How to Draw Blades, Draw Swords
How to Draw Blades, Draw Swords

Description: Here's my first sword tutorial. This tutorial is not just about any sword. It is about fantasy swords similar to the MMORPG, "World of Warcraft. If you ever wanted to draw King Lich's ghoulish weapon then you are facing a force to be reckoned with. T   

Step 1.

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Description: Let us start out with basic parts of the sword. Click on this picture for the "Anatomy of the Sword." I found the fantasy swords are based on real swords. These instruments of survival, warfare, entertainment, ceremony, spiritual beliefs date back fr   

Step 2.

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Description: These swords are so creative until they are bigger than the people wielding them. If you would like to draw this sword, follow steps 1, 2, and 3 beside the human defender holding the huge sword.

Step 3.

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Description: Here are three different types of swords. The first is a modification of King Lich's sword with human skulls for his crossguard. The lower picture has a guy brandishing his swords at an angle pointing towards you. The following step gives you guideli   

Step 4.

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Description: Click on picture to draw the swords lightly with a No. 2 pencil. In step 3, make sure you give a clean sharp edge to the blades designed for cutting and thrusting.

Step 5.

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Description: There are so many different sword styles until you cannot count them. Try imagining some of your own to draw. They can look like flames, screwdrivers, clubs, pliers, crossbows, hammers, etc. Click on this picture for a few ideas or even to draw.

Step 6.

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Description: Are you ready for King Lich and his infamous sword? Start by drawing lightly this form of rounded shapes with a No. 2 pencil. Make sure the left arm guidelines appear shorter than the right arm facing you. And give a slight curve to the bisecting lin   

Step 7.

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Description: Now draw in the diagonal line with two parallel lines (lower one is slightly curved).

Step 8.

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Description: Click on the picture to see the details of King Lich's helmet. Get those "horns" pointed. Go ahead and darken the shaded areas once you get the helmet looking right. Scary fellow, isn't he!

Step 9.

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Description: This is why I categorized this tutorial as advanced. It's because of all the decor, pomp, and grandeur of this king. Watch closely how these curvy lines relate to the guidelines. Please, take your time.

Step 10.

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Description: I didn't want to hold back on the details because I found this subject majestic and worthy to "wrestle" with. Now draw in lightly the right arm with armor and glove detail. If you need to, you can always revert back to the introduction picture for mo   

Step 11.

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Description: Now draw in his skull belt and the ram's head.

Step 12.

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Description: If you need a ruler for the rest of the sword, please feel free to use it. The double outline on the edge of the sword represents the reflective light on the sharpened blade. Also you can see wavy lines which represent the heated sword ready to blast   

Step 13.

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Description: You're almost done with the sketch. Draw in Lich's hanging orc or ghoul skull and the rest of his amour.

Step 14.

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Description: I made this line drawing especially for you if you don't want to do the pencil shading and blending part. Otherwise, let us continue to the pencil drawing part.

Step 15.

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Description: Here is the outline done with a 0.7mm mechanical pencil. Look closely and see if your lines look something like this. You can erase if certain areas like the eyes or nose don't line up. Take you kneaded eraser and dab off the shadow outlines or dark    

Step 16.

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Description: PENCIL STROKES & TONE, SHADING, TEXTURE -- For your convenience, I have inserted this step with different pencils, strokes to use. And you can study the shapes that make up this drawing universe, along with tone, shading, and texture.

Step 17.

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Description: Here are more exercise in case you want to practice for more realism. I practice too! And don't worry about crocked lines. That's all part of the practice. The next steps, you'll be pencil shading and learning more about the raven and crow.

Step 18.

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Description: I sketched in more shading in the small areas like with the skulls detailed areas. I also used my 9B graphite pencil in the flattened position for larger areas like the cloth running down from his belt.

Step 19.

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Description: I blended with a stump in the large areas, including inside his cape. I tried leaving a small areas around the decor of his armor white. For tiny areas of shading (lots of details to focus on), I used a tortillon.

Step 20.

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Description: This is the first start with the pastel application. I Applied medium gray to his armor and dark gray to the shaded areas. Looks like a mess, but that's how a some beginning projects will appear. Keep patience with you and keep applying those layers   

Step 21.

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Description: Here I used my blending stump to "draw" in more lines, add more shading to his hair and helmet. I needed to lighten areas like the icy decorative detailing on his chest armor. The trick to succeeding is to keep at it by looking at your reference for    

Step 22.

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Description: I added more highlights with Opaque Watercolor to the edged areas on his armour, sword, cloth strip from his belt, around the skulls highlighted areas. And I took the white also with water to add swirls around the sword for a frosty and smoky effect.   

Step 23.

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Description: Without highlights, your picture would have a flat appearance. Click on this picture to learn how to make your own picture POP out!

Step 24.

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Description: Click on this picture to see how Tone, Shading, Texture, and Reflective Light affects King Lich and his sword! I am closing out now. But you all have been wonderful and it has been a great pleasure to do this tutorial with you. Please fav, comment, a   

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Details
Artist: catlucker
Date Added: September 14, 2012
Steps: 24
Favorited: 2 (view)
Views: 1 in last hour, 2 in last day, 23 in last week, 106208 total
Comments: 0
Tags: world warcraft, blades, world warcraft characters, swords

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