How to Draw Realistic Lips Tutorial

Welcome to this video tutorial on drawing lips. In this guide, we will explore some valuable tips and shading techniques that are versatile for both digital and traditional artists.

Learning to draw human lips can be a captivating and valuable skill with several advantages. Firstly, it can enhance your artistic abilities, allowing for the creation of realistic and expressive portraits, and furthering the overall understanding of facial anatomy. It also provides a unique means of self-expression, as the subtleties of lip shape, texture, and color can convey a wide range of emotions and character traits.

Developing this skill can also help with hand-eye coordination and attention to detail, skills that extend beyond the realm of art and can be applied to various aspects of life. Additionally, it can serve as a therapeutic outlet, promoting mindfulness and relaxation, as the act of drawing lips requires patience and focus.

An important aspect of this tutorial is having either a mirror or pictures of lips nearby. In art, observing reality is vital, that’s how you truly come to understand and internalize the intricacies of the world around you, and it makes any study or tutorial more effective.

Let's begin!

TECHNIQUE 1

Step 1: Construction

As you can see in the picture below, we begin with three circles, which form the base of our upper lip and its most protruding area.
Next, we add an oval to create the entire lower lip.

The next step involves defining the line between the two lips, which is done with the help of our three circles. Remember the circles represent the protruding part of the lip that overlaps the lower one. Gently lift the corners of the mouth.

Now we utilize our sketch to shape the lips. Drape a line over our circles, forming the Cupid's bow. Then, extend the line softly towards the corners. Working on the lower lip is straightforward, outline it and leave the lip line open. Following these steps, you will have constructed your lips.

Step 2: Base Shading
Next we create our first layers of shading. This technique is relevant for digital artists, but you never know how it can help with other mediums as well. However, for the time being, we'll focus on the digital aspect. On one layer, begin by shading with a light gray beneath your sketch, and on a separate layer fill in the lip shape with a darker shade.

Step 3: Volume
Let's introduce some volume, keeping in mind that each step should be on a separate layer. Using an airbrush tool, highlight the center of the lips. Then, switch to a round brush with low opacity to add shadows and lip creases. Focus on shading near the lip line where they meet, with a few curved lines that extend outward. To accentuate the natural curvature of the lips, it’s essential to curve the lines.

Step 4: Accentuate
Accentuate the line that divides the lips, and with a light shade start to outline the upper lip, extending the Cupids bow afterwards. Then with a brush on low opacity place a few highlights in the middle of the lips.

Step 5: Rendering
The final part of our rendering is extending those highlights of the upper lips and blend it softly with the skin. I recommend to select the area, outside the lips, and use an airbrush. And lastly, add the final highlights, for a shiny effect, but this step is optional.

TECHNIQUE 2

This next technique uses shading, more specifically cross hatching. It will be more helpful if you draw on paper.

Step 1: Construction
The construction steps remain the same, just keep in mind to draw lightly, because you will gradually add to the drawing.

Step 2: Shading
Begin by applying a flat overall shading, achieved through crosshatching, spreading the pencil with a tissue, or combining both techniques. Then, proceed to hatch over this shading with curved lines that mimic the natural curve of the lips, using a significantly darker pencil, the final result should resemble the third image, and remember to intensify the shading particularly at the outer corners of the lips.

Step 3: Highlights
Finally, enhance the drawing by delicately adding highlights using an eraser, ensuring that the lines you create curve over the lip.

Ready to dive into the art of drawing lips? 😄👄 Get ready to become a lip-drawing pro and snag our full tutorial right here:

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