If there’s one feature that defines my signature style, it’s the horns. They bring personality, uniqueness, and that extra touch of fantasy to my characters. I experiment with all kinds of shapes—rounded, sharp, square, tiny, massive… but my process always stays the same.
It allows me to design intricate horns straight from my imagination, without overcomplicating things.
Today, I’m sharing this process with you!
Step 1: Blocking the basics. The golden rule of the constructive approach is to always go from general to detail. I start by mapping out the position and mass of the horns using simple, minimal lines—just enough to place them correctly.
Step 2: Building a simple structure. Next, I define the basic structure using simple shapes like squares, cylinders, or triangles. Here, I’m focusing purely on position and proportion—nothing else. Construction lines help me balance angles, distances, and ensure the horns feel harmonious in perspective.
Step 3: Soft erase and refinement. Once I’m happy with the placement, I use a kneaded eraser to lightly erase the structure, keeping just enough of it visible to build upon.
Step 4: Adding Complexity and narrative depth. Now that the foundation is solid, I can refine the design and add more intricate shapes and textures. At this stage, I can focus on finding the design that would suit my character’s personality best! If I had skipped straight to this step about laying the foundations, I’d probably end up with wrong proportions or wonky perspective.
Step 5: Light and shadow separation. Before shading, I separate light and shadow areas. This helps me decide where the shadows will fall and how to emphasize the shape and depth of the horns.
Step 6: Rendering. I build up shadows gradually, focusing on creating texture and value depth. I don’t go too dark too soon—instead, I work in layers, refining as I go.
Step 7: The final step. I bring the highlights back and refining the contrast to make the horns pop.
Then, repeat on the other side—and voilà! You have two beautifully rendered horns, straight from your imagination, with a cool stylized shading!
This process breaks everything down into manageable steps, allowing me to focus on style and visual impact at every stage.
Let me know in the comments if you find this kind of Portrait Gem helpful—and if you’ll give this fun process a try!
Shoutout to the demons who sent me their drawings!
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Thank you for the class!! I'll have to give it a go! 😁😈