HeadLight Tutorial: Silvia S15

[asaenz]

I finally got the tutorial finished.
Please if you have any tips to make this better let me know so I can incorporate it into the chrome wheel tutorial.

Thanks

Al

-----------------Head Light Tutorial-----------------

Finished lights. The values in the image below are about the same as the original artwork (darks/lights). I just wanted to give you an idea of what the true colors look like. I apologize for the tungsten tent on some of these. I am still learning my camera.

I wrote the tutorial in word so the outline didn't come out just right under Step 1. Sorry about dat too.



Step 1
Try to find detailed picts of the headlights you want to draw. Always always look at your reference and study it very carefully. Like mine it looks like I need to go do that far projector lenses. The ellipse degree is too large. If the headlight is not the exact angle you need be sure to account for that in your drawing. I tried doing that on mine but I need some more practice. Bonz’s perspective thread will help on that.

This tutorial just shows how I like to draw you may not like the way I do things so please always try to improve and share the methods you come up with. We are all learning.

I draw w/ a sheet of printer paper or tracing paper under my hand to protect the paper and drawing from smearing.



Tools:

Grid to get out-line of headlight
Freehand lenses and highlights on the inside. Those are too small for ellipses and curve tools anyway.

Drawing board purchased from Michaels (not shown)
They are brown and look like huge clipboards.
I also drilled out the huge clips on the side. Be careful when you do that.
They get in the way of my arm when I draw.

Words in parenthesis are the stores where I bought my stuff

A. Tuff Stuff eraser (Staples)
a. Used for sharp edge erasing, I use it for thin elongated lines, I
luv it
b. I cut the top into a flat sharp edge w/ an X-acto knife.
c. You can also cut at angles for different needs
d. The eraser will than have a very sharp circle edge that I
use for highlights
e. This eraser will shed when you erase, but it is clean
and not messy. It will not crumble. I like to use my kneed
eraser to lift (lightly) the sheddings off the paper it works
great.

B. Mecha pencil
a. Loaded w/ 2b lead (D.)
C. Mecha pencil
a. Loaded w/ HB lead

D. 2B Lead (Staples)
a. That is all you need for darks
b. For large dark spaces you might use a wooden pencil
c. I rarely use wooden pencils for fine detailed drawings like the
Sil.

E. Stumps (Michaels)
a. Get various sizes
b. The super skinny ones are perfect for fine detail like headlights

F. Makeup wedge (Wal-Mart beauty section)
a. It is made of very soft fine porous foam
b. This is something new I am trying
c. I didn’t use it for the headlight much but I used it for the
hood.
d. These can be folded into very sharp points. I really like it a lot
e. I think J.D. Hillberry said, “Always look for new things to try
and blend with.” www.artpapa.com

G. Eraser Shield (Michaels)
a. This is very cheap under $1
b. It is a stencil that will allow you to eraser small sections w/o
eraser everything else

H. Chamois (Michaels)
a. You may used auto chamois but make sure it is real leather.
b. What you do is take one side and roll the edges up into a
once sided burrito. Bring both rolled sides into the middle
where they will meet.
c. I didn’t use this on the headlights but this is another blending
tool, very nice by the way.

I. Blu-Tack (www.sibleyfineart.com)
a. This is the eraser used by pro graphite artists
b. Mike is a great guy to buy products from. He lives in England
and hangs out at www.artpapa.com.
c. Mike has great tutorials for drawing also at his site
d. There are products like this in the States but they are less
tacky.
e. This blu-tack will make the sharpest point and keeps its’ form
very well.
f. Some peops will form the blu-tack and stick it in the freezer
to make it hard and then erase w/ it.
g. This stuff will lift lead like nothing else.
h. It is cheap too, try just one pack

J. Kneed eraser (Michaels)

Step 2

Lightly sketch the headlights and lenses



Step 3

Here I drew more detail and went over the outside lines w/ rulers and French curves.



Here is the other headlight right now it is dark but I will lighten it when I finish the near headlight. I want near one to be the darkest and crispest (wow that is a word). Doing that tricks the eye into thinking the near headlight is closer which it is.



Step 4

Here I am going real dark w/ my 2B lead.
You may go so dark that specks of graphite will get on your paper. Lift those up w/ your kneed eraser you can also try brushing them aside w/ a paintbrush. Be gentle when removing lead specks.



Step 5

Finished the dark outer line and started shading.
I am constantly reminding my self that the primary light source is at the side of the car so the side of the headlight must be lighter and contain some highlights.



Step 6

Ok, here I continue to sketch looking at my ref. image always. I also drew lines that will surround my brightest highlights (H.)



Step 7

Here I start shading in some more darks surrounding my highlights.
Haven’t blended yet.
Notice the highlight on the center lens light.



Here is my Blu-tack formed to a point. I created and cleaned up that middle lens light w/ it. I do light jabs at the area striking perpendicular to the paper.



Step 8

Did a little bit of blending and fixed that far right cross-lined light.
At first I drew crossing lines to simulate it but then I notice it was better to draw little dark spots and create white spots to create the crossing effect.



Step 9
Peak a boo I see you!

Here is my ref.



Step 10

Starting on the mirror like lens. Shading lightly avoiding my brightest high lights, feeling good about it.

I noticed that w/ these head lights I like to est. my blacks first.
That works for me something else may work for you.



Step 11

Here I have done more blending w/ my thinnest stump. Sometimes hold the stump perpendicular to the surface and blend sharp lines.

Notice the light shading above the headlight on the hood. That is there because I am going to come in w/ my cut Tuff Stuff eraser and highlight that bad boy.



Step 12

Clean up the highlights w/ my Tuff Stuff and blu-tack.
Blend a little here and there, go crazy doing it.



That is about it.

Once I set in the reflections on the body I will add some reflections to the headlight w/ my blu-tack. That will give the illusion of a clear plastic lens covering all three lights.

I hope it was helpful. Pls ask any questions

[mike@af]

Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. I have that magazine so I might try out this tutorial this time.

[mike@af]

Thanks for making the pictures shown in the thread of course you did that after I read the thread and clicked all the links.

[asaenz]

Originally Posted by GTmike400

Thanks for making the pictures shown in the thread of course you did that after I read the thread and clicked all the links.

Oh man I am sorry you had to do that.

It took me awhile to fix them all and I already posted the darn thread.

It is kind of trial and error for me sometimes.
I write the tutorial in Word so I don't have to be online for like 1-2 hrs posting this thing.

Al

[Ra_15]

Great! Thanks for spending your time putting this tutorial together for us all, I really appreaciate it.

I'll hopefully try it out soon.

[Ran]

Awesome tutorial, but what makes me dissapointed is that you need all that stuff to do it

[KustmAce]

As soon as my cast is off and I'm drawing again, I'm going straight to the stores you listed to buy the supplies I don't have that you listed.

Great tutorial! Maybe in a little while I will post some of my better headlights that I have done.

Would you mind?

[jajimo]

Good god, I bow down to you! I am going to have to adapt that to my Photoshop drawing technique since I lack all skill in doing headlamps =P

[asaenz]

Originally Posted by Ran

Awesome tutorial, but what makes me dissapointed is that you need all that stuff to do it

Thx everyone.

Well, Ran you don't have to get all that stuff. I think at the minimum you need 2b lead, Blu-tack or kneed eraser, and that Tuff Stuff eraser.
Some stumps or tortillions too.

I am glad you guys like it.
I know it is long but I try to explain the details.

Al

[stuffbyalex]

thanks 4 the great tut asaenz! really helpful.

i've never heard of chamois. is it just a piece of leather basically?

alex

[ImolaEK]

Awesome tutorial man. I have a question though. Eventhough you didn't mention it in this tutorial but i have heard of it before, what are French Curves. It would be awesome if you could show a picture or info on where to get one since i have heard of it plenty of times but never really heard what it Really is! I love all the detail you put into those headlights. My eyes wouldn't allow me to dig soo deep into the drawing, i think i will need to buy some magnifiying glasses or something. I can't wait to see this Silvia done. Its going to most certainly be like your Skyline, a masterpiece

[bonzelite]

most complete tutorial i have ever seen. excellent.

[doucmehu]

Originally Posted by asaenz

Thx everyone.

Well, Ran you don't have to get all that stuff. I think at the minimum you need 2b lead, Blu-tack or kneed eraser, and that Tuff Stuff eraser.
Some stumps or tortillions too.

I am glad you guys like it.
I know it is long but I try to explain the details.

Al

Fantastic tutorial. BTW a chamois is a leather (or synthetic) "towel" made for drying automobiles. You can get them at just baout any auto parts store in the car detailing section.

[asaenz]

Originally Posted by RB26DETT-GTR

Awesome tutorial man. I have a question though. Eventhough you didn't mention it in this tutorial but i have heard of it before, what are French Curves. It would be awesome if you could show a picture or info on where to get one since i have heard of it plenty of times but never really heard what it Really is! I love all the detail you put into those headlights. My eyes wouldn't allow me to dig soo deep into the drawing, i think i will need to buy some magnifiying glasses or something. I can't wait to see this Silvia done. Its going to most certainly be like your Skyline, a masterpiece

French Curves

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/FrenchCurve.html

I also use flexible curves.
http://www.artsupply.com/alvin/curves.htm

Mine is like this one
http://www.dickblick.com/zz554/65/pr...m=0&ig_id=1660

[ImolaEK]

Originally Posted by asaenz

French Curves

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/FrenchCurve.html

I also use flexible curves.
http://www.artsupply.com/alvin/curves.htm

Mine is like this one
http://www.dickblick.com/zz554/65/pr...m=0&ig_id=1660

Awesome, Thanks asaenz. How do you utilize them. Im guessing that they are used to make wheel wells and basically smooth curves...duh Someone should do a tutorial on this