Human lips are a tool for expressing emotions. Not because we speak with the help of lips, but also because they can convey an infinite number of emotions. As an artist who paints a static image, you should be able to express and show everything in one freeze frame – in your picture.
This may seem simple enough, but in most cases, it is not. You must master the anatomy of various emotions, including the technique of light and shade, textures and colors, in order to convey the mood and the main idea.
Take, for example, the same pair of lips – some of them are painted in fresh, light, natural colors, while others are made in fiery red, brilliant shades of lipstick. Just seeing the lips – you can say about the mood created!
Therefore, today we will consider the technique (among many others – each has its own technique) of creating realistic lips.
Final result
1. Various Lip Shapes
At the beginning, several standard lip shapes. From top to bottom, left column: normal lips, full lips, small lips.
Top down right column: narrow long lips, angelic lips, Hollywood lips.
2. Kind Of Lips Under A Different Angle
Different types of lips at different viewing angles:
3. Lips Expressing Different Emotions
And a few expressions!
4. Draw a Basic Drawing of Lips
Step 1
Create a new document, set the following dimensions to be 600 px wide and 400 px high, Background content (background) Transparent (Transparent), Color mode (color mode) RGB.
Once you have created a new document, name the existing layer “Skin”, select the tool Fill (Paint Bucket Tool (G), set the foreground color to # c99e7e.
Translator’s Note: Fill the “Skin” layer with the color shade # c99e7e
Step 2
Create a new layer. Name the new layer “Sketch”.
Set the foreground color to # 603521 and select the tool Brush (Brush Tool (B), set a hard round brush in the brush settings, turn on the options Opacity swings (Opacity Jitter) and Size fluctuation (Size Jitter). Draw the contour of the lips.
Translator’s Note: press the key (F5) to enter the brush settings. In the parameters Form Dynamics (Shape Dynamics) and Other dynamics (Other Dynamics), set the pen pressure in the settings Size fluctuation (Size Jitter) and Opacity swings (Opacity Jitter).
5. Add Base Color to Lips.
Next, it’s time to add color.
Assume that the light source is located at the front, at an angle of 0 degrees, for simplification.
Create a new layer, name this layer “Lip Color”. Set the foreground color to # 571b13, select a hard round brush by turning it on in the settings Opacity swings (Opacity Jitter), start adding color within the borders of the lips. A little soften the color on the corners of the lips to create a small transition with the background (with skin color):
6. Basic Lip Retouch
Step 1
Create a new layer. Name this layer “Basic Retouch”. Set the foreground color to # be4852. Choose a tool Brush (Brush Tool (B), set the rigid round shape of the brush, including in the settings Opacity swings (Opacity Jitter). Paint over the upper areas of the upper lip, as well as the middle portion of the lower lip. This will become the basis for creating a small 3D effect.
Step 2
Next, set the foreground color to # b85365. Paint over the lower part of the upper lip, as well as the upper part of the lower lip, as shown in the screenshot below:
7. Combine colors
Next, set the foreground color to # c54d59, and the background color to # 701c1e. Do not forget that the lips have a convex structure, but because If our light source is in the center, then more light will fall on the middle region of each lip.
Paint gently, retouching the middle part of the lower lip, then switch the foreground color to the background color using the ‘X’ key to create a “wrinkle” effect in the center of the upper lip.
Next, select the tool Finger (Smudge Tool), set a soft round brush. With this tool, start to combine color shades.
8. Add volume to lips and draw folds.
Step one
Set the foreground color to # 701c1e. Paint over the lower part of the lower lip to add a 3D effect.
Step 2
Next, create a new layer, and set the foreground color to # 742528.
Reduce the size of the brush to the smallest size — say, about 3 or 4 px, depending on the size of your work document — carefully draw vertical, slightly curved lines on the lower lip to recreate the folds. Almost to the end, reduce the opacity of this layer so that the folds are barely visible:
9. Add natural light.
Next, we will begin to create natural light that reflects on the lips. Natural lighting is light (the so-called color in Photoshop), which is reflected on the surface of an object, enhancing its 3D look.
Step 1
Create a new layer, name this layer “Ambient Lighting”.
Choose a tool Brush (Brush Tool (B), set a hard round brush by turning on options Opacity swings (Opacity Jitter) and Size fluctuation (Size Jitter).
Set the foreground color to # 8f503b. Paint over the lower edges of the lower lip, creating a beige effect, as in the screenshot below:
Step 2
Now, we will do the same as in the previous step, but this time, painting the upper part of the upper lip, as in the screenshot below:
10. Strengthening the 3D Lips View.
Step one
Next, set the foreground color to # 692229, and then paint over the upper part of the lower lip. Thus, we will create a pale shadow that falls on the lower lip at the expense of the upper lip. Next, select the tool Clarifier (Dodge Tool), in the settings of this tool, set a soft round brush, Range (Range): Sveta (Highlights) Exposition (Exposure): 30%. Paint the bottom lip to add a soft glow:
Step 2
Next, set the foreground color to # 9b3337. Paint over the lower part of the upper lip to add the effect of the reflection of natural light.
Set the foreground color to # d2a192, the background color to # 802424. Begin to set certain shapes to the folds in the middle of the upper lip. Press the ‘X’ key to easily switch between foreground and background color. At this stage, you can also add some soft wrinkles to the upper lip:
11. Wrinkles and lip creases.
Step one
Create a new layer, name this layer “Lip Folds”. Set the foreground color to # 490e0e, and also reduce the brush size to a few pixels. Draw vertical curved lines on the upper and lower lip, do not forget, on the lower lip, the folds should be in the center, and on the upper lip, the folds should be on the edges:
Step 2
Next, set the foreground color to # c88e82. Brush duplicates of the first lines using a new shade of color. (Translator’s Note: draw the same creases as in the previous step, using a different brush color). The main thing is that the bright lines should be drawn parallel to the first lines and located to the left of them. At the end, you can use the tool Finger (Smudge Tool) to soften the folds a bit. You can reduce the opacity of the layer, it is up to you.
12. Add Base Gloss
Set the foreground color to off-white, such as # f7dcde. Select a soft round brush in the settings by turning on Opacity swings (Opacity Jitter). Create a new layer, name this layer “Glitter 1”.
Randomly draw vertical highlights in the middle of the lower lip, as shown in the screenshot below:
13. Add More Glitter and Work on Details
Repeat the previous step, adding more shine, continuing to improve the folds. At this stage, I also used the correction Hue / Saturation (Hue / Saturation), let’s go Image – Correction – Hue / Saturation (Image> Adjustments> Hue / Saturation) to add more red shades to lips.
Also set the foreground color to # 3c0a0a. Paint the lower part of the upper lip, creating a shadow from the lip itself.
14. Detailing the upper lip.
So it’s time to add some love to your upper lip!
Step one
Create a new layer. Draw a blur between the two “curves” of the upper lip. Make sure that this blur is barely visible, like a faint glow. Next, on top of the blurry spot, using the same technique, draw white light highlights. Make sure to opacity / shading (opacity / fill) of this layer was set to 100%, otherwise, you will not notice the difference in the light saturation between the blurry spot and the light highlights!
Step 2
Create a new layer. Set the foreground color to #eccece and using a small hard brush, draw light folds on the upper lip:
15. Add texture to the bottom lip.
Set the foreground color to # 6f1e16. Choose a small soft round brush.
Draw soft, curved, vertical strokes on top of the bottom lip to reinforce the creases.
16. Create reflective highlights
Step one
Set the foreground color to # f8d7db. Choose a tool Pen (Pen Tool (P), in the settings of this tool, set the mode to Layer layer (Shape Layers). Create several arbitrary shapes, do not forget about the vertical direction.
Step 2
Reduce the opacity of the layer with highlights, the degree of opacity will depend on your choice – the main thing is that the highlights are slightly perceptible, as if a lot of highlights would be reflected on the lips:
17. Add the final touches to the lips.
As a final touch to the lips themselves, create a new layer on top of all other layers, change the blending mode for this layer to Lightening basics (Color Dodge). Set the foreground color to a light shade, such as # f1d992.
Choose soft round Brush (Brush (B) and with a brush, paint over the middle upper part of the lower lip, as well as the upper part of the upper lip to enhance your light highlights. Next, reduce the Fillings (Fill) layer at its discretion.
18. Paint the inside of the lips and paint the base for the teeth.
Step one
Create a new layer below the lips layer (but on top of the layer with the background, i.e. the “Skin” layer). Name this layer “Background Lip” —Yes, I know, a very creative name …..
Next, set the foreground color to # 2b0201 and using a hard round brush, paint the inner part between the lips with a dark maroon color:
Step 2
Next, create another layer, name this layer “Teeth”. Set the foreground color to # 52221d and, following the lip contour, draw the basic shape of the teeth:
19. Add parts to teeth
Step one
First, set the foreground color to # 6d4848, and the background color to # 2f0503.
Choose a soft brush of medium size, including in the settings Opacity swings (Opacity Jitter). Paint the middle of the teeth (not forgetting the convex shape). Use a darker shade to shade the outer edges. Also, reduce the brush size to just a few pixels. Paint the boundaries between the teeth so that they become more distinct:
Step 2
Next, set the foreground color to # 856262. Paint the lower edges of the teeth – especially, this concerns the two front teeth:
Step 3
Using the same color cast, add a couple of strokes to create light highlights in the following areas:
Left corners on the teeth on the right
The right corners on the teeth on the left
Step four
Finally, set the foreground color to # a18c8c. Add two highlights to the inner corners of the front teeth on the left and right:
20. Retouching basic skin
Step one
Create a new layer, place this layer on top of the layer with the background, i.e. layer “skin”.
Next, set the foreground color to # edb087, and the background color to # b35f51.
Using a large soft round brush, paint the upper half with a lighter shade of color, and the lower half with a darker shade:
Step 2
Next, set the foreground color to # f2d6ab, and the background color to # 903a39. Using the darkest shade, paint around the lower lip to create shadows that follow the shape of the lips.
Next, using a lighter shade, paint the chin, lighter shades in the center and darker on the sides:
Step 3
Next, set the foreground color to # f2d6ab, and the background color to # b76141. Draw two bends that rise from the creases of the upper lip. Glare should be much lighter, the closer to the lips and weaker, the farther, respectively.
Next, using a dark shade, draw a conical shadow between the bends, lighter at the bottom and darker at the top:
21. Combine lips with skin.
Next, set the foreground color to # 84372a, and the background color to # d78765.
Using a dark shade, paint around the corners of the lips, a darker shade in the area where there is a dividing line between the lips and a lighter shade as you move. Focus mainly on the sides and top.
Next, press the ‘X’ key to switch the foreground color to the background color. Start gently coloring around the bottom dividing line to create a depth effect:
22. Add texture to skin
Let’s go Filter – Noise – Add Noise (Filter> Noise> Add Noise). Install Distribution (distribution) Uniform (Uniform), check the box Monochrome (Monochromatic), noise intensity is about 2.5, then click OK. Next, select a brush that can be downloaded in the attached .abr file. Carefully paint the pores on the skin — switch between dark and light shades to create the best effect:
23. Selective step: draw makeup
At any moment you can go ahead and add makeup – let’s try adding makeup like that of Queen Amidala!
Set the foreground color to #ffffff. Create a new layer. Change the blending mode for this layer to Linear light (Linear Light), and also reduce the value Fillings (Fill) up to 30%.
With the help of a hard round brush of medium size, in the settings by turning on Opacity swings (Opacity Jitter), paint the upper and lower lip in the center.
Additionally paint over the center and a little on the edges:
24. We admire our work.
Mandatory action to motivate yourself to create other works!
I hope that this lesson was useful for you, and that you enjoyed this journey.
Final result
Link to attachment
Author: Alice Catrinel Ciobotaru
