How to Draw Jessie J

Jessie J is like a hot fire leaving a sizzling track of flames behind her. She’s amazing and I’m glad to do a tutorial on this extremely talented woman. She’s an English singer and songwriter. She first sparked a flame when she began writing tracks for Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, and Christina Aguilera. Can you imagine that? And in January 2011, the fiery track hasn’t ceased! She won the prestigious Critic’s Choice award at the Brits.

She also co-wrote the song “Party in the U.S.A.” for Miley Cyrus. And I even know that song! Like the flames ignited from the “Back To The Future” car, her début single, “Do It Like a Dude”, sizzled at number-two on the UK Singles Charts. The second single “Price Tag”, which features rapper B.o.B, became Jessie J’s first number-one single after it charted at number one for two consecutive weeks in the UK Singles Charts on 6 and 13 February 2011.

Her début album, Who You Are, is set to be released in February 2011 in the UK and April in the US. Can you imagine what kind of flames will ignite on that album? Please vote, fav, and comment because I always look forward to how far you’ve come and how you feel. Much love to you all!

We are starting with a short study of the head and where to place the features. The actual drawings start at STEP 5. This outline of the head helps you place the eyes, which is in the center between the top of the head (don’t include the hair) and the chin. Novices tend to draw the eyes to high on the head.

Notice the “Top of Head” line. Looking at a live subject, normally the top of the head is an inch higher than the hairline. LITTLE TIP: And when you draw the hair, it is normally an inch higher or more than the top of the head. So cool! The features are divided into thirds. From HAIRLINE to EYEBROWS & TOP OF EARS.

The center 1/3rd is from EYEBROWS & TOP OF EARS to BOTTOM OF NOSE & EAR LOBES. The last 1/3rd is from BOTTOM OF NOSE & EAR LOBES to CHIN. Look at the lines and notice how these features are level to their respective lines. Artists and friends, this practice makes perfect. However, some individual faces may vary slightly, but not that much.

You can further divide the bottom area of the face into thirds: BOTTOM OF NOSE & EARS LOBES to the CHIN. From the BOTTOM OF NOSE & EAR to the center of MOUTH is the first one-third. The second one-third section is from the center of MOUTH to Above Chin. The third one-third (tongue-tied!) section is from Above Chin to CHIN.

Edit pictures to add dashes and place information for tomorrow evening.

Start out with the outline.

Divide it in half.

Looks like Tron!

Pincushions for fingers!

Now we’re getting them mass shapes in.

She’s coming to life.

Now I’m slow shading her in. If you still have the guidelines in, go ahead and erase them. I’m doing something new here. You’ll get a step-by-step development of shading, darkening, adding more details.

Here’s the first step without the guidelines. Notice her nails aren’t filled in and her hair isn’t as dark and detailed. Also, her outfit isn’t shaded in either.

I’m basically taking the natural steps of filling in my outlines and making Jessie J look more like herself!

Start on the rest of her hair and outfit. Darken.

Here is a great way to highlight. Use that Acrylic Titanium White. It’s opaque and will cover the gray or black. Use it on the catchlights in her eyes. and especially on her lips if you can’t detail the rose pattern.