the historical region of
Bactria.
The Bactrian camel
is also the largest mammal in its native range and is the largest living camel.
Actually, the Arabian and the Bactrian camels share many features, so we can speed
up the drawing process.
I mark the camel’s
head, and then add the shape of the body nearby.
Step 2
I join the head
and body with a line.
In fact, the silhouette
of the Bactrian camel’s neck is usually slightly different—the curve is more
accentuated, compared to the neck of the dromedary.
I also mark the
eye and the ear of the camel.
Step 3
I add the contour
lines of the neck and the rough shapes of two humps on the back, and mark the tail
line.
Step 4
I add the
framework of the limbs, just in the same manner as we were drawing the
dromedary camel.
Step 5
I refine the
contour of the camel’s body, erasing the subsidiary graphite lines.
The facial
features need some attention, too—let’s draw a happy camel with a hint at a
smile!
Step 6
The Bactrian camel
has long, slender legs, but its body forms a stouter, heavier impression than
the body of the dromedary.
The feet are very
tough—it’s another adaptive feature; these camels are migratory, and their habitat
ranges from rocky mountain massifs to flat desert, stony plains, and sand
dunes. The Bactrians are designed for extreme environments!
The feet have undivided
soles and two broad toes on each foot.
Step 7
I enhance the
sketch with the HB graphite hatching, darkening the sides of the humps and the
underside of the body. The Bactrians have long hair on the neck and throat (a
‘mane’ and ‘beard’).
The long, wooly
coat protects the Bactrians from extreme cold (as low as −40 °C in winter) and
is shed in warmer months. By the way, the most satisfactory camel fiber is
gathered particularly from the Bactrian camels.
Step 8
With the 3B
pencil, I increase the contrast in the drawing. I also make subtle changes to the
contour line of the camel’s body, making it more ‘hairy’ to imitate the shorter, slimmer undercoat.
Your Drawing Are
Complete
Congratulations!
You’ve created two beautiful drawings and, hopefully, learned a lot about
camels.
May your further
creative journey be full of joy and inspiration! If you enjoyed this tutorial, you may also be interested in these:
