How to Draw a Semi Realistic Portrait

Reviewed by Mark Weiser

Last Updated: August 6, 2024

Semi realism is an art form that seeks to combine realistic and stylized depictions of a living being or scene. In this article, you'll learn how to draw a semi realistic portrait using a computer program. The example in this tutorial uses Photoshop CS5 but you can most likely apply the same principles to a similar program.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Semi-realistic Lady

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Draw 3 horizontal lines: one at the top of the head, another on the lower 1/5 of the circle, and the last one at the jaw line. The space between the first line and the second line should be equal to the space between the second line and the last line.

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The ears should be placed just touching the second line. The chin should not go beyond the last line.
You can experiment on it as you like. Just remember that the hair should be drawn outside the circle as not to look weird.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Semi-Realistic in Photoshop

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Select Preset > International Papers > A4. Set the resolution at 300 pixels per inch. Next, open a reference photo in another window.
Take the Brush tool (B) with a recommended size of 10 pixels and change the colour from black to a bright colour. The reason for doing this is that you want to be able to differentiate the line art from the sketch lines. Sketch out the shape of the person, ignoring such details as the face and patterns, only drawing a basic outline of the clothes.
Draw in details such as buttons of clothes and creases in fabric.
Change the layer colour to red to help you find this layer quickly in the future. Turn the brush size to 15px and change the colour to black––the shortcut for this is (D). If using a tablet, click Window > Brush > Shape dynamics > control and select 'Pen Pressure'. With your sketch lines visible underneath, draw more defined lines over the top. The sketch lines will be rougher and line art needs stronger lines, so be confident.
Create a new layer called 'skin' and drag it so it's underneath the 'line art' layer. This way the line art is on top of your skin tone. Change the brush to a large size, recommended 140px-370px, and choose a suitable skin tone. This can be done by clicking the colour chooser at the bottom of the left hand tool bar or by clicking Windows > Swatches. Then colour all the exposed skin; it doesn't matter if the colour is outside of the lines. Zoom in close and go around after with the eraser (E)35px to clean up any lines.
The easiest way to add colour to clothes is to think about the order of the clothes on the body. For example, shoes go over socks, so the shoe layer goes over the socks layer. Create a new layer for each item of clothing and repeat the process used for skin.
To add colour to the face is easy. Separate the face into layers. For example, lips, teeth, eyes, eye colour and makeup.
In the example piece there is a shiny belt buckle. To colour a shiny item there are a few possible ways to do so. One is to create a new layer and colour the item grey or yellow and shade as you would for the rest of the piece. Or, if you are using Photoshop, create a new layer colour the item grey or yellow and select Windows > Styles and select a metallic style; the style will only affect what's drawn on the layer.
The top in the example shown here is striped. The easiest and most time efficient way to paint something like stripes is to lock the layer. At the top of the layer box, you will see that there is the word 'Lock:' and a checked box next to it. By clicking this box it locks the layer, meaning that whatever is on that layer cannot by destroyed but can still be drawn upon. Draw carefully the stripes onto the top using the 'Undo' ctrl + z to reverse mistakes, as the eraser cannot by used. Another way of doing this is by making a new layer called 'stripes', by ctrl + clicking the layer icon for the 'top'––a dashed line appears, meaning that the layer is selected. By clicking back onto the 'stripes' layer it means that the selection is on the 'stripes' layer but still in the shape of the 'top' layer. You can draw stripes onto the dress but can still use the eraser.
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Add shading. Shading a piece correctly is very important for ensuring that the outcome appears semi-realistic. For each layer made (except for Line art and Sketch lines), make a new layer called 'Layer name shade' above it. Using the 'skin' layer as an example, using the eyedropper tool (I or B+alt), select the colour of the skin (that colour should be in the colour chooser), then choose a colour a little darker than the original. Set the brush to 0% hardness and 40% opacity.
- Using the technique mentioned earlier in the 'Patterns' step, select the 'skin layer and then draw onto the 'skin shade' layer. Try not to take the brush off the page as the next time the brush touches the page it creates a double opacity.
- When drawing shadows, keep changing the colour a little bit, making it darker with each layer, so as to build up the shade.
- When drawing highlights, such as the end of the nose or cheeks, select the 'base' colour and change it to a slightly lighter colour, and repeat the process used when shading darker. Remember that unless a person is in strong light or wet/shiny, there will always be less highlights than shadows.
- Repeat this process for every layer.
A background is not always necessary and sometimes a subtle gradient effect is the best. By double clicking the background layer it should unlock, by double clicking again Layer options > gradient effects.

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What if I have a maximum of 3 layers and can't afford a better drawing program?

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There are plenty of free drawing programs out there that don't limit your layers! Medibang and FireAlpaca are nice choices, and while Paint Tool SAI isn't free, it does offer a 30 day trial.

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How do I do shading for a semi realistic portrait?

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Imagine a light source in your drawing, think about all of the places where the light would hit (parts of hair, parts of nose, glare in eye). Also take shadows into consideration, such as hair or the nose. Look at images of light hitting the face as another reference.

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How do I make her look less evil?

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Change the shape of the eyebrows to more of a semi-curve rather than an S shape. Additionally, you may make the smile larger or make the eyes squint a little in a smile. You can also shade the face for rounder cheek bones.

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Tips

If having trouble when erasing colour outside the line, change the background to a vibrant colour such as green so that any mistakes or gaps in the paint will stand out.

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Keep zooming out from the work every now and then, check the piece as a whole and then zoom back in to continue working.

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Familiarise yourself with the keyboard shortcuts and it makes work a lot faster and easier:
- Zoom in (Z) Zoom out (Z+alt)
- Brush(B) and colour eyedropper (B+alt)
- Eraser (E)
- De-select (Ctrl+D).
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Warnings

Always check what layer is selected before drawing. The selected layer is shown in blue in the layer window on the right.

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Only use photographs that you have permission to use.

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