Learning How To Draw Levi
Bringing Levi to life through the art of drawing can be a great way to express yourself and gain a better understanding of the character. Drawing Levi may seem intimidating to the new artist, but with a few simple basic steps and practice, you’ll be creating realistic drawings of him in no time!
1. Familiarize Yourself With Levi
Assuming you are familiar with Levi stemming from the world of manga and anime, it’s important to have an understanding of the character and his physical features. Familiarize yourself with the shape and structure of his face and hair, as well as his clothing and accessories that are specific to the character. Gathering images of the character both drawn and in cosplay to better analyze their features is a great start.
2. Use a Grid Method
Creating a grid is a great way to get a good “skeleton” of Levi. Start by sketching a basic head shape in the middle of your paper and dividing it into even sections with light pencil lines. From there, sketch the facial features such as eyes, nose, and mouth, and slowly build it outward from that. Try your best not to exact measure and be mindful not to let the grid lines become too prominent in the final drawing.
3. Add Clothing & Accessories
No character is complete without their costume and accessories. Make sure you have a clear image of what his full outfit and accouterments look like before getting into this step. Chances are, it may take a few attempts to get the outfit just right. Utilize shading and lines to make stories come alive, just like the manga and anime.
4. Shade & Erase
Shading and erasing is integral in all pencil drawings because it gives dimension to the drawing and makes it look more real. It’s the equivalent of giving Levi facial features or clothing. Get creative with the shades and lines, as that’s when the character will start to come alive.
5. Final Touchups
This is the best time to go back and mark any changes you’d like to make to make the drawing in the likeness of Levi even more. Once you’re done, you can stand back and admire your finished product; you’ve successfully brought Levi to life!
Attaining GreyScale Mastery
Adding grey scale to your drawing of Levi is a great way to take it to the next level and make it more lifelike. Starting with lighter shades and blending them inward with the darker shades is a great way to begin. Additionally, have a value chart laid out to remind yourself of the lightest and darkest shades.
1. Start With Light
The lightest of your charcoal sticks or pencils should be used first as the base layer; this way, even your darkest shades can blend and blend into the lighter shades in order to create depth. Make sure that the values are gradual and go in a smooth transition.
2. Practice Sketching & Blending
Grey scale sketching seems like a daunting task, but it’s important to practice in order to attain mastery. When sketching the facial features of Levi, start with the darkest parts first and gradually move to the lighter parts. This will help to create smoother lines and transitions. You can also use a blending stump or even a q-tip dipped in baby powder or Vaseline to blend any harsh lines or shadows.
3. Add Outline & Highlights
Outlines are a great way to make your landscape or portrait drawing stand out. When it comes to Levi, you want to give him life by adding highlights to the areas where the light would naturally fall on the character. For example, if the sun is shining on Levi’s head, you could add a halo effect to make the character appear illuminated.
4. Utilize Paper Quality & Surface
Using paper of higher quality with a smoother surface can really help when attempting to shade and blend grey scale. Using a paper with more of a toothy texture can create more variation and make the tonal work more challenging to work with.
5. Have Fun With It!
At the end of the day, sketching Levi is about having fun and using it as a means of expression. You don’t have to be a pro and, chances are, you will make mistakes. That’s part of the learning process, so don’t be too hard on yourself if it doesn’t turn out how you wanted it on the first try. Just try again and keep practicing!
Creating Perspective & Volume
Perspective and volume is essential when trying to create art that looks realistic. Drawing Levi with perspective and volume will help add a sense of depth and realism to the character.
1. Understand Perspective
Drawing with perspective refers to understanding the lines, angles, shapes, and atmosphere around and behind your subject. This is especially important when it comes to drawing Levi, so be sure to consider the background, size, and shape of the figure. Having an understanding of drawing in perspective will make 3D figures look more realistic.
2. Angle of View
Choosing the angle of view is integral when illustrating Levi as it adds depth and helps us to feel like we are in the same space – this also allows for more realistic deep backgrounds to be created. To do this, first draw the background separately and then add the main figure of Levi on top to see how it looks in comparison.
3. Utilize Color & Lighting
Color and lighting play an important role in creating perspective and volume. Utilizing the right colors can create a great contrast between dark and light and make the figure of Levi stand out more. When it comes to lighting, adding shadows even to the figure creates volume and helps to give a sense of realism.
4. Create Backgrounds
Don’t just draw Levi in the box and leave it there. Get creative with the backgrounds and create something dynamic to really bring the figure to life. This is a great way to practice perspective drawing with objects such as fabric, buildings, trees, and anything else your imagination can come up with.
5. Stay Focused
Sketching and illustrating art is a time-intensive process, so it’s important to stay focused and motivated throughout. Utilize different techniques such as listening to music or taking frequent breaks to help you remain motivated and inspired.
Maintaining Attitude & Motivation
We’ve all hit that wall of exhaustion or disappointment when creating art. It takes a certain level of attitude and motivation to keep going and push through the hard times in order to bring the art to life. When it comes to drawing Levi, here are a few tips to help keep you motivated.
1. Celebrate The Small Wins
Even small accomplishments must be celebrated when you draw. It may be finishing a background, a section of the figure, or a specific color blending. Celebrate the small wins to help spur your creativity and keep the fire burning.
2. Take Breaks
Sometimes your brain just needs to reset and having a creative block can be a sign that it’s time for a break. Take a few breathing exercises to clear your head, take a walk, or take a nap to give yourself a break. As the saying goes, “work smarter, not harder”.
3. Connect With Others
Connecting with others that are passionate about the same things can help when it comes to pushing yourself creatively. Networking with other creatives, as well as interacting with art communities, can be a great way to get inspired and stay motivated.
4. Give Yourself Permission To Fail
Failing is part of the creative process and it’s okay to make mistakes. Instead of feeling deflated when something goes wrong, use it as a learning opportunity and come back the next day with an open mind.
5. Develop A Routine
Having a set routine will help to keep you focused and on track when it comes to producing art that you like. Set aside an allotted time each day to work on your drawing and make a plan of action to work towards. This helps to keep you accountable and motivated to finish.
