Lace up and draw
Shoes may be everyday objects, but that doesn’t mean they’re suitable for boring subjects. A shoe can express its own fashion, style and character. And once you take the right steps, you might be surprised how easy it is to design eye-catching footwear. Check out these professional drawing tutorials and learn how to draw two different types of shoes: sneakers and heels inspired by sportswear.
How to draw a sneaker
Streetwear sneakers such as Nike, Adidas, and Air Jordans are often eye-catching shoe designs that create intricate and exciting shoe designs. Choose a reference photo or shoe from your closet to guide you through your design. Pictures are good for keeping you grounded or you will get pulled out of memory. In this step-by-step tutorial, artist and illustrator Spencer Nugent teaches you how to draw a side view of a sneaker.
1. Draw a series of planes on the body of the shoe.
This set of rectangles in perspective format mirrors the shape of the foot and serves as a drawing aid and basis for the sole of the shoe. Next, he draws a circle around the heel and ball of the foot and uses curved lines to refine the shape of the sole.
2. Draw boxes to guide your pattern.
These should resemble the posts or rectangular straps of a sandal. “Imagine these dots translated into perspective. It doesn’t mean this is the final design, but I now have dots that allow me to draw curves for my shoe,” says Nugent.
3. Enter the outline of the shoe.
Using the hoops from the previous steps, you’re ready to outline the shape of the shoe, including the upper, insole, and outsole. “When in doubt, find out,” advises Nugent. “That means if you’re not sure what you’re going to do, just rough sketch, adjust, and change until you get it right.” The shoes aren’t stiff, so avoid straight lines and try to keep a subtle curve in all of your lines.
4. Make a sketch with a pencil.
For the final outline, choose a sharp, durable pencil or brush. “You want a pen that doesn’t forgive and doesn’t forget because it forces you to be very aware of what you’re doing,” says Nugent.
“I find it helpful to rotate my canvas as I draw, both on paper and digitally. You want the spreadsheet to conform to you instead of warping to what you’re working on, says Nugent.
5. Fill in the data.
Nugent has added a strap, heel and cushioning to the sole of this shoe. “If you want to add thickness to a part, adding a double line is very helpful,” advises Nugent.
I call it the paint and erase method,” says Nugent. This can be done on paper, but it’s easier with digital drawing tools because you can isolate layers and make very fine and selective adjustments.
6. Draw the stripes.
The laces are one of the hardest parts of a shoe sketch. You can help with a pencil on the midline and use it as a drawing aid. “This is important because the lace overlap is the focal point of the shoe.” Draw a box in the area of the stripes and an X shape in the box to find your centerline. Nugent also recommends using a thicker line at the base of each lace to convey depth and shadow without adding color.
7. Paint your shoes.
Lock the color of each area to a new layer below the drawing, just like in a coloring book. If you work digitally in Adobe Fresco, you can quickly fill areas with the Paint Bucket tool. “Try to put each new color on its own level,” advises Nugent. “It allows me to work in a very non-destructive way so I can easily make changes later.”
8. Airbrush to add dimension.
Add volume to the look by filling in the highlights and shadows with an airbrush. “Put the brightest lights next to the darkest ones,” advises Nugent. Finish with a Sptter brush and paint another layer. It’s very thin, but use just enough to add grain and texture to parts of the shoe. And so you have a nice running shoe.
