Getting Creative with Zero From The Nightmare Before Christmas
Jack Skellington’s ghostly pup Zero is the most beloved character from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Drawing Zero is relatively easy once you learn a few tricks to capture the eerie charm. Ready to get started? Let’s spookify that paper together!
Creating the Foundation
The best place to start is with the basic shape of Zero. To draw Zero’s head, sketch a large pretty circle with a ghostly round nose carved out in the middle. Then connect a curved line at the top to serve as his ears with two slanted lines each side of the head to give Zero his big expressions eyes. Finish the foundation layer by drawing three basic bones below the head as Zero’s mouth.
Basic Shading
Once you have your base sketch down, adjust your tools and draw the skeletal body. Start by drawing a slim stick for the spine, break and curve it near the back to form his tail and draw a collarbone shape at the top. Then, draw two arms and two legs extending off either side of the spine. From here, you can now start to add some depth to the tips of the tail, arms and legs.
Painting the Details
Now to add the spooky details. To bring Zero to life you need to customise it a bit. Start by getting creative with the bone structure of the head and adding a few bones to each arm and leg. Fill in his eyes with a bright, glowing pumpkin colour memory marker, directly absorbing Zero’s ghostly character.
Adding the Finishing Touches
The last steps involve bringing Zero together with some additional accessories, like his signature collar, a tiny cute pumpkin nose and a luminous green ghostly glow. With the outline of his collarpencil in, draw thin curved lines for the fur texture and paint it white for a realistic texture. Finally, draw a tiny pumpkin nose in orange to make Zero a Halloween pup.
The Showstopper
It’s time to bring Zero’s transformation into the spotlight. To get that ghostly look, use a pale green marker to draw an outline around the head, the tail and arms and legs. Add a few more thunderbolt-shaped lines around these shapes to boost Zero’s spooky look. Outline the neck of the collar with an emerald colour memory marker to finish the eyeball-popping effect.
Exploring Your Craft
Zero is an iconic figure whose iconic style is loved by many. Creating your own take on a classic character can be fun and stimulating. Get creative and explore with your craft. Draw Zero according to your own vision, mix and match his features and his accessories to make him unique. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find endless possibilities for your own character creations!
Letting Your Imagination Fly
Drawing Zero grants you the chance to explore your own creative style. Move away from the generic shapes and the standard boundaries and push yourself to get creative. Mix up his fur colours, try different types of outlines, expand on his proportions and design a personality for him. There are endless possibilities when it comes to creating a unique masterpiece featuring Zero. Let your imagination fly and you’ll be sure to come up with something spectacular!
Bringing Zero To Life
Now that you’ve mastered the basics of drawing Zero, it’s time to bring him to life. Use a combination of colour markers to give him a dynamic look, draw details that mimic reality, adjust the character’s facial expressions, and add accessories to make him truly unique. Get creative and you’ll be sure to make some magic with your artwork!
Refining Your Skills
Make sure to take your time while you’re drawing Zero – don’t rush and miss out on the details. Take the time to refine your technique, practising the shapes, adjusting the proportions and focusing on adding life and character to the final image. Don’t be afraid to experiment and apply trial and error. With practice, your artwork will surely become something special!
