Drawing Skulls with a Wacom Tablet

Sat, May 24, 2008

Photoshop, Tutorials


Draw a Skull with a Wacom Tablet from Go Media on Vimeo.

This isn’t exactly a tutorial, but more of a quick “time lapse” demo of a simple illustration technique I use. In this video, I’m going to draw a skull in Photoshop with my Wacom Tablet. I will use a photo of a skull for reference and I will “trace” on top of it on a separate layer.

It’s not exactly tracing so to speak, but rather “illustrating” because I’m embellishing linework on top of a photo reference. I’m creating a line drawing of my own liking based off a photograph. Things you should pay attention to are line weights, the variation of thick to thin, stippling shading, and cross hatching.

In most cases, I’ll work with a huge document, maybe like 25″ x 30″ at 300 DPI if I’m doing a shirt design. But in this case, I will just work at 2500×2500 pixels at 300dpi. My brush settings are pretty standard. Like a 19 pixel round brush with pressure sensitivity turned on. That’s it. Sometimes I might adjust the angle of my brush and the width. So I get a little bit of a calligraphic brush going on. But it’s not always necessary.

It should give you some insight as to how I create some of my skulls. I’m usually going for a more realistic illustrated look, but sometimes if I want a more stylized look I’ll draw it freehand.

Here are some examples of designs made using this technique:

paintthestars byjefffinley Drawing Skulls with a Wacom Tablet

hardrock Drawing Skulls with a Wacom Tablet

pyknic 500 Drawing Skulls with a Wacom Tablet

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This post was written by:

Jeff Finley - who has written 189 posts on GoMediaZine.

I'm one of three owners of Go Media and admin of the GoMediaZine. I've been designing professionally since 2004 and I also play drums. Follow me on twitter!

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  • perhaps a slightly misleading title, perhaps something like, do you want to watch me work?

    I have started to use a wacom recently for touchups I have no drawing ability whatsoever but I do find it is far more responsive for things like cutting out pen tool style masks.
  • Perhaps "trace" would have been a better description.
    It was a cool vid none the less. Skulls are always fun.
  • Great insight, Jeff. There's just so much that can be done with Photoshop and a Wacom tablet! I gotta get a bigger one.

    Now if you wanted that to become a vector, you'd just take it to Illustrator and Live Trace it using black and white logo settings, right?
  • That was insane, Wacom is fairly difficult when you're just starting out, you make it look so easy. I'm jealous nice video and pretty cool music on their.
  • steve
    Jeff, I am in the market for a wacom tablet and was wondering if you might be able to shed some light on which might be a good one to get? I am thinking inexpensive for now...

    Any thoughts or tips?
  • Joel - yeah you could easily take this into Illustrator and Live Trace it. Must make sure you start off in PS with a huge document to get best results.
  • Steve - I use Intuos3.
  • MarcusFromPhilly
    This was really dope...meaning tight...in other words: off the chain...never a dull (learning) experience. I'm not as nice with the dagger like you guys, but I've probably learned a great deal from watching you guys (GM). All the more appreciative of the sharing.




    "Saying thank you goes a long way"
  • What was the music playing? I likey :-)

    Anyway, the video was inspirational... I've never had any mentors or been able to watch a master of drawing over the shoulder, so this gives a great glimps into how people work, where they start, move along with it, and finish.

    Thanks for the encouragement!
  • Guido
    Great video!
    I was wondering how long did you work on this single skull?
  • Wonderful video. I too have a tablet and can't live without it. Viva la Wacom!
  • Jimmy
    Your style is always refreshing, regardless of whether some would like to call it a "trace" or not, coming up with the actual flow or vibe is not as easy as you have made it appear.

    Thanks!
  • davey boy
    so i dig the tutorial and this may sound like a dumb question, but is that brush used in the tutorial a default PS brush or does it need to downloaded from somewheres else?
  • Jim
    Great video, thanks for posting!
  • Tom
    Hey Jeff,

    cool vid! can i ask you what sort of printing you used on the last 2 shirt designs? is that some sort of full color screen print?

    cheers,
    Tom
  • era3572
    that is tight im a novice at this digital medium iam an airbrush artist ,graffiti writer,and fine artist. how do you draw in photo shop without making solid shapes?
  • Joe Baron
    This was an inspirational look on how you create some of your skulls. I enjoy seeing what techniques people use to create their work. Now my question is why do you make your files so big? I understand 300dpi, but for a shirt design it seems that your document is rather large.
  • Holy hell, what is that music? Sounds alot like Comeback Kid.

    Anyway, awesome video - I should really invest in a nice tablet...
  • Above This Fire - Invisible Ink for anyone else interested.
  • justin daniel
    Awesome tutorial - the naysayers are chumps. Great way to do illustrations & shirts.

    Where would I buy one of the bottom two shirts from they are rad.
  • Lanie
    Your skulls remind me a little of Jeremy Fish.
  • Jonathan
    Awesome tutorial,Have applied this technique to most of my designs and in just those few minutes of watching the clip i have gained alot.
    Thanks alot and keep them coming :P
  • keke
    Well. That´s not drawing at all. Using a photo as background is more like copying like in onion skin method. I bet you can draw too just by watching a reference. No art skills needed in Photoshop?
    I can draw a skull from memory.
  • Awesome awesome awesome!
  • Carlos
    I really don't know how to get that brush, can anyone help me to get it, or configure it????

    thanx a lot from Venezuela!
  • DAIELL
    awesome u'r a goddddd dude!!!
  • yiyo
    please i need the brush the Draw a Skull with a Wacom Tablet . welp please . send me the brush thanks
  • Robert
    What the point of saying wacom tablet?
  • Kraphik
    It´s really worth saying Wacom because it´s much easier to draw
    with tablet than with mouse, right?
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