In this tutorial, I will show you how to create an abstract skull in the style of the Mexican Day of the Dead, dedicated to the memory of the dead. The brightly decorated sugar skull is one of the most popular symbols of this day.
Using Adobe Photoshop, we will draw a sugar skull using floral elements, spiders, spiderwebs, and watercolor textures.
Note: The author used paid materials. In the archive you will find an alternative version of the images to perform the lesson..
1. Add a background texture
Step 1
Create a new document with a size of 1400 x 1200 pixels with the following settings:
Step 2
Open the picture with the texture of the source materials for the lesson. Move it to the working paper using Move Tool
(V) and decrease Opacity (Opacity) layer up to 50%.
Step 3
Move on Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Color Balance (Layer – New Adjustment Layer – Color Balance) and customize Midtones (Mid Tones):
Step 4
Use corrective layer Curves (Curves) to brighten texture:
2. Add a skull
Step 1
Cut the skull and move it to the center of the working canvas.
Step 2
Create a new layer and transform it into a clipping mask (Ctrl + Alt + G). Soft round brush (B) color # eeddc3, with Opacity (Opacity) and Flow (Press) 34-36% smooth the surface of the skull.
Step 3
Add an adjustment layer Hue/ Saturation (Hue / Saturation) and set Saturation (Saturation) at -49:
Step 4
Adjust the color of the skull using the adjustment layer Color Balance (Color balance):
Step 5
Add an adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to darken the upper part of the skull. Take a soft black brush (B) and paint over the bottom of the mask of the adjustment layer to restore the brightness in this place.
3. Draw a pattern on the face
Step 1
Create a new layer and activate Pen Tool
(P) (Feather). Make sure the tool mode is set to Shape (Figure), the color and shape of the figure you can adjust at any time. Take the color # 54af23 and draw a shape that follows the shape of the cheek. Hit Ctrl + J to duplicate the layer, and go Edit – Transform – Flip Horizontal (Editing – Transformation – Flip Horizontally). Move the copy of the shape to the opposite cheek.
Change the blending mode of both layers to Multiply (Multiplication) with opacity 100%:
Step 2
Use the same color to draw a shape on the chin, then take the color # ed8d1c and create shapes on the temples. Change layer blending mode to Multiply (Multiplication) with opacity 100%.
Step 3
Under the first figures on the temples we draw two additional, but smaller ones, using the color # e9e022 and the blending mode Multiply (Multiplication) with opacity 100%.
Step 4
At the top of the head, create a new shape using the color # b87e03 and blending mode Multiply (Multiplication) with opacity 100%.
Step 5
Duplicate this shape and reflect it vertically. Move the copy under the eye holes and change its color to # ed611c. At the bottom of the layers panel, click on the button Add layer mask
(Add layer mask) to add a mask to the layer with the shape. Remove the lower part of the shape with a black brush of medium hardness on the layer mask, leaving a dark outline around the cheeks as a shadow.
Step 6
Add more shapes on the nose and forehead using the colors # 51a616 and # d3be2e. On the nose, use a layer mask to make a smooth color attenuation.
4. Decorate the eyes
Step 1
Create two separate layers and black medium hard brush fill the eye holes and empty space under the cheeks.
Step 2
On a new layer of soft black brush with Opacity (opacity) approximately 30-40% draw a light shadow under the eyes.
Step 3
Add a new layer. Hold down the Ctrl key and click on the thumbnail of the layers filled with eye holes to load their selection. Move on Edit – Stroke (Editing – Stroke) and in the window that appears, set the color to # f86c00.
Step 4
Double click on this layer and in the window that appears apply the layer style. Bevel and Emboss (Embossed). Change color Highlight Mode (Backlight mode) on # df5258 and Shadow Mode (Shadow mode) – on # 732222.
Add a mask to this layer and use a soft black brush to remove the edges of the black circle on the right eye opening (we will add makeup here later).
Step 5
Create a new layer, change its blend mode to Overlay (Overlap) with opacity 100% and fill with 50% gray:
Take Dodge Tool
(O) (Clarifier), set Range (Range) on Midtones (Mid Tones) and Exposure (Impact) by about 30-35%, then slightly lighten the stroke. Notice how the stroke looks in mode. Normal (Normal) and end result mode Overlay (Overlap).
Step 6
Create a new layer and change the foreground color to black. Take a hard brush (B) with a size of 2-3 pixels and draw several thin lines on the yellow outline of the eye, breaking it into pieces.
Step 7
Open the image with the web. Tool Magic Wand Tool
(W) (Magic Wand) select the white background and delete it. Move the web without a background on the working paper in the eye area. Activate the free transformation (Ctrl + T), right-click on the working canvas and select Warp (Deformation). Adjust the shape of the web, as shown below.
Add a mask to the cobweb layer and remove the excess part that protrudes beyond the limits of the skull.
Step 8
Double click on this layer and apply the layer style. Drop Shadow (Shadow).
Step 9
Add an adjustment layer Invert (Invert) to invert the color of the web. Black soft brush (B) edit the mask of the adjustment layer to return the black color in some areas of the web and get a more interesting result.
Step 10
Using the adjustment layer Curves (Curves) increase the visibility of the web.
5. Add a flower pattern
Step 1
Open the image with a floral pattern. Since it has a transparent background, we simply move it to the working document using the tool Move Tool (V) (Move). Place the pattern in the center of the skull.
Add a mask and remove excess parts of the pattern, leaving only on the forehead and chin.
Step 2
Apply layer styles to the pattern Drop Shadow (Shadow) and Color Overlay (Overlay color). For Color Overlay (Overlay color) choose color # 6bbb2a, and for Drop Shadow (Shadow) – # 1f4508.
Step 3
Duplicate (Ctrl + J) the patterned layer and move the copy below. Add a mask to the layer and edit it so that the pattern remains only on the chin.
Step 4
Create a new layer. We take a small hard brush (B) of a bright yellow color (# eff243) and draw yellow lines along the contour of the web and the floral pattern.
Step 5
Create a new layer, change its blend mode to Overlay (Overlap) with opacity 100% and fill with 50% gray. Using tools Dodge Tool (O) (Clarifier) and Burn Tool
(O) (Dimmer) draw more intense light and shade, especially on the forehead, nose and cheeks.
6. Add a hat
Step 1
Open the image with a hat. Cut it and place it on the skull.
Step 2
Create a new layer. Soft black brush (B) with Opacity (opacity) approximately 40% draw shadows on the bottom of the hat and forehead.
Step 3
Add an adjustment layer Hue/ Saturation (Hue / Saturation) and set Hue (Color tone) at +34 when selecting Master (all) and -118 when choosing Cyans (Blue):
Step 4
Add an adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to slightly darken the hat.
In the area highlighted in the screenshot below, we apply a layer mask.
7. Add branches
Step 1
Open the picture with the branch, delete the background and transfer it to the working document. Move on Filter – Liquify (Filter – Plastic) and choose the tool Forward Warp Tool (Deformation). With this tool we stretch a branch in length, but do not overdo it, since the basic outlines of a branch should be recognizable.
Reflect the branch horizontally and move it to the right side of the document. Place the branch for the skull and hat, if necessary, use a mask to hide the extra areas.
Step 2
In the same way we add more branches, duplicate them in order to fill the working canvas. Place all the branches around the skull as if they were growing out of it, then use the mask to hide the extra areas.
Step 3
Select all layers with branches and press Ctrl + G to group them together. Change the group’s blend mode to Normal (Normal) with opacity 100%. Add an adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to slightly darken the branches.
8. Add a spider
Step 1
Cut out the spider and paste it into the working paper on the left eye hole.
Step 2
Using the adjustment layer Curves (Curves) slightly brightens the spider.
Step 3
Add an adjustment layer Hue/ Saturation (Hue / Saturation) and set Saturation (Saturation) at -77.
Step 4
We use tools Dodge Tool (O) (Clarifier) and Burn Tool (O) (Dimmer) to correct the light and shadow on the spider.
9. Add flowers
Step 1
Open the image Flowers 1 and cut out the desired flower using Magic Wand Tool (W) (Magic Wand). Then we transfer the cut rose to the branch on the working paper.
Step 2
Cut out more flowers and add them to the branches and the top of the hat, using the images Flowers 1 and Flowers 2.
Step 3
Add a flower on the chin, then reduce it Opacity (opacity) up to 70%.
Step 4
Use filter Liquify (Plastic) to deform several colors, as we did with the branches.
With the help of layer masks, we hide the lower part of the deformed colors behind the hat.
Step 5
Draw a shadow under the flower on the hat.
Step 6
For the flower on the right side apply the adjustment layer Hue/ Saturation (Hue / Saturation). Customize Reds (Red) and Yellows (Yellow) as shown below.
Step 7
Group the flowers together and apply an adjustment layer to the group. Hue/ Saturation (Hue / Saturation) to add yellowness.
Step 8
Use corrective layer Curves (Curves) to increase the brightness of the colors.
Step 9
Cut another rose and place it on the right eye opening. Duplicate (Ctrl + J) it and move the copy to the branches on the left.
Use a rose mask to hide certain areas of the flower and create the illusion that it is inside a skull.
Step 10
Apply a correction layer to both flowers Hue/ Saturation (Hue / Saturation) and set Saturation (Saturation) at -59.
Step 11
Add an adjustment layer Color Balance (Color balance) and customize Midtones (Mid Tones):
Step 12
Using the adjustment layer Curves (Curves) we increase the saturation of the shadow on the rose inside the eye.
10. Add a watercolor effect.
Step 1
At the bottom of the document, paste the image Watercolor 1 and change its blend mode to Multiply (Multiplication) with opacity 100%. Use the mask to remove the white areas on the watercolor texture. Place the layer under the skull, just above the background texture.
Step 2
In the same way, add the image Watercolor 2. Place it in the middle of the working canvas.
Duplicate the layer and rotate it slightly clockwise (Ctrl + T). Apply a layer mask to the copy and edit it to make the effect softer.
Step 3
On the right eye, insert the image Watercolor 3 and hide the white areas with the mask. This layer must be above the previous ones.
Step 4
Apply a correction layer to the texture of the watercolor on the eye hole. Curves (Curves) to make the effect brighter and more contrast.
Step 5
Duplicate this layer and place a copy on the black hole under the left cheek.
Step 6
Apply adjustment layer Hue/ Saturation (Hue / Saturation) to change the color of the watercolor to green.
Step 7
Paste the image of Watercolor 4 on the working canvas and hide the white areas with a mask.
Apply adjustment layer Curves (Curves) to change the color of the effect.
Step 8
Now open the set with watercolor textures. Watercolor 5. Use the textures shown in the screenshot below (you can choose others if you like). Insert them on each side of the skull.
We apply to them the blending mode Multiply (Multiplication) and using the mask we get rid of white areas.
Step 9
Apply a correction layer to the texture on the right side. Hue/ Saturation (Hue / Saturation):
Step 10
Apply adjustment layer to the left texture Hue/ Saturation (Hue / Saturation) with different settings:
Also apply a correction layer to the left texture. Curves (Curves) to reduce the visibility of the effect.
11. Add halftone and mesh
Step 1
Choose one of the images with halftones and add it to the bottom of the skull. Blend Mode Change to Soft Light (Soft light) with 100% opacity. By means of a mask, the visibility of the texture is adjusted.
Step 2
Duplicate this layer and move the copy to the upper right side of the skull.
Using the adjustment layer Invert (Inversion) brightens the texture.
Step 3
Double duplicate the texture together with the adjustment layer, move one copy to the upper left part of the skull, and the second to the lower left one. Due to this, all elements of the composition will look as one.
Step 4
Choose any picture with a grid and place it on the left side of the skull. Change mesh blend mode to Soft Light (Soft light) with 100% opacity. If you wish, you can duplicate the resulting effect and transfer the copy to other parts of the skull.
Step 5
Apply adjustment layer to all layers with a grid Invert (Inversion).
12. Final touches
Step 1
At the very top of the layers panel add a new layer. With a soft brush using the color # d4c7a9 we randomly draw spots on the working canvas in those places that we want to lighten a little. Change the blending mode of the spotted layer to Soft Light (Soft light) with 100% opacity.
Step 2
Create a new layer and fill it with the color # 020b22. Change the blending mode of this layer to Exclusion (Exception) with opacity 100%.
Step 3
Add an adjustment layer Color Balance (Color balance) and customize Midtones (Mid Tones).
Step 4
Using the adjustment layer Curves (Curves) increase the brightness of the picture. Soft black brush with Opacity (opacity) 20-25% edit the mask of the adjustment layer by painting over the edges of the document to get a slight vignette effect.
Congratulations, you’re done!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and learned something new.
