Sta.sh
1. [link]
My tip: When I am shading, I use colors similar to the final ones. Example: When I am doing the skin shading (that's the base of the skin), I use light and dark brown, red and yellow colors. Fuse them carefully and then do the next layer of shading.
And another important thing too - when I do the shading layers, usually the first sketches that I've made, disappear. So I re-sketch them periodically. I do that to keep the facial structure as close as can possibly be to the reference pic.
My tip 2:
When you are in the beginning, first try to just fuse and combine smoothly close colors. Then you can go to the next level and try to draw little parts of the human's face - such as eyebrows, nose, eyes, lips. Try to give them deepness and more details. Don't be afraid to use very light colors to add some glitter or light to the drawing.
My tip 3:
After you go trough my tip 2, you are ready to start tip 3 - try do draw objects from a photos you find around internet or here on DA. When you reach the level of drawing them more realistic - tadaaaa, you are ready to draw portraits!
My tip 4:
So, you've been trough all this, and finally are ready to start digitally drawing human's.
What or who to draw?
That's your decision. But my advise is to draw first people you know very well - father, mother, friend, or anyone else. That's because you know this persons very well, 'cause they are part of your life, and you know they're faces very well too.
But if don't want that - you may skip, and draw your favorite star or singer.
My tip 5:
If you are drawing from a reference pic, I must tell you one important thing. The photo must be with high resolution and the image to be very clean. This allows you to add more accurate details. =]
Now for the brushes -
To fuse and combine colors well on the drawing, use brushes with Opacity lower than 70-60% and pressure of the brush lower than 50-40%.
But of course in the process of work this % will change depending on the things that you draw, how the light is falling and etc.
Tip for the hair!
First, choose a wide big brush and shade the hair. The result must be big, color spots. Don't be worry if it looks ugly - that's your base, you will add more details later.
Second, after you did that, choose a smaller brush - something like 10-14 pixels, and start to draw the hair directions. Like in my Arthur's drawing, usually they are several hair directions, because the hair is not flat and no static.
Third, choose a little brush 5-4 pixels and start to draw the bigger hairs - this will be your base for the detailed ones, you will make at the final. Alternate dark colors and then bright colors. This trick gives you two results - the details is more rich, and the hair look more deeper and more realistic.
IMPORTANT: Don't overdo it!
Do not forget that (even if it's more looking like a real hair now) this is a BASE for the real hair details.
For the final, choose little brush, 2-3 pixels and draw carefully the detailed hairs. That's it! You drew the entire hair!
NOTE: Always use smooth brushes in your work with the hair. This helps the colors smooth and fuse with each other.
And maybe the most important thing - draw with a tablet. The mouse just can't do it.
^^Hope I had helped!
