Drawing
a face
Sketching and coloring
Artbylouris Tutorial
Welcome!
In this tutorial, I'll show you how I draw face step by step, from the first sketch to
adding colors. I'll also explain which brushes I use and some techniques I find
helpful. Whether you're new to digital art or just want to try something new, I hope
you find this tutorial fun and easy to follow. Let's get started!
Before you start:
Subject and Expression: Alright, so when you're starting a new drawing, first think
about the character you want to create. Do you want them to be a regular
person, fantasy or mecha character etc? And think about what kind of emotions
or expressions you want them to have. You can be as detailed as you want here.
Reference: To get some ideas and inspiration, check out Pinterest. It's a great
place to find pictures that match what you're thinking. Look for things like
different face shapes, eye types, lip shapes, hairstyles, accessories, poses for
your character and more.
Color Palette: And here comes the fun part – choosing the colors! The colors you
pick will bring your drawing to life. You can still use Pinterest to help you decide
on the colors. Think about whether you want warm, cozy colors or cooler, more
refreshing ones. If your character is based on something like fire, water, or earth,
you might want to choose colors that go along with that. You can also think
about the time of day your character is in – like early morning, a sunny afternoon,
or a cool evening.
Artbylouris Tutorial
Subject and expression
General Idea:
So, for my character, I'm thinking of creating a normal woman. I found
this great reference on Pinterest that I really like (photo on the left side).
I love her face shape and all the details, especially the freckles. Check
out the other photos below (photos on the right side); they're similar
and could give you some ideas too.
Since she's just a regular human, I'm skipping any magical accessories.
Instead, I'm going to give her purple hair to make her more interesting.
I want her expression to be neutral like the reference, but I'm planning to
make her eyes a bit bigger and rounder. As for her pose, it'll also be the
same as the reference – a front view – so I can show off all the details on
her face.
Reference
NOTE: I can’t find the original creator of these images, if you know the name please send me a
message and I’ll revise this to credit them. :)
Artbylouris Tutorial
Color palette
Here are the main colors I'm using for this artwork. Any other colors you
see in my illustrations are just lighter or darker versions of these main
colors.
#CF9F7E #92452F #352921 #614083 #A56699 #E19D53
color Description
I chose this color for the I chose this color for the
skintone. bottom part of her hair.
#CF9F7E #614083
All the skin shadows and
This will be the color of the
initial line art will be based
top of her hair.
on this shade.
#92452F #A56699
This will be the color I use This one is for the
for the outlines in highlights. I’ll mainly use
important areas, like this for the hair and a few
outlining the eyes, the lighter highlights on the
corner of the nose, and the face.
#352921 #E19D53
jawline.
This is an additional color
I'll use for the shadow
behind the character.
#A1C4D1
Artbylouris Tutorial
Sketch
NOTE: These sketches are on three different layers. As you work toward the
final sketch, feel free to adjust the opacity of each one!
Loosen Up: Don't worry about perfect lines at this
stage. Focus on capturing the basic shapes and
proportions of your subject.
Use Light Strokes: Sketch lightly so it's easier to
make changes later. You want the sketch to be easily
adjustable as you refine it.
Refinement: Focus on refining the overall shapes
and proportions of your subject based on the first
rough sketch. This step is crucial for establishing the
foundation of your final artwork.
Detailing: Add more details to your sketch, such as
facial features, and any specific characteristics or
elements that define your subject. This helps you
visualize the final composition more clearly.
Focus on Composition: Consider the overall
composition of your drawing. Pay attention to the
placement and size of elements to create a balanced
and visually appealing result.
Accuracy: Double-check your sketch against your
references to ensure accuracy in proportions,
angles, and details. This step is crucial for
achieving a realistic and well-executed final piece.
Final Touches: Before moving on to coloring or
inking, take a moment to review your sketch for
any last-minute adjustments or additions. These
final touches can greatly enhance the overall
quality of your artwork. I added line weight and did
light cross-hatching for the shadows.
Artbylouris Tutorial
Zoomed-in
Using different shades of red
and black on major areas of
the sketch
Cross-hatching
Line-weight
Artbylouris Tutorial
What are the brushes I use?
For this illustration, I'm am using my own brush sets and textures. I'll share a list of the
brush set I'm using, along with links to where you can find them. However, feel free to
use whatever brushes you have on hand. There's no strict rule here; just use what
works best for you!
[Click Here] [Click Here]
This bundle includes the essential brush set I I used these brushes to create the paper
used for line art and shading, along with the texture you see in the artwork. They're
shading brush for shadows and an overlay versatile and can add texture to other parts
PNG Texture Pack for a paper-like effect. of your piece too.
Plus, there's a freebie included!
[Click Here] [Click Here]
This pack has really good manga texture For Photoshop and Clip Studio Paint users,
brushes! I used them to add those detailed I've included this set. It features a basic
shadows to the artwork. brush set for line art and shading and an
overlay PNG Texture Pack for a paper-like
effect. It also comes with a freebie!
More brushes on my shop Click Here
Artbylouris Tutorial
Coloring process: Skin
First, I change the line art layer to
"Linear Burn" so the lines have more
depth and aren't just a flat, dark color.
This is optional, you can pick which
ever layer settings you want or just
leave it as it is.
Next, I use the selection tool to outline
the skin area and then fill it with the skin
color using color drop.
It's a good idea to keep different colors
on separate layers for easy editing
later on. For example, the base color,
shadings, and highlights should each
have their own layer.
Additionally, I use clipping mask on
top of the skin base layer. This way, any
Artbylouris Tutorial colors I add will only show up within
the base color area.
All of these layers are set to
clipping mask, that’s why you
see a small arrow on the left
side of the layer.
As you can also see, all the
elements of the face are on
When you click on different layers.
the layer, these
options will show
up.
This is the skin’s base color
Now, we can move on to adding more
details to the face. I've already included
more shadows, eyebrows, lip color, and
shading on the side of the eyes and
under the chin area.
Make sure to check your reference so
you know where to add the shadings.
I tend to add some bold shadows
on the sides of the eyes to make it
pop more.
The lips are important for how the character
comes across. Bold colors can make them
look mature and fierce, while lighter, subtler
shades give a calm, youthful appearance.
Same as the eyes.
These are some of the
brushes I use for the
Artbylouris Tutorial
line art and shadings
SHOP LINK
Got the skin tone and
details all sorted out
in this part.
Artbylouris Tutorial
Remember to add those highlights
(encircled). Make sure you know where
your light is coming from before you do.
For this piece, the light is coming subtly
from the right side.
I already added the eye colors based on
the reference
I also thought it would look nice if there
are glitters on her lips and corner of the
eyes.
I also added a few freckles on her cheeks
and neck area.
Hair
Coloring
process
Let's work on the hair color here. Just
trace around the hair area and then
color drop the first color.
Now create a new layer on top of the
base color and set it to Clipping Mask..
Same as what I did on the skin. Your
layer will look something like below:
You can then add the next color of the
hair on a new layer, and repeat this
process for the other hair details. It's a
good idea to keep elements on
different layers for easy editing and to
keep your layers organized.
Artbylouris Tutorial
#614083 #A56699
Artbylouris Tutorial
Hair Shadings
I began adding shadows on a new layer. If you're having trouble deciding
where to put them, just look for a hair reference on Pinterest with good
lighting. It can help guide you on where to place both soft and hard edge
shadows. Same process goes to adding the hair highlights on the next page.
Hair
Highlights
Highlights
I also added some extra
details, like using the pen for
more intricate lines and
adding more depth.
Here's a look at my hair layers
at the moment. The base layer
is there, and the layers above it
are set as clipping masks.
These top layers include the
shadows, highlights, and other
details.
Artbylouris Tutorial
Finished Result
Artbylouris Tutorial
So, to sum it up, getting skin and hair just right in my style is all about really getting
how light, shadow, and texture work together. It's about layering colors thoughtfully
and using blending modes to add depth and realism, making your characters really
pop. Try out different brushes and techniques to see what clicks for you, and don't
shy away from trying new things. With time and practice, you'll develop your own
special way of doing things that makes your art stand out. I really hope this tutorial
has given you some good insights into my process, and I can't wait to see what
awesome creations you come up with!
-Louris
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