How To Draw Cigarette Smoke

Everyone who wants to develop their own skills always seeks for alternative ways to improve them. In fact, you should know that the skills that you have already require constant practice. That is why you are invited to try a new challenge – to draw realistic smoke, which is not usual in everyday drawing. However, obtaining a new skill will help you find solutions for various goals you want to achieve in the future.

So here is an easy to follow step-by-step tutorial of how to draw smoke with a pencil.

Necessary Instruments

In fact, there is no necessity to use any unusual instruments which other techniques require. You will only need a simple HB pencil and pencils with softer core, like B2 and B3. Besides, you will need a sheet of paper or a paper pad where you will draw the smoke. Some stages will require additional tools such as a sharpener and a shading tool, and don't forget about the eraser.

If you are beginner, or don't know which pencil is the best for such a purpose, you may want to read a guide where you can find extended information about how to choose good wooden pencils and the differences between them.

Step 1: Basis of Smoke

As the first step, you should draw a light flow of smoke. No need to hurry, make wavy lines that are swirling upward. This will be a base for the whole picture, thus it's very important to keep the right proportion. That is why it should take up a little bit less than half of the paper placed vertically. For this particular purpose it's better to use an HB pencil.

Step 2: Add Few Wisps of Smoke

Now, it's time to draw the main flows of smoke. The same as the previous step, it requires a few flows that gradually and smoothly come out from the base, which was created in the first step. These flows should be slightly thicker than the previous ones, and then they should widen at the top without any closings at the end. For such a purpose, using a B2 pencil with a softer core will be as good as possible.

Step 3: Shading Main Streams

The next stage involves hatching the main smoke flows. At the beginning of them, the lines should be more tight and intensive, in order to achieve a darker background. At the top, the hatching should be much lighter and less intensive in order to get a lighter background. This stage also requires adding wide smog flow, which, let's say, pierces the smaller ones. For such a purpose, you may require an eraser which allows you to achieve some plain patches.

If you have no idea which eraser is best, you are invited to check out our overview of top pencil erasers.

Step 4: Draw Swirling Smoke in Upper Part

Then, you should add wider mist flows which swirl at the top of the sheet of paper. At step 4, you should depict all the flows and their moves precisely and, finally, their intertwining. As with the previous lines, these ones should be also smooth and wavy, thus, avoid any straight lines. The width of the pencil core should small, thus you are recommended to sharpen your pencil in advance.

Step 5: Additional Hatchwork

Now it's time to make the effect of real mist. Thus, this stage involves additional hatching clouds of smog. So first, you should hatch the cloud with light strokes and, then, using shading tools, shade the hatching. You should perform hatching smoothly and avoiding any accidental errors. For this particular purpose it's better to use a B2 pencil. As a result you will get light tint of mist cloud.

Step 6: Finishing Details

The last step requires adding precise details that form a firm understanding that this is a real cloud of mist. Thus, add more intensive and tight strokes and hatching. This will help to accent the smog flow outlines and make them more precise. At the top, the tint should be darkened, but avoid intensive hatching. Thus, will help achieve an effect of cloud movement and scattering smog. These effects will be easily achieved with a much softer core as B3 pencils have. In addition, applying some shading will boost the desirable effect.

Sum Up

Hopefully, this step-by-step tutorial helped you to learn how to draw flowing smog and mist clouds. However, it must be admitted that the most difficult part of this tutorial is the hatching and shading. That is why you should pay attention to these techniques and practice them. When you master them, you will definitely achieve the picture you want. And if you want to find out more about tools that will help you while you create new masterpieces – check the WoWPencils overviews, and, for sure, you'll find the best option for you.

See also how to draw smoke in this video. It might be interesting to you.