How to Make Halloween Line Art
Anybody can draw witches, zombies, graveyards, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, monsters, haunted houses and other Halloween themes in a few simple steps. Sure, there is plenty of Halloween clip art available, but it is more fun to create your own.
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Things You'll Need
- Drawing pencils B, 2B, 4B Eraser Reference images Sketch paper Drawing paper, 50-lb. or heavier Drawing pens or markers
Instructions
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How to Make Halloween Line Art
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1
Plan your project. How will you use your line art? Will you create decorations, posters, party invitations, cards or other items? What images will be in the art piece? Collect images for reference from the Internet, magazines, books and other printed items. How large will the piece be? Check with an art supply store for paper, pens, markers, erasers and pencils appropriate to the project.
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2
Plan the composition of your Halloween Line art. Where will you place each object or character in the drawing? Make a small sketch of the main shapes in the drawing. Erase and rework until it is pleasing to the eye. When your composition sketch is done, draw it again on your heavy drawing paper. Erase and redraw again until satisfied.
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3
With each important object or character in your drawing, analyze its main shapes. A haunted house will be composed of rectangles and triangles. A character will be composed of ovals and circles. Sketch the shapes of each character or object into your composition. Again, rework these elements until they are pleasing to the eye. Repeat this process with each character or shape in your composition--for example, a flying witch, a stumbling zombie and a haunted house.
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4
Once your characters and objects have been successfully composed, add details. Check your reference art or images as you add crooked noses, zombie teeth, spooky eyes and more. Consider adding details like black cats, gravestones and a full moon peeking through a bare tree. Your imagination is the limit.
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5
Upon completing your pencil drawing to your satisfaction, go over your pencil lines with black drawing pen or marker. Large shapes in the composition can be finished with a thick black line, while details such as faces could be finished with a fine black drawing pen. After the ink dries, erase the pencil lines.
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Tips & Warnings
Many professional cartoonists finish their line art with a small watercolor brush dipped in black ink. The brush makes a beautiful line but takes practice. Try using a light table to trace a favorite character onto drawing paper. Consider coloring your Halloween line art with markers or watercolors, or scan it into a graphics program such as Adobe Photoshop and color it.
Drawing takes patience. If you do not like your first or second attempt, keep trying.
