How to draw hair

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their journey of learning to draw hair, from struggling with realism to mastering stylized techniques. They begin by studying real-life hair, focusing on its texture, form, and highlights, but realize that this approach doesn't align with their usual stylized (anime) style. The video then shifts to drawing stylized hair, breaking it down into manageable chunks like ribbons and shapes. The artist discusses the importance of variation, shading, and highlights, and adds finishing touches for extra detail, emphasizing the significance of simplifying the process while maintaining realism in design.

Takeaways

• 😀 Studying real life hair helps improve understanding of how to draw it, but simplifying complex details makes it easier to approach.
• 😀 Simplifying hair into larger values and shapes can make the drawing process more manageable, especially when working with strong light sources.
• 😀 Realistic and textured hair differ from stylized hair, and understanding these differences is essential for effective drawing.
• 😀 Stylized hair in illustrations often doesn't need every single strand drawn, but the overall form and volume should be captured.
• 😀 Drawing stylized hair starts by understanding the head and hairline, along with where hair originates, like a parting or whirl.
• 😀 In stylized hair, hair strands can be broken down into manageable chunks, such as ribbons for flat hair or spheres for textured hair.
• 😀 To add interest to hair designs, variation in the width, length, and angle of strands is crucial to avoid a monotonous look.
• 😀 A general ratio of 70:30 or 60:30:10 in strand variation helps maintain a pleasing and dynamic hair design.
• 😀 Shading hair requires focusing on the overall shape and big shadow areas first, instead of getting bogged down in minute details.
• 😀 Highlights in hair should be placed based on the direction of light, with more visible highlights for shinier or straighter hair and less apparent highlights for textured hair.
• 😀 Adding subtle textures can enhance the hair drawing, but it's important not to overdo it to maintain the focus on shape and shading.

Q & A

Why is drawing hair considered complicated?

Drawing hair can be complicated due to the numerous strands that make up a realistic texture. If all the strands are drawn, it can look messy, but simplifying them can make the hair look too plain. Finding the right balance is key.

What approach did the speaker take to improve their hair drawing skills?

The speaker improved their hair drawing by studying real-life hair, simplifying it, and focusing on understanding the light and shadow. They practiced using fewer values and worked on drawing shiny, reflective hair.

How did the speaker deal with their initial struggles in drawing hair?

When the speaker struggled with drawing realistic hair, they simplified their studies by focusing on fewer values and stronger light sources. This helped make the process easier and allowed them to better capture the shine and texture.

What was the realization the speaker had when studying textured hair?

The speaker realized that textured hair, while seeming different from straight hair, could be studied in a similar way. They emphasized the importance of shape, silhouette, and understanding the variety of curls and hairstyles in textured hair.

What is the key takeaway when drawing stylized hair versus realistic hair?

Stylized hair is different from realistic hair in terms of approach. The key is to focus on shapes and design rather than getting bogged down in the intricate details of individual strands.

Why is it important to understand hair's origin when drawing it?

Understanding where the hair originates (from the scalp, a parting, or a whirl) is crucial because it defines the direction and flow of the hair, which is essential for accurate representation, even in stylized forms.

How does the speaker recommend breaking down hair into shapes?

The speaker suggests breaking down hair into larger shapes, such as ribbons for flat hair and tubes or spheres for textured hair. This approach makes it easier to manage and gives a clearer sense of the overall structure.

What design principle does the speaker suggest when drawing hair?

The speaker recommends using variation in the lengths, widths, and angles of the hair strands to add interest and organic flow. A pleasing ratio of variation is suggested to be around 70-30, which can be recursively applied.

What approach should be taken when shading hair?

Shading hair should begin with focusing on the overall shape and large shadow areas. Refining the texture comes later by paying attention to the edges of shadows and the silhouette, which helps the brain interpret the finer details.

How do highlights differ between realistic and textured hair?

Highlights in textured hair are less pronounced due to the less aligned strands, making them appear more matte and less bright. In contrast, realistic hair may have more prominent specular highlights, often due to smoother, shinier surfaces.