Drawing aliens doesn’t have to be a slimy, slimy task. With the right prep, a few simple steps and a sprinkle of creativity, you can draw an out-of-this-world alien that’ll have friends, family and foes standing in awe.
- Choose Your Inspiration. Before you set your pencil to paper, decide what kind of alien you’d like to draw. Your extraterrestrial can be inspired by figures from a movie, TV show, book, or comic book. If you’d like something a little more expansive, data-mine abstract concepts like horror, science fiction or fantasy. You can also use your own drawings, photographs or video for inspiration.
- Sketch It Out. Now it’s time to put your ideas on paper. Use light, simple strokes to create a rough sketch of what your alien will look like. At this stage, think about the elements that will set your alien apart from the rest. How many eyes will your alien have? Will it have antennae or horns? What kind of extra appendages is it sporting?
- Define the Form. Using a kneaded eraser, smooth out the sketch and make sure your pencil lines are clear and concise. You don’t need to know everything right away. It’s okay to add or remove elements as you go along. Begin to detail your alien by using hatching, crosshatching and stippling. These three shading techniques will add texture and help define each element.
- Bring It to Life. It’s time to add some color! Use markers, colored pencils, and watercolors to give your alien its living hue
