How to Draw Sally Nightmare Before Christmas
The world of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas can be confusing when it comes to capturing the whimsical world in a drawing. But there’s no better place to start than with the delectable Sally! Be sure to grab your pencils, have a good look at the pictures, and pay close attention to the details as you sketch out Sally from the beloved movie.
1. Create the Folder Frame
Get your sketching started by making a rough circle around Sally’s head. Make sure it’s not too perfect and neither too close-knit. This will be used as the basic foundation of Sally’s folder frame.
Now lightly sketch out the lines of her figure. Start with the arms and shoulders, moving down to the waist and abdomen. Her arms should be a bit longer than usual so that her hands can fit in her pockets if need be.
Now, mark up Sally’s face in effect. Drawing in the eyes, nose and mouth, as well as her beautiful flowing hair. Remember to keep it very light at this stage – you’ll deepen the lines once you’re finished.
2. Flourish the Details
Grab your eraser and start going into the crevices of Sally’s body. Sharp angles, curved lines and flared spaces, all emphasizing the unique folds of her dress.
Give Sally’s hands charm and character by drawing the delicate features of her fingertips – they should clearly show the creases of her gloves.
Put more detail into her eyes and her mouth. Make sure that Sally’s mouth looks sorrowful and melancholic, whilst also adding a tinge of happiness.
By adding sparkling freckles to her forehead and around her cheeks, Sally will undeniably come to life! And last but not least, amidst the swirls and trails of Sally’s hair, draw in the stitch marks that adorn her forehead.
3. Colorize to Perfection
If you’re going to color Sally in with paints, try to match and blend the colors perfectly. For instance, if your paints are pigmented, you need to make sure that the shadows look vivid and the highlights appear silky and subtle.
Make sure Sally looks natural but also jovial – shades of blue, green and yellow will be your best choice. Give her features depth – drenches of shadow beneath her eyes and her cheeks will add contour to Sally’s face, and highlight the other parts of her figure.
The darkest shade should be reserved for her dress, with lighter ones to complement the darkness. Don’t forget to add texture to the dress; Sally needs to have a very distinct silhouette. And the last touch you need to make Sally into a true work of art – a few swatches of glitter here and there for an added sparkle!
4. Draw the Background
Now it’s time to draw the background! Get creative! You can choose to draw Jack Skellington, Zero the ghost-dog, or even the iconic Christmas tree. Add depth and perspective to your drawing by adding layers of hills, starry skies, tiny trees and other small details to round off your masterpiece.
You can also choose to draw Sally onto an actual background – something like a sepia-toned paper or even a ghostly graveyard. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even attempt an oil painting, with shadowy Christmas trees in the background.
If you’re feeling truly daring, put Sally in the middle of a slushy snowstorm! Draw in lots of snowflakes and thick layers of snow, to give your Sally a winter wonderland to explore!
5. Outline and Shade It Up
Once your painting has been completed, take a sheet of paper and place it over your Sally drawing. Outline the main details and add some shading – from moonlit shadows to gloomy shades of grey.
Don’t be scared to go heavy on the shading! After all, Sally is a creature of the night and loves to blend amongst the darkness. Add some more intricate details like criss-cross lines on her hair, and make sure her eyes look dangerous yet endearing.
And there you have it! You have now captured the essence of Sally with your pencils, paints and paper. Pat yourself on the back and admire your magnificent work – you have successfully completed your dream of drawing The Nightmare Before Christmas’s Sally!
