![\"How](\"http:\/\/rapidfireart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/How-to-Draw-Braids-All-RFA-1024x381.jpg\")
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*PDF Download*<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n For your personal offline viewing, click the following link and hit the download button beside the printer icon to download the PDF:\u00a0RapidFireArt Tutorials-How to Draw Braids<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tools I Used:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Avoid drawing all your zigzags using straight or overly curvy lines. This will make your braid look less natural.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Stay close to the outline made in step 1. There is no need to stay exactly within the boundary. If you want your braid to look more natural, don’t follow the outline exactly. <\/p>\n Erase the boundary outlines. Then use a blunt needle or any sharp edge that won’t puncture the paper to draw invisible hairs. Apply\u00a0a range of different pressures to create a variety of thin and thick hairs.\u00a0What this does is it creates indentations in the paper, making it difficult for graphite to fill. Later, when you start shading the hair, these indentations will give the hair a more realistic texture and show up as thin white lines.<\/p>\n Here’s a close up picture of my paper so you can see what I mean:<\/p>\n Then, use a 2B pencil to go over those same areas. Play around with different lead thicknesses by rotating your pencil every now and then.\u00a0This not only darkens the braid but also gives it some more detail. You might start to notice some of your needle work showing through now! Pretty cool huh?<\/p>\n If you’re drawing dark colored hair, use a 4B pencil to do the same as what you did with the 2B.<\/p>\n Watch this video if you’re a little confused :)<\/p>\n\n
Step 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"How](\"http:\/\/rapidfireart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/How-to-Draw-Braids-Step-1-RFA.jpg\")
Draw 2 lines using an HB pencil. These 2 lines will mark the thickness and length of your braid. Then, draw a curve\u00a0down\u00a0the middle.<\/p>\nStep 2<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"How](\"http:\/\/rapidfireart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/How-to-Draw-Braids-Step-2.jpg\")
Along the\u00a0middle line, draw curvy zigzags all the way down. Make your zigzags smaller and shorter as you work your way down. The bigger your zig zags, the larger each individual portion of braid will be.<\/p>\nStep 3<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"How](\"http:\/\/rapidfireart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/How-to-Draw-Braids-Step-3.jpg\")
Now, let’s draw the hair. At the very top of your braid, draw 2 curves that reach out beyond the guidelines made in step 1. This is where the braid begins, hence the funnel shape.<\/p>\nStep 4<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"How](\"http:\/\/rapidfireart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/How-to-Draw-Braids-Step-4.jpg\")
Before you proceed, erase the line going down the middle (through the zigzag).
\nStarting on the left side of the braid, draw a curve that touches the top portion of hair and ends at every convex corner. Do this all the way down. Do the same for the right side.<\/p>\n
\nHere’s a diagram to help you maintain good hair flow<\/p>\n![\"Continuity](\"http:\/\/rapidfireart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Continuity-Braids.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStep 5<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"How](\"http:\/\/rapidfireart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/How-to-Draw-Braids-Step-5-RFA-needle.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Drawing](\"http:\/\/rapidfireart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Drawing-White-Hair_Paper-Texture-Closeup_Needle-RFA.jpg\")
Determine the light source for the braid and map out areas of light and shadow by using a dull HB pencil to do some light planning (pun intended). Always shade into highlights, not away from them. Lift your pencil at the end of each stroke to create a nice gradient.<\/p>\n