Struggling to come up with a better version of your fashion sketch? Lacking ideas on which color combination is the best? Or having a hard time with the finishing touches of your design? If yes, then you should learn some of the best tips on how to draw and paint fashion figures or sketches.

If you want to enter the fashion industry, you should know that new designs are being offered in the form of hand-drawn sketches. And there are certain steps that will make the process a lot easier – from drawing the figure up to putting paint on it if you want to.

So, let’s get started with the steps that you should consider!

To start the sketch, you have to do the following:

Gather the needed materials.

Of course, before you draw and paint, you should have the materials required. You can choose a hard lead pencil that would make sketchy and light marks which are easier to erase. Also, marks that are made of these pencils don’t indent the paper making it very helpful once you plan to add color to your image.

Besides, you might also need a high quality eraser and also a thick paper to make the sketch look professional. It is not advisable that you draw using a pen since you couldn’t erase the marks. You might as well need inks, colored markers and paints to illustrate the clothing designs.

Decide the pose for the croquis.

Croquis is referred to as the model for your design and it must be drawn into a pose that would show off the said items best. It’s up to you to show whether the model is walking, bending or sitting or in any other position.

If you are a beginner, you can begin drawing with the most common pose, and that is a runway sketch showing a standing model or striding on a runway. This is considered to be the easiest one to draw and it would allow you to illustrate all the designs in full view.

Try other methods for making a croquis.

It would be great if you can draw your own croquis because it allows you to create a model to its exact proportions that you want. Nevertheless, once you want to jump straight to your drawing, some other shortcuts can be done.

Draw the balance line.

The balance line is the first line of the sketch and it would represent the center of gravity of your model. You can simply draw this from the top of the head to the tip of the toes, along the backbone of the croquis.

Next, draw an oval to represent the head which will serve as the base of the croquis. From this, you can make a proportional drawing. Think of the croquis as the skeleton of your model.

Take note that the balance line must be a straight vertical line, though you want the model to pose in a leaning position. Once designing clothes, you will not be required with a proportional model since the clothing is the one to be showcased not your skills in drawing.

Begin drawing the pelvic area.

You will need to draw a square having equal side lengths the balance line below the middle wherein the pelvis is positioned on the body naturally. You have to size the square based on how wide you want the model to be. A smaller square is perfect for a thinner model than the plus-sized one.

Draw the shoulders and torso.

From the two corners of the pelvic square, extend the torso lines upward. There is a need for the torso to extend upward at the same time bending in the midway at the waist then extending out again at the shoulder. The same with a real human body, there is a need for the shoulders to be of the same width as the hips or the top of your pelvic box.

Once you’re done, the torso must look like a normal torso of a real human.

Sketch the head and the neck.

It is important that the model’s neck is third the width of the shoulder and half the length of the head as well. Right after drawing this, proceed with sketching the head, that should be in proportion to the body. To make the model younger or more juvenile, make a bigger head.

You could erase the initial oval that you drew representing the head. You have to draw the head for it to look natural.

Fill in with the legs.

Take note that the legs must be the longest part of the body. They should also be portioned into two pieces, the calves, and the thighs. Bear in mind that fashion illustrators typically exaggerate the height of the model by making the legs longer than the torso.

Finish the sketch with arms and feet.

The feet are somewhat narrow so draw them as the same with the elongated triangles which are about the equal length with the head. Draw the arms like the legs, being tapered toward the wrists. You should make them longer in proportion to the torso compared to the real arms of a person as this would give a more stylized impression. Adding the fingers and hands should be done last.

And finally, to draw the clothes and other accessories plus to pain the figure, here are the things you need to do:

Illustrate the original design.

Think of the look that you try to create and represent it down to its last detail. For example, if you are designing a dress, simply add patterns, text, raffles, bows and more to come up with a beautiful piece. You should focus on the unique elements of your design and include suitable accessories for the style to be clear.

Draw the clothes boldly.

The purpose of your fashion drawing is to showcase the design ideas, you can use a bolder hand once drawing the clothing. Draw the clothes so they appear to hand on the design in a more realistic way. There must be creases around the waist, elbows, shoulders, wrists, and ankles. You should think about how the clothing hangs on the person and imitate it on the model.

Consider learning how to draw wrinkles, folds, and pleats.

Utilize different types of lines in order to create creases in the fabric you are drawing. It would help you illustrate the structure of the garment if you know how to draw pleats, folds, and wrinkles.

Illustrate the prints and patterns.

It is important that you accurately illustrate how the patterns and prints look like on the model. Begin by drawing the outline of the patterned garment like a blouse or a skirt. Then, divide it into a grid having different sections. And, fill in the sections one at a time having a pattern on the fabric.

Complete the drawing with shading, color or ink and by painting the fashion figure.

Now, you can utilize thick black ink or paint onto the lines which you want to keep. The body shaping lines could be erased and any stray pencil marks. Finally, carefully color in the clothing with the use of hues that you want for your designs to have.

Painting the drawing is a lot easier if you have the right paintbrush for the job.

There you have it! If you plan to enter the world of fashion designing, then learning the right way on how to draw, or to paint, is indeed crucial.

Source: https://www.colourlovers.com