How to Draw Leatherface
Creating a menacing, creepy Leatherface artwork is no child’s play. It requires hard work, creativity and a bit of practice. To give you an extra edge, here are some tips to help bring Leatherface, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre slasher, to life on paper.
Start with the Skin
To draw Leatherface’s disfigured face, start by sketching two overlapping circles. Use the largest circle to create the diameter of his face and the smaller one to form the jawline.
Next, greatly exaggerate the facial features. Think of Leatherface’s face as a peach – a fuzzy, misshapen one at that. So draw the warts, creases, and curves with bold and thick lines.
Don’t forget to add his hair, too. Dense and unkempt, it almost looks like a rat’s nest. Use the arm of your pencil to pouf up the hair, giving it an unbridled and wild look.
Coloring with Detail
Now it’s time to bring your Leatherface artist to life with some realistic detail. Start with saturating the face with a maroon-brown hue. This will instantly add depth to the warts and wrinkles.
You can also add minor details to the hair by taking small, thin strokes around the poufed-up portions to create depth.
Then, draw big, bold eyes and screws under them to outline Leatherface’s trademark mask. Those empty eyes that stare out from behind a blood-splattered apron are sure to give anyone the creeps.
Replicate the same steps for the other features like the nose, mouth and hair and you’ll have a Leatherface to salvage and scare.
Adding the Apron and Chainsaw
To make your artwork look more like the real deal, add a blood-splattered apron and a bone-chilling chainsaw. Give the apron a well-used look by adding dirt and stains to the fabric.
To draw the chainsaw, look for images of the tool in its entirety. Pay attention to the finer details like the chain links and teeth. Then, create a jagged pattern to give it an ominous aura.
Keep the chainsaw at an angle to draw attention to it. You can also draw a few drops of blood to send a silent message of danger.
And when your Leatherface is all attired and ready to scare, you can use a black brush pen to trace your artwork. This will help sharpen the features of your sketch and add a dramatic effect.
Add Some Personality
Drawing Leatherface isn’t complete until you give him a little spunk. Give him a scowl or make him look insane. If a maniacal grin comes to mind, feel free to give it a go.
Also add a few screw-holes to the jaw area to represent the mask. While you can’t make out the lips, feel free to draw them to create an expression – maybe an over exaggerated one.
For the final touch, add a few stray hairs here and there to finish off the sketch. And don’t forget to highlight the area between his eyes and nose. This will add to his creepy, gaunt look.
Don’t Forget the Fine Details
For truly mesmerizing results, add some details from the movie. You can use a red brush pen to draw a bloody knife or splatter some blood around the artwork.
Just keep in mind to not overdo it. Leatherface is creepy enough without going overboard with the props. A few simple tweaks will take your artwork to the next level.
You can also experiment with the colors and textures to give it a more realistic effect. Add some shadow and highlights and you’ll have an attention-grabbing art piece fit to scare generations.
Conclusion
Drawing Leatherface is no easy feat, but it isn’t impossible. Put in your creative spark and practice hard, and you’ll eventually create an work of art that will spook the living daylights out of anyone who takes a peek.