Paint digitally.
Microsoft Paint is a free digital art and graphics program that comes with Windows. Although it is far more basic than other graphics programs like Photoshop, Paint is a rather versatile program that allows users to print drawings, use them as desktop backgrounds or paste them into other documents. Using Paint to draw people requires knowledge of the program's tools as well as a high level of artistic skill.
Instructions
1. Sketch the subject's head and basic facial features using the Pencil tool. The Pencil tool acts much like a real-life pencil, making light, thin lines, though unlike a pencil, you can adjust the thickness for your needs. Most pictures begin with a pencil sketch so that the artist has a sort of guideline to fill in. You may want to set the color palette at the bottom of the Paint window to light grey so that the lines aren't too bold.
2. Make adjustments using the Eraser and Select tools. Once you have the face shape, eyes, ears, nose, etc., in place, you will be able to see if lines are too soft or angular. You can use the Eraser tool to get rid of bad lines and redraw them to your liking. If you are working on a specific portion of the face, you may want to use the Zoom tool (looks like a magnifying glass) for precision. If you notice that an isolated feature, like a nose or mouth, is out of place, you can actually use the Select tool (shaped like a rectangle with dotted-line borders) to draw a box around the feature and move it up or down, rather than erasing and redrawing. The tool next to it, shaped like a star, is the Free Select tool which will allow you to draw a selection in a different shape.
3. Shade the face using a thin version of the Paintbrush tool. When you select the Paintbrush tool, you will see the sub menu with various shapes and sizes. You probably want to choose the smallest round dot and select black from the color palette. This will allow you to do shading and add texture.
4. Add hair using the Paintbrush tool or the Curve tool. You can simply draw strands of hair with the Paintbrush, or use the Curve tool, which allows you to create a perfectly straight line and then bend the line to your liking to create a smooth curve. This often produces more reliable, smooth lines than Paintbrush.
5. Outline with colored pencil strokes. Decide where and what colors you want to add. You can use the Pencil tool to outline, for instance, the face, with a skin tone. If the color palette does not offer adequate colors, you can either select from a broader palette by pulling down Edit Colors from the Colors menu, or use the Eye Dropper device to borrow colors from other images. If you use Eye Dropper, you will need to import the image whose colors you want to use from the File menu.
6. Fill in colors using the Paint Bucket. The Paint Bucket allows you to automatically fill in an entire enclosed area with a selected color. This will save time and produce a more uniform result than using the Paintbrush. The Paint Bucket fills in areas enclosed by drawn boxes or lines.
7. Add texture and lighting effects using the Paintbrush and the Spray Paint. While the Paint Bucket provides a nice base, it will result in a flat-looking person. You can add shadows and texture to the person by adding shades and lines to certain areas with the Paintbrush. The Spray Paint tool is also useful to soften lines and can give a pleasant, airbrushed look to the portrait.
8. Save the file. Saving as a Bitmap will preserve most of the quality, but saving as a high-quality JPEG may make the image easier to share. You may want to do both.
Related posts
Polka dots on the wall are one of the hottest trends in home decor. These painted dots can add color and an artistic look to any wall and are especially popular with girls. Depending on your perso...
Your paint color choice depends on the mood you want to create.Most people base their room's color scheme on one inspirationally hued accent pillow, piece of furniture or decorative accessory. If...
Decorative painting inside your home is a fun project. Marble painting a wall brings your wall to life, using an advanced technique to give your wall the look of marble. In addition to marble pain...
Tuscan colors are based on earth tones.Painting your space in a Tuscan theme and with Tuscan colors can enhance the beauty of your home as well as give your guests an authentic feel of Old World I...
Painting your dining room walls a different color is a great way to create a whole new look in your home. With so many choices available, settling on a new paint color can be an overwhelming decis...
