Step One: Preparing the Drawing Area
Doodling starts with a clear drawing space, so find a place that’s well-lit and suiting for drawing. Gather all the necessary materials, like a pencil, eraser, ruler and paper, before getting started. Sketching on a large piece of paper lets you draw with more freedom and the proper tools will guarantee a neat look.
Step Two: Outlining the Body
Make the subject’s body outline by penciling in their upper body. Don’t fret over making the figure perfect, but get the major points down and refine as you draw more details. When starting, be sure to include the neck, shoulders and head.
Step Three: Sketching the Hoodie
Now for the part everyone loves: adding the hoodie. Draw a line, starting from the neck, down to the waist. This is the backbone of the hoodie, so the length and the shape should be suitable to the person’s build. From there, draw the hood and add marks to indicate the way the fabric is draped. Make sure it fits the figure, giving extra attention to the curves. A hoodie is not a jacket so hold back on making it stiff or lifeless.
Step Four: Adding More Details
The hoodie is almost done and this next step will help make it stand out— adding buttons, pockets, drawstrings spots and other clothing details. All these help clearly display how the hoodie looks and how the person is wearing it. Notice how each piece works together and draw marks that show how the fabric bunches and folds at the joints when the arms and legs move.
Step Five: Finishing Touches
The last step is well known in the art world— shading. This is for adding depth and highlighting the details you drew previously. Measure out light and dark sections to achieve the desired look. An added bonus is to also use shadows to give more life and depth to the drawing. Unlike paint, pencils allow drawing gradients which create a more realistic finish to your drawing. When complete, you have a finished drawing of a hoodie and the person wearing it.
Extra Step: Backgrounds and Landscapes
Creating a background or landscape is an excellent way to show off your finished drawing. It enhances the work and showcases the person or character being drawn. Outlining scenery, adding scenery details and playing around with effects are all great ways to make you drawing stand out. Whether you fill your canvas with clouds, trees, hills, or warehouses, it’s just a matter of getting creative.
Other Tips to Keep in Mind
Before you begin sketching, take a few minutes to study the people around you. Consider how the fabric is draped, how the seams of clothes change the person’s silhouette, and how the different sections of clothes come together. All of these will help you refine your work. This is one of the most fun steps, as it helps you gain some insight into real-life clothing.
Also, take the time to spot any interesting details, like the places sleeves roll up, or patterns on the fabric. Lastly, practice sketching people in different poses to improve your craft. Your best resources will be models, mannequins, and artworks from different artists. Looking up how-to sketches is also a useful exercise for improving your skills.
