Welcome to this tutorial on drawing delicious food! In this guide, we’ll explore the entire process, from sketching to adding those mouthwatering details that make your illustrations pop. We’ll also cover the essential tools and techniques you'll need to achieve stunning results. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this tutorial will help you bring your culinary creations to life on the page. Let’s get started and unleash your inner food artist!
Our drawing for today: TUNA NIGIRI! We’ll focus on capturing the vibrant colors and smooth textures of the tuna itself. Let’s bring this delicious dish to life on the canvas!
Setting Up Your Canvas
To set up your canvas, start by clicking the draw symbol to access the canvas settings.
While there are several ways to create a new canvas, setting it up is actually simple:
CANVAS
\ Preset
Choose from the preset options by sliding the panels. Click on your chosen canvas.
Custom Size
Tap on the (+) button if you want to customize your canvas dimensions then click on create canvas.
Advanced Settings
This option allows you to input your own dimensions along with other settings, such as resolution (higher DPI for better quality), color, timelapse, and more. This option will lead you to the Studio Mode.
All these methods will lead you to the drawing interface. After that, we can start drawing!
Drawing Process:
The drawing process can be divided into four essential steps:
Sketch
BaseColors
Values
Details
a. Sketch
When starting the sketching process, many artists find food easier to draw than portraits, primarily because food doesn't require capturing an exact likeness or emotion. Instead, you can focus on the shape without the pressure of strict proportions.
Create a sketch with an outline that's clear enough to be recognized as your chosen food. It doesn't need to be perfectly clean, and the proportions don't have to be precise. This approach allows for more creative freedom and makes the process enjoyable!
I don’t usually spend too much time polishing my sketch because I find it easier to add details during the later stages. This way, I avoid hyper-focusing on just one area and save time by refining it as I paint over. Instead, I spend a few extra strokes to add variety to the shape, ensuring it doesn’t look flat or unrecognizable.
SKETCHING BRUSH
In this app, you have a variety of brushes to choose from. Personally, I prefer using a pencil brush because it feels more casual and laid-back, mimicking the experience of traditional sketching.
QUICK TOGGLE BRUSH>ERASER (on smartphones)
Since we’re sketching, there’s a handy feature below the canvas that allows you to switch between the brush and eraser with just one click. This makes it easy to refine your sketch as you go.
However, you can also explore different brushes and erasers, such as the multiple layer eraser that is very convenient if you want to erase across multiple layers.
Once you’re satisfied with your rough sketch, you can proceed to choose your base colors!
b. Base Colors
Base color is the solid color you apply to a surface before adding shadows, highlights, or details. Basically, it is the “original color” or tone of an object without the light or shadows.
Personally, I like doing my base colors on a new layer, just under the sketch layer so it can be the guide when I color my drawing.
LAYERS
To manage layers, click on the layer toggle below. Here’s how to use it:
Plus Sign
Tap it to create a new layer.
Holding and Sliding
Hold and slide a layer up or down to arrange which layer appears on top
Layer Options
Tap the layer to rename it or explore other features by clicking the icon next to it, which shows more options like opacity, blending modes, and clipping.
Choosing Colors
Choosing colors for food illustrations doesn't have to be complicated. Focus on capturing the natural tones, and remember that more saturated colors make the food look vibrant and appetizing.
COLOR WHEEL
Use the color wheel to quickly pick your preferred colors from a variety of options. Adjust the hue, luminosity, and saturation using the sliders in the wheel to find the perfect shade. Just slide and click to select.
Color Set
Create a color set to keep your palette consistent throughout your artwork. This ensures that you can easily reuse the same shades.
Color Slider
Use the color slider to fine-tune your choices, giving you more control over the exact properties of your colors.
For my illustration, I selected colors slightly above the middle range on the color picker—keeping them not too saturated (yet). This allows me the flexibility to adjust and refine the colors later when I begin adding details.
FILL TOOL
While you can use the brush tool, a faster option is the Fill Tool, which lets you color large areas quickly with just a few steps. There are a few options to do this:
Enclose and Fill
Draw a closed shape, and it automatically fills with your selected color.
Fill with Tap
Tap inside any enclosed area to instantly fill it with color.
A great way to keep your coloring neat is by using the Selection Area Tool in lasso mode. Simply trace around the area you want to color, creating a boundary. Once that’s done, tap inside the selection using the Fill with Tap tool to quickly fill it with your chosen color. This technique helps you stay within the lines and makes the process super easy!
SELECTION AREA
It is a feature that allows you to isolate specific parts of your artwork for coloring, editing, or detailing. I mainly use it along with the fill tool to create solid colors and edges on my drawings where clear boundaries are needed. Also, it is an efficient tool to block out the shapes of your lights and shadows.
Lasso Tool
For freehand selection, choose the lasso option. This lets you draw around the area you want to select, giving you precise control over the shape.
Rectangle and Circle
For a clean, straight-edged selection to create rectangular and circular shapes
Of course, a classic brush like a Round or Gouache brush can also do the job just fine!
After that, we can now proceed with laying out our lights and shadows.
c. Values (Lights and Shadows)
Values refer to the lightness or darkness of a color. Lighter values indicate areas where light hits, while darker values represent shadowed areas. This contrast enhances the three-dimensional feel of your artwork.
Light Source and Values
Of course, shadows are not created without a light source. We need to identify the direction of our light to understand how it interacts with the food we are illustrating.
Consider where the light is coming from—whether it’s natural light streaming through a window or the warm glow of an overhead lamp. This awareness allows us to determine which areas of the food will be illuminated and which will fall into shadow.
Light Source
Where the light comes from. Knowing its direction helps you place highlights and shadows correctly.
Highlight
The brightest spot where light hits directly, adding shine and making the object pop.
Half Tone
The middle tone between light and shadow—helps blend highlights and shadows smoothly on an object.
Terminator
The line where light and shadow meet on an object, marking the end of light and the start of shadow.
Core Shadow
The darkest part of the shadow on the object, furthest from the light source, giving it more depth.
Cast Shadow
The shadow an object throws onto a surface, getting softer as it moves away from the object.
Ambient Occlusion
This is where light can’t reach well, like corners or tight spaces, making soft shadows that add depth.
Bounce Light
Light that reflects off nearby surfaces and softly lights up parts of the object from another angle.
Reflected Light
A soft light within the shadows, caused by light bouncing off other objects and adding more depth.
For our drawing, the light source is overhead but angled slightly.
By simplifying the value sphere with solid lines that mark each area of light and shadow (like the ones mentioned above), we can more easily block in our shadows. This method breaks the sphere into clear sections:
Color Test For Shadows
Before diving into forming our values, I usually create a sample color for my shadows on a separate layer. I set this layer to Multiply and apply a single block of color over the areas that will be in shadow. To simplify, think of the object as having only two colors—white for the lit areas and black for the shadows—so you can easily define the shadow regions.
For the shadow color, I like to choose a complementary color to make the food stand out more. If the food has cooler tones, warmer shadows tend to enhance the contrast and make it pop and vice versa. While this isn’t a strict rule, it’s a technique that often works well to create balance and depth in your illustrations.
I do this so I have a consistent approach for shadows across different colors. When I first started drawing, I always found myself wondering why certain shadows looked a particular way and how different colors came together. This method gives me more control and clarity when working on more complex illustrations.
Color Variety
Even though I like to keep a main shadow color for consistency, adding a variety of colors can really make the shadows pop! To do this, I choose colors that are similar, or analogous, to the main shadow color. This way, everything still feels balanced and works together, but the shadows look more lively and interesting.
I use the color picker to select the shadow for each base color and make slight adjustments to add more depth and interest to the shadows. Once I’ve got my desired shadow colors, I create a color set to maintain a color palette.
As you can see from above, the color variety swatch shows the same values when the Color Blending Mode is applied.
Adding Shadows
On the shadow layer, we can start building the shadows. I prefer to lay down the darkest shadows first, then gradually add lighter colors on top, following the form of the food. This process feels like modeling or sculpting—you’re adding layers to create depth, rather than removing material as in carving. (I find it easier to do when drawing the small details, like rice.)
We can use the value blocking reference that we made a while ago.
Impact of light on food
Getting a grip on how light interacts with different food surfaces is key to making your illustrations pop. Surface texture really changes things up—shiny surfaces like a glossy apple will have those bright, sharp highlights, while matte ones, like a loaf of bread, will show softer transitions between light and shadow.
Don't forget about the shape and volume of the food, too! Curved surfaces create those nice rounded highlights and shadows that give depth, while flat surfaces will have a more even lighting. By keeping these things in mind, you’ll capture the true essence of your food and create illustrations that really invite people in!
d. Painting Over and Detailing
This part is all about polishing our drawing by adding those finishing details. It can be the hardest stage, often requiring hours to perfect specific areas. However, there are methods to make this process easier:
Texture Brushes
One way to add details the “lazy way” is by using different types of brushes to emulate the texture of the food. This technique saves time while still achieving a realistic look, as each brush can replicate various textures, such as smooth, rough, or glossy surfaces. Experimenting with these brushes can help bring your illustration to life without getting bogged down in intricate manual detailing.
There are preset brushes available in Clip Studio Paint, but you can also add and download additional materials to expand your toolkit. This will allow more versatility in your illustrations.
DOWNLOAD MATERIALS
There are several ways to download materials:
Materials> Downloads> (+)> Search new materials
This will allow you to add from the various recommended materials by CSP. From there, you can explore a wide variety of options! When you find something you like, simply click Download to add it to your app, and a prompt will confirm the download.
Website
Or you can go to the Clip Studio Website via browser and download materials from there.
Blending Modes
You can also experiment with colors by using blending modes, which are easily accessible by clicking on the layer. This feature is particularly convenient when adding a terminator line which is the edge that separates light from shadow on an object.
Overlaying Textures
Another effective method is to import a texture image onto a new layer. Once you have the texture, set the layer to a suitable blending mode, like Overlay or Multiply, and clip it to the layer you want to cover.
If the texture doesn’t clip properly to the target layer, you can add a new layer and place a solid color on top of your target. This will create a base that allows the clipping tool to cover all the areas effectively.
IMPORT IMAGE
If you already have a texture image that you want to import, hold the (+) shown on the Layer Tool. You will be given the option to add from images.
CLIP TOOL
It can also be found under Layers. Simply click the layer that you want to clip above another layer and it will give you an option to clip.
Filters and Effects
Filters and Effects are handy tools for quickly enhancing your artwork. Use filters like Blur and Sharpen to soften edges or emphasize details, while Noise adds texture for a more traditional look. Effects such as Layer Effects and simple adjustments like Brightness and Contrast let you easily manipulate how layers interact and correct colors.
For my illustrations, I enjoy experimenting with different brushes and blending modes because it makes the process more fun. It also serves as valuable brushwork practice, helping me enhance my drawing skills. Trying out various textures and effects not only keeps things interesting but also allows me to discover new techniques that can improve my overall artwork.
Detailing doesn’t have a set method—it’s all about your personal preference! Feel free to experiment with different techniques and styles to find what works best for you. Whether you prefer fine lines, textures, or bold strokes, the key is to have fun and let your creativity shine through.
The main point is that unless you're striving for hyper-realism, you don't need to mimic every detail. Instead, aim to create strokes that imply specific details. This approach lets you utilize different tools and techniques to achieve your desired look without getting lost in the finer points.
RESULT
And that’s it! Thank you for joining me in this tutorial. I hope it helped you all improve your food illustration skills and inspired you to create your own delicious artworks. Happy drawing, I will really eat now!
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