If you’re looking to improve your drawing skills or just want to create a portrait of a beloved soccer legend, this comprehensive guide on drawing David Beckham is the perfect place to start. Whether you’ve been drawing for years or are a complete beginner, you’ll learn techniques and tips from a professional artist that will help you create a stunning drawing that you’ll be proud of.
Materials Needed
- Pencils (preferably 2H, HB, 2B and 6B)
- Eraser
- White paper (preferably A3 size)
- Blending tools (tortillon, Q-tip, or blending stump)
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Creating Basic Shapes
Draw an oval shape for the head and sketch two lines to help you position the eyes. Draw a horizontal line to indicate where the mouth will be placed. Then, draw a square-ish shape for the body and slender lines for the limbs – this will serve as a rough guide for general proportion and positioning.
Step 2: Shading the Face
Start adding shading to the face. Use a 2H pencil to lightly shade the entire face and identify the areas that need to be lighter or darker. Use a 2B pencil to add more shadows to the right side of the face (left side of the paper) and to the jawline and hairline to add depth and a chiseled look.
Step 3: Drawing the Eyes
Begin to draw the eyes and eyebrows. Use your lines as guides to help you position the pupils and iris of the eyes. Always draw the iris in a slight angle.
Step 4: Adding Details to the Face
Sketch his nose, mouth and ears. Pay attention to details and use reference images to depict those clearly.
Step 5: Drawing the Hair
Draw the hair with a 2B pencil by adding lines and shadows. Take special care to depict the style of the hair. It’s on multiple levels and has a unique flow to match its style.
Step 6: Shading the Whole Body
Shade the entire body of David Beckham with a 2B pencil. Add shadows to the left side of the body (right side of the paper) to give a clear understanding of its dimensionality.
Step 7: Adding Details to the Body
Sketch the details of his shirt and shorts. Pay special attention to small details that can heighten the sense of texture and fabric in the clothes he is wearing.
Step 8: Blending Shadows and Highlights
Use a blending tool to blend in the shadows to give a smoother look. This includes his face and entire body. Take special care however to not blend everything to a point the shading disappears.
Step 9: Erasing the Guidelines
Erase all of your guidelines. Be sure these are completely smudged before erasing, otherwise you could end up dragging graphite to unwanted areas.
Step 10: Final Touches
Add final touches with a 6B pencil. Take advantage of deepening the shadows, drawing shave lines, and any additional brighter highlights. Use your blending tool once more to have a smooth finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use a reference image?
A: Absolutely, using a reference image is encouraged to assist with creating a realistic sketch of David Beckham.
Q: Is it OK to take shortcuts?
A: Taking shortcuts might make the drawing process go faster but can end up making the artwork look less detailed and polished, so it is highly discouraged.
Q: How do I know the right pencils to choose for shading?
A: Generally, the softer the lead the darker the shading. Softer pencils may be preferred for darker shadows, while harder pencils for lighter shades respectively.
Q: How do I avoid smudging the paper?
A: To avoid smudging the paper, lay a piece of scrap paper under the hand you will be using to draw to avoid any oily residue or sweat from transferring onto the white paper.
Q: What can I do if my drawing is not turning out how I envisioned?
A: Take a break, come back to your drawing later with a fresh perspective and continue from where you left off. You can spot details that need improvement with a fresh set of eyes.
Q: How can I practice to improve my drawing skills?
A: Practice drawing regularly, studying the work of other artists, and experimenting with different techniques and tools.
Conclusion
Drawing David Beckham might seem intimidating at first, but with this comprehensive step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to create a stunning portrait of the soccer legend. Complete with clear instructions, tips and techniques, and plenty of encouragement and guidance, this article will give you all the tools you need to add another masterpiece to your portfolio!