Draw With Me: Guardians of the Galaxy | Gamora (Part 3)

    If you have been following along with our portrait project (Gamora), you are ready for the final installment.  So far, we have learned how to start a piece with a grid, how to contour draw, and how to shade.  In this final step, we will be finishing the hair and clothes.  Completed references for both Digital and Traditional artists may be found below.

    Just a reminder…the accompanying videos for these post may be found in the Draw With Me Series  video library on my YouTube.

    The accompanying video for this particular step may be found at Draw With Me | Guardians of the Galaxy | Part 3 | Gamora

Digital Artists:

    Unlike traditional artists, you may choose to use either the digital or traditional techniques.  

    When shading areas that have heavy shadows or lean more to the darker end of the tonal scale, I find it helpful to start with a black color fill of the area I will be shading. There are several methods you could use to achieve this, but I prefer to use either a watercolor or airbrush tool to fill in the entire area.  (You should add a new layer to complete this last step.)  At this point, it is helpful to move your drawing lines above the shading layer, and convert them to white lines.  This will allow you to clearly see your contour drawing.  

    From this point, I set the eraser to the same brush I used for drawing, and proceed to “lift” out the highlights and lighter tones.  As you can see, in the sample below, I have filled in the hair and clothes with the black color fill and lifted out the basic shape of her hair. (Lines have been omitted from the sample, to allow a clear view of her hair shape.)

    From here, we will continue to lift individual hair sections, saving the smaller detail and highlight areas for the final pass through.  Clothing is treated in the same manner—lifting the basic shape with a light hand, and then removing more color to create light and shape.  Below, is the final Digital Art piece for your reference.

Traditional Artists:

    For all of my Traditional Artists, you will be continuing with the same method that you used for the face and skin.  Please remember to keep those pencils moving in a circular motion.  Concentrate on filling one small area at a time.  In the accompanying video, you will see that I work from dark to light, using the dark areas to define my shapes.  Below, is your reference for the traditional method.  

    As I stated earlier, Digital Artists may use this method as well.  It is interesting to note, that my digital method results in a bit darker piece.  It is a matter of preference on which technique you choose.

    I hope you’ve enjoyed this portrait art project and will join me for future lessons.  As always, should you have any questions, please do not hesitate do drop them in the comments section below this post. 

NOTE:  Guardians of the Galaxy and the Gamora character are owned by Disney .  This post and 

YouTube video lesson are for instructional purposes only.  

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬