How to Draw Black Hair
First Draft of Fundamentals
Line is an integral part of drawing. The use of line can communicate so much when we draw.
Many beginners start by putting too many lines when drawing hair
When looking closely at what hair is, we see that hair strands are just lines
Line!
The use of line in combination with shape can help us change we think about drawing hair
But line is still important! It just matters how its used.
Think about the kind of line before putting it on the paper
Line can bring detail to Shape texture
it can even help indicate form Alot of lines placed strategically
But when you step back those “lines” clump together and form a section of hair aka a shape
and when you step back even further those small shapes can form even bigger shapes
*You can use a combination of small medium and big shapes to make hair more interesting
Shape
When observing reference notice how depending on the style, texture and the way the hair is manipulated textured hair can take on many different shapes
Examples of Shape
The easiest way to visualize with is with the afro, after all its just a circle *We’ll be coming back to the afro alot
When you combine strategically, you can create form!
All of these shapes can be applied to hair!
Form
Form is important for drawing textured hair because it can indicate dimensionality. AND we live in a 3D environment. Everything we touch and feel has height, width, depth and even weight to it. This can be difficult to apply to a 2D drawing but not impossible
Illustrated Examples
There are multiple ways to apply form to a shape
Line, of course
But also with planes
Consider what direction the hair is going in, and how the light reflects off each section
But also with value......