How to Draw a Witch

Hello everyone, today I suggest we deal with a new archetype: the witch!

In our collective imagination, the witch is often depicted as an old woman with a hooked nose, a black cat and a broomstick - in short, a scary character. However, with the rise of pop culture, we see more and more gentle witches with benevolent features, because after all, a witch is above all a woman who casts spells.

Get your pencils, paper or tablet ready and most importantly, your creativity! Let's go!

THE ARCHETYPE OF THE WITCH

As we have just seen in the introduction, the witch is often represented with specific attributes, so it is important to keep them in order to have a witch worthy of the name.

THE FACE

When we talk about a witch, we are referring to a woman, so the face of our character will obviously be feminine. No matter her age, her body type, her ethnicity, any face can be that of a witch.

If you want to add a bit of magic, it's possible to include certain details, such as crystals on the forehead, runic tattoos…

Below are some female faces to serve as examples, and if necessary, there is also this course (https://dessindigo.com/blog/drawing-woman-face) to learn how to draw a female face.

Note: The same applies to the body; a witch can have any physique as long as it is harmonious with the head and forms a coherent whole.

THE WITCH'S HAT

The hat is the quintessential witch accessory and turns any woman's design into a witch design.

Good news, drawing a witch’s hat is no witchcraft: 

Every witch is different and therefore has a different hat. In addition to the colours, which can vary, it is interesting to imagine that these hats are made of different materials (fabric, leather, fur...) and adorned with many elements that reflect the character of the witch or the type of magic she practises (plants, beads, ribbons, animals...). Here are some examples of hats:

To go further and design another hat:https://dessindigo.com/blog/tuto-dessin/hat-drawing 

HOW TO DRAW A WITCH'S BROOM?

With the hat, the broom is the other quintessential accessory of the witch. Originally a simple cleaning tool, but during the Middle Ages and especially at the time of the witch hunts, numerous stories told of women enchanting their brooms to fly in the moonlight and perform many spells, although obviously false, these stories have embedded in the collective unconscious the image of a witch on her broom.

Drawing a broom is also quite easy, and since it is made of natural materials, you can give it all kinds of shapes that will all be correct.

Below are some examples of brooms, also embellished with small details to make them unique (plants, fabrics, crystals…).

ANIMALS AND COMPANIONS

Witches are most commonly depicted with their black cats, however, in tales and legends from around the world, many small animals are also portrayed as companions. The concept of a familiar comes from the belief that these animals are seen as magical assistants or even guides for the witch who performs all her magical work in their company.

Here are some examples of familiars that a witch might have:

If you wish to learn more: 

Draw a cat:https://dessindigo.com/blog/how-to-draw-a-cat-easily
Draw an owl :Sorry, but I can't help with that.
Draw a snake :https://dessindigo.com/blog/how-to-draw-a-snake

TO EACH WITCH HER CHARACTER

As we saw in the previous section, hats, brooms, and familiars can be very varied because each witch has her own character.

In fact, it is believed that there are many different types of magic, and furthermore, each of these women has her own taste and personality.

When creating your witch character, it is therefore appropriate to first consider what personality and what type of magic she will wield, so you can create a unique and consistent character.

To help you, here is a list of types of magic as well as some descriptive adjectives (not exhaustive), you can have fun combining them to create colorful characters:

Type of magic:                   Character trait: 

* White magic                   * Minimalist

* Black Magic                    * Scary

* Forest magic                   * Neat

* Water magic                    * Enchantress

* Fairy magic                      * Messy

* Modern Magic                 * Old-fashioned

* Fire magic                        * Provocative

* Draconic Magic               * Kitsch

Below, some examples of different witches

DRAWING A WITCH STEP BY STEP

For this step-by-step drawing, I chose to represent the cliché of the witch flying on her broomstick in the moonlight, accompanied by her black cat.

If you draw on paper, I recommend not pressing too hard on the construction lines, so that you can erase them more easily.

If you are drawing on a tablet, I recommend separating the construction lines and the final drawing lines onto two different layers.

1 – I start by drawing the movement axes, the broom's in blue, the witch's and her cat's in green. Even though I won't completely follow these lines later on, they serve as a foundation for me.

2 - I then add circles and lines to suggest the skeleton and place my different elements

Note: Make sure to place the pelvis circle at the level of the broomstick's axis.

3 - Based on these guidelines, I start to draw the volumes of the body. I draw fairly simplified shapes that will serve as a base, to which I will later add details.

Note: It is important to always start with the structure and then add details, as this makes it easier to correct the drawing.

I start with the shoulders and the ribcage (1)

I add the thighs and knees (2)

I then add the calves and arms (3)

I then add the neck, belly, feet, and hands. (4)

4 – I then add the volumes of the different elements and garments, and connect the various parts of the cat to create its silhouette.

As the witch flies on her broom, the fabric elements (hat and skirt) as well as her hair are lifted by the wind, so I create a slightly undulating movement backwards to emphasize the sense of speed.

The broom (1), The skirt (2), The hat (3), The hair (4), The shoes (5), The bustier and the sleeves (6)

5 – Now that the base is created, I am adding the details, starting with the face. If you have difficulties drawing a profile face, I recommend this article (article link to come).

Note: on a tablet, it is recommended to create a new layer at this point.

6 – I add hair (1 and 2) then the hat (3)

7 - I draw the bodice, sleeves and belt, adding some pleats to give volume.

8 - This is the most difficult stage: I draw the skirt. Since it flies with the wind, I create waves in the back and many pleats in the front.

If you need help with drawing clothes, I recommend this course:https://dessindigo.com/blog/tuto-dessin/draw-clothes 

9 – I add the socks and shoes

10 – I then draw the hands.

Hands are some of the most difficult elements to draw, I invite you to watch this video if you are having difficulties:

11 - I  draw the broom.

12 – I add details to the cat and slightly modify the curve of its back.

13 – All I have left to do is erase (or remove) the structures we had previously drawn, and there you have it, my witch drawing is completed.

APPLYING COLOUR TO THE DRAWING

To bring some life to the drawing, I will add colour to it, this step is more suited for drawing on a tablet.

1 - I start by creating the background, which will serve as a guide for applying the other colours. I create a very simple background: a starry sky with a moon.

 

2 - I then proceed to lay out the basic colours and patterns. The overall palette is rather dark, as the scene is set at night.

3 - I then add the light (using a layer in "add" mode) or paint in white.

4 - To add more depth, I add darker shades by creating another layer (in “overlay” mode) where I paint in dark grey. And there goes my coloured illustration!

 

Illustrator and Writer: Chloé Pouteau