How to Draw Cornrows
Drawing cornrows presents a challenge for most artists. They are very detailed, but if you want to depict them in a drawing, you need to simplify. You also need to follow the form and shape of the head; it is like drawing a rope laying across a basketball. The cornrows themselves do not need to be drawn with great detail to make them realistic; in fact, forget about drawing the braided lines and just think of them as fingers of hair that curve around the head.
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Instructions
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1
Sketch in where each cornrow will end, by making a curved line above the forehead starting at one side, and ending on the other side of the head.
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2
Make a sketch mark at the top and bottom of the head, to define where each cornrow is located on your character's head. Use light pencil marks to define each row, which should be about the width of your character's fingers. Leave about half that width in between each row.
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3
Put your pencil at the top of the character's head at each sketch mark, and draw up and then down to the sketch mark at the line that defines where the cornrow ends. This line will generally be straight and vertical, if the character is facing you. The hook part defines the curve of the cornrow.
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4
Make the final darkened line to define each row. Follow the curve of the head, and remember, the head is just like a basketball. So, each row should curve around it. The hook shape which you drew at the top of the head will give most of the depth and show that the cornrow has some height of its own.
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5
Shade in each side of the cornrow with dark triangles that wrap around the braid. It will look a little bit like a saw blade. Draw this blade so it both tilts inward and curves around the head. This gives the illusion of a braided row, and gives the cornrow depth. You will end up with a row that has some elevation off the top of the head. Fill this in with pencil.
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6
Get a sharp eraser, and "cut" "v" shapes into the middle of each row, to add more depth by highlighting the row. Then, add a few highlights along the edge of the cornrow to define the braids.
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Tips & Warnings
Cornrows are not easy to master; however, you can really give them more depth and detail as you master the art of drawing an object around another. Study a rope lying over a basketball, to get used to how this looks in real life, and then take it to your art.
Do not overdo it when you add detail to cornrows. Just mastering the art of drawing an object that curves around a ball, will be the most important thing here. Add details later, after you master this.
