11. November 2021. • CREATIVE

DRAWING STYLES

Drawing!

Drawing is a form of expression older than the written word – ever since humans have existed, there have been drawings – graphic representations on a particular surface. From their earliest days, humans have had a need to express themselves artistically, depicting visions of the world around them and leaving their mark on history. It all started, of course, with cave drawings of Neanderthals dating back 45,500 years!

So, many years passed before drawing moved from cave walls to paper (and canvas), where it has remained to this day, and more recently we are also seeing the digitization of drawings. In addition to the various surfaces on which drawings appear, multiple drawing styles have evolved over time.

Drawing itself is a combination of lines, dots, spots, colors, shadows, and contrasts, and by using different drawing techniques, these elements can ultimately result in visually different drawings – simple, complex, linear, or three-dimensional.

Here is a breakdown of some styles:

Outline Basic

Outline Basic is a very simple style that, as the name implies, consists only of outlines. The drawing is black and white (black lines on a white background), and there are no complex details. There is no shadow, no color, and therefore no volume in the drawing. The use of this style can be varied… from sketches to comics to simple animated films (such as Simon’s Cat series).

Outline Advance

The Outline Advance style is very similar to the Outline Basic style, but as the name implies, this style is a bit more advanced and therefore a bit more complicated, offering more detail. The lines vary between thin and thick, which certainly adds to the drawing. Not only are there black and white, but there are also shadows in shades of gray that you can use to create some depth. This style is perfect for comics.

Flat Color Basic

After the linear drawings, we finally get to the colors. In the Flat Color Basic style, there are no outlines at all, but the drawing consists entirely of simple and apartment colored shapes. So only basic colors are used, without shadows and highlights. Therefore, the design of the figures and elements in the drawing is quite simple. This style is perfect for simple picture books for children.

Flat Color Advance

Unlike the Flat Color Basic style, the Flat Color Advance style features a more detailed drawing style. Again, there are no outlines, and the drawing consists of colored shapes. However, in this case, the shadows and lighting are more emphasized, creating a certain light volume. The shapes themselves are also more realistic and detailed. This style is suitable for various illustrations.

Pastel Art

Pastel Art, as the name suggests, is the style of drawing with pastel crayons, that is, in digital form, the style of drawing with a pastel brush. Pastels leave a certain mark on the paper, that is, on the surface, and create a certain texture. Such a drawing is much more visually interesting and detailed, as well as the color palette itself. Pastels can create shadows and volume, which certainly enriches the drawing.

Full Color

Full color is the most detailed style so far. As with the previous color styles, there are no contour lines. This style is similar to Pixar or Disney cartoons, which are very colorful and full of small details. This is exactly what makes the drawing visually attractive, but also increases its price. The shadows and lighting are highlighted in this style, the colors are graduated in different shades, and everything together creates contrast and volume, making the drawing look complex and rich.

Polygon Art – Color

Polygon Art-Color consists of simple apartment polygon shapes with shadows and lighting. The figures are simplified and stylized and the transitions between colors and shadows are not smooth and gradually graduated. Colors and elements are separated by sharp lines, and as with previous color styles, there are no outlines.

Polygon Art – B&W

This style is the same as Polygon Art-Color, but in black and white. However, apart from that, all other elements are the same – stylization, simple characters, sharp lines.

Detailed Illustration

This style is visually rich. There is a lot of detail, shadows, lighting, and extremely vibrant colors. It contains outlines that are colored and therefore blend in better with the drawing. This style requires a lot of effort and time, but ultimately results in a beautiful drawing (illustration) and is definitely worth every penny invested.

Cartoony Style

Cartoony style is a style that is very similar to simple cartoons like those from Cartoon Network (Johnny Bravo, Dexter’s Laboratory). It features simple and likable cartoon characters and vivid colors and backgrounds. The colors are mostly simple and apartment, with no shadows or volume. The drawing as such is detailed and interesting enough to be visually appealing.

Southpark Style

The Southpark style is based on and inspired by the popular animated series. It features simple characters, simple base and apartment colors, simplified shapes and backgrounds.

Retro Caricature

Although this style is based on cartoons and picture books from the 80s, it is somewhat similar to the visual style of the famous Red Bull advertisement. It features black outlines that are slightly rough and vary in thickness. The transitions between colors also vary from smooth to sharp, and the shadows and lighting are clearly emphasized. The design of the figures as well as the background are caricatured.

Ico’s Style

Actually, this is the style of our illustrator and animator Ico (short for Ivica). What makes up his style is a somewhat realistic cartoon drawing with a lot of details. The drawing is dominated by a thin, dark outline, while the colors and coloring style are inspired by Marvel and DC Comics. The colors are rich in detail, the shadows are expressive, as is the lighting, which gives volume to the characters.

Game Art Style

The Game Art style is inspired by popular video games of the 90s, such as Monkey Island 3, Super Mario and Aladdin. These are extremely detailed drawings with no outlines. The characters are stylized and caricatured, the colors are rich, thanks to the play of light and shadow. The visual result is the “depth” of the background.