Drawing a Realistic Bruise: Tips and Tricks

Have you ever wanted to draw a realistic-looking bruise on paper but didn’t know where to start? Fear not, because drawing a bruise is not as difficult as it may seem. With a few simple steps and techniques, you can create a convincing and detailed illustration of a bruise that can add a touch of realism to your artwork.

When drawing a bruise, it’s important to understand the different colours and shades that make up the discoloration. A bruise usually starts out as a reddish-purplish colour, before turning to a blue or green shade, and finally fading to a yellow or brown hue as it begins to heal. By incorporating these various colours and blending techniques, you can create a highly believable depiction of a bruise that can be used in a variety of different art forms like illustrations, portraits, and comic strips.

Section 1: Supplies Needed

Get the Right Supplies for Your Bruise Drawing

Before you start drawing a bruise on paper, make sure you have the right supplies. You’ll need the following items:

1. Colored Pencils: Choose a set of colored pencils that has a range of dark shades, including black, dark blue, purple, and green.

2. Blending Tool: A blending tool like a paper stump, cotton swab, or blending brush will help you create a realistic bruise effect.

3. Eraser: An eraser is essential for removing mistakes or excess color.

4. Paper: Choose a smooth, white paper that can handle multiple layers of color.

Section 2: Selecting the Colors

Select the Right Colors for Your Bruise Drawing

To create a realistic-looking bruise, you need to have the right colors in your set of colored pencils. Here are the colors you’ll need:

1. Reddish-Pink: Draw a small circle with this color to create the base of your bruise.

2. Deep Purple: Add a layer of deep purple around the base, blending it outwards to create a fading effect.

3. Blue: Apply a few strokes of blue around the areas where the bruise appears the most severe.

4. Green: Use green lightly to create a yellowish tint that appears in the later stages of a bruise.

5. Black: Use black in the center of your bruise and blend it outward to add depth.

Section 3: Drawing the Bruise

Start Your Bruise with the Base Color

Start your bruise drawing by using a reddish-pink color pencil. Draw a small circle on your paper, where you want the bruise to be located. This will serve as the base color of your bruise. You want to make sure that your circle is small enough to leave enough space for the other colors.

Adding the First Layer of Color

With the next layer of color, deepen the base of your bruise using the deep purple color. You can add another ring within the first circle with this color to give it more depth. Be sure to blend it outwards as well.

Creating the Texture

By using the blue colored pencil, add a few strokes around the areas that appear most severe to create the texture of the bruise. These areas could be where bones are closer to the skin or where the hit was most intense.

Blending the Colors

Using your blending tool, (paper stump, cotton swab or blending brush) gently blend the colors together, ensuring that there are no harsh lines. Use a light hand and only blend the colors slightly to achieve a natural bruise effect.

Adding More Depth

To create more depth within the bruise, darken the center with black pencil color. Blend outwards slowly so that the black color isn’t overpowering and takes up too much space.

Adding Yellow Tones

To achieve a yellowish tint that appears in later stages of a bruise, lightly add some green within the bruise. This layer should be very light, just to add a hint of yellow into the mix.

Blending Once More

With your blending tool, blend outwards and soften your colors once again to achieve a more natural-looking bruise.

Section 4: Final Touches

Final Touches to Perfect Your Bruise Drawing

Once you’re happy with the overall look of your bruise drawing, take a step back and analyze. If you see any areas that need more blending, use your blending tool to adjust it. If you see any areas that need more color, don’t be afraid to layer over an already colored space. You can also use an eraser to refine your drawing and remove any unwanted marks.

In conclusion, drawing a realistic bruise on paper takes patience, a steady hand, and a good eye for color mixing. By using the right supplies and following these steps, you can create a realistic-looking bruise that will surely impress. Happy drawing!

Materials Needed

Before we dive into the techniques to draw a bruise, it’s crucial to make sure you have the right materials. Below are the materials we recommend you have for this project:

Drawing Paper

The first thing you’ll need is a good drawing paper. We would recommend using a high-quality drawing paper that is a little thicker than standard printer paper. A heavier drawing paper will give you a better surface for working with pencils and other materials.

Drawing Pencils

For the initial sketching and detailing, we suggest using a set of high-quality pencils. These should range from H to B, where H is harder and lighter and B is darker and softer.

Blending Tool

A good blending tool such as a blending stump, cotton swab, or your fingers is essential to blend the colors as you work on the bruise. This tool helps to create a natural look and can make the bruise look more realistic.

Eraser

An eraser is a crucial tool for creating the lighter areas of the bruise or cleaning up any mistakes you make during the shading process. You should have a kneaded eraser or any other gum-type eraser that could easily erase pencil marks.

Colored Pencils

Colored pencils will be your main tool to create the bruise’s realistic colors. We recommend using colors like blue, purple, yellow, and red to create the desired bruises’ depth and location.

Watercolor or Acrylic Paint

To add an extra layer of realism to your bruise drawing, you can use watercolor or acrylic paint. These paints are great for creating realistic skin tones and adding extra depth and texture to your drawing.

Brush

You’ll need a brush to apply the paint or to blend the colors gently. A smudging brush or a small paintbrush will be perfect for this technique.

Reference Image

Last but not least, having a reference image for creating the bruise will be helpful. A realistic image of a bruise will help you understand how to create a realistic effect on your paper.

Good Lighting

Proper lighting is crucial for drawing any realistic object. You should have good lighting that allows you to see the colors and details of the bruise clearly while drawing.

Patience and Practice

Finally, you’ll need patience and lots of practice. Creating a realistic-looking bruise will take time and dedication, but with practice, you can perfect the technique and create an excellent depiction of a bruise on paper.

Materials Needed

Drawing a bruise on paper requires a few essential materials to make it look realistic. Here are some things you will need to prepare:

Steps to Draw a Bruise on Paper

Once you have all the necessary materials, you can now start drawing your bruise on paper. Here are the steps you can follow:

Step 1 – Sketch the Outline

Gently sketch the outline of the bruise using a 2H pencil. This will serve as your guide in creating the desired shape and size of the bruise. Use a light hand in drawing the outline, so you can easily erase it later if necessary.

Step 2 – Add Light and Dark Shades

Using a 2B pencil, shade the bruise with light and dark tones to simulate the different colors of a real bruise. Refer to your reference photo to see the correct placement of shades and how they blend together.

Step 3 – Blend the Shades

Use a blending stump to smoothly blend the light and dark shades together. This will create a more realistic bruise texture.

Step 4 – Add Details

Add details to your bruise drawing such as veins, broken capillaries, and any other textures or markings you see in your reference photo. Use a fine-tipped pencil to emphasize these details.

Step 5 – Highlight and Darken

Finally, use an eraser or a white charcoal pencil to highlight the areas of light on your bruise. Darken the areas around the edges of the bruise to emphasize the depth of the injury.

Tips for Making a Realistic Bruise Drawing

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when drawing a bruise on paper:

• Don’t use too much pressure on your pencils. Light, feathery strokes create a more realistic and subtle bruise texture.
• Use a variety of pencils and shades to create depth and color variation in your bruise drawing.
• Refer to your reference photo often to make sure your bruise drawing looks accurate and realistic.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment with different shading and blending techniques to achieve the desired effect.
• Practice drawing bruises on different parts of the body to improve your technique and accuracy in drawing.

By following these simple steps and tips, you can create a realistic and convincing bruise drawing that will impress your friends and colleagues. Remember to have fun, experiment with your technique, and enjoy the process of creating art.

It’s Not All Black and Blue: The Art of Drawing Bruises

We hope this guide on how to draw a bruise on paper has been enjoyable and helped you achieve a more lifelike and dramatic effect in your artwork. Remember that practice makes perfect, so don’t be discouraged if your first attempt doesn’t turn out exactly how you want it to. Thanks for reading and be sure to visit again later for more tips and tricks on drawing realistic bruises – or any other creative suggestions you may be craving!