Introduction:

Flames take various forms. A flame in a normal form will be drastically changed when a flame is in movement. Especially when we draw flame as a magical effect in fantasy settings . In this Tut I'll introduce you to various forms of flames and how to draw them .

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Simple fire :

Let's start from learning to draw the simplest form of flames. Once you know how to draw this it'll be much easier to draw other forms of flame. Even though this is a simple form this kind of flame is drawn most commonly. Especially if you're a comic artist you will be using this flame in a lot of situations. Often drawn as bonfire, magic element, torch, light etc.

Let's start with a sketch. Draw a lot of curvy lines to show the flow of the flame while avoiding straight lines. The top edges will usually have a hook shape. The center flame will usually be the longest while the rest will be shorter. 

Create a new layer and using a reddish orange color draw the silhouette of the flame using the sketch as a guide . Once done disable the sketch layer. 

Fix the silhouette of it has any crocket lines. 

Now in the flame layer enable the lock transparent. This way we can add details inside the flame without worrying about going out of flame . 

Now using yellow color draw inside the flame. Basically follow the same shape flow of the flame. Then using a light color we will draw the inner most layer of the flame . 

Now take a blur brush and blur out the lower area so that it has that transition from white to yellow to red and to give it that flame effect. 

Create a new layer below the flame . Select a yellow color and Using an airbrush brush it around the flame and set the layers blending mode to color dodge

Now duplicate the flame layer . Fill it in with red color . Disable the lock transparent. 

Then go to filter > blur > gaussian blur . Adjust the strength and click on ok . Now change the blending mode of the layer to color dodge. This will give the fire the glow. 

This simple flame has it own variety. Only the shape of the flame change other than that the color remains the same . So u can customise the flame as you like. 

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Fire explosion:

A fire explosion is a rapid release of energy and burst of flames . They can be oval and pointed , curvy representing the intense release of energy . The flames sparks are ejected from the center while surrounded by smoke. Smoke is very important since it adds the depth . I'll showing you two types of fire explosion. One will be on the air free of anything hindering with the explosion. The other flame explosion will be on the ground. 

Fire explosion type 1 in air :

Start off by creating the silhouette of the flame using a maroon color. It's very simple draw alot of bubbles shape and then draw some spikes emitting from the sides. Alot of spikes. Make sure to vary the size and shape of the bubbles and spikes to create the sense of movement and intensity. Draw some small dots scattered around the flame .

Now take a orange/ red color and imitate the silhouette shape but smaller.

Now using a yellow color draw inner zone of the explosion which will be irregular, jagged and somewhat scattered.

Now using a white color we will draw the inner most zone of the explosion which will have this start like shape indicating the center of explosion . The white will be scattered throughout the flame.

Now create a new layer below the flame . Here we will draw the smoke. Fire explosion produce significant amount of smoke. The smoke can be cloudy , swirling shape and drawn in a way that suggests it's flames movement . 

Duplicate the flame layer and set its blending mode to color dodge. 

Fire explosion type 2 in ground :

This explosion of flame takes place in the ground so most of the explosive flames and smoke will spiral upward. And it's super easy to draw   

Start by drawing the flame of explosion it will have this point edges overall . Almost like a thunder. draw some individual sparks to show the intensity. 

Then using a white color draw the innerzone which will basically follow the same pattern as the yellow flames. 

Now create a new layer below for the smoke. Here we will draw the smoke in red and oranges since the explosion of flames will reflect on the smoke changing its color. The shape of the smoke will be big, combined circles. Then take a darker color to add details to the smoke . 

Now create a layer above all and here we will draw the dust particle around the explosion caused due to its intensity. It will have this scattered particle pattern and the movement like it's moving around the explosion . 

Finally duplicate the flame layer and set it's blending mode to color dodge. 

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Fire tornado :

If you're creating a comic involving action and magical fantasy . You need to know how to draw a fire tornado. This will create such an visually amazing panels. Fire tornado is composed of flame the spiral , propelled by wind. 

Start by the basic silhouette of the tornado. Emphasize the sense of motion by incorporating swirling line. Often widen towards the base and top. While tapering in the middle. Enable the lock transparent. 

Take an airbrush then using a red color brush the middle areas of the tornado this will create depth . 

A normal flame movement can't be used in a tornado since it's swirling in high speed , the shape will change . Instead we will draw flames in yellow color as these irregular lines that show the motion and speed of the tornado.

Blur the yellow lines to make the movement look smoother. 

Add more details around the tornado. Some swirling lines and few dust particles. 

The ground in which the tornado takes place in will have some cracks and particles that will swirl around. 

Finally create a layer below the tornado and set the blending mode to color dodge. Using a orange airbrush color around the tornado to give it that glow. 

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Fire emission :

Fire emission basically are flames coming out of something . Often seen coming out of fire guns or hand ( if it takes place in a fantasy ) called as fire bending. 

This type of flames comes in different forms in itself. According to the speed and pressure the emission can change. so if your drawing a illustration or comic that involves fire emission or fire bending this how you can draw it easily 

Flame type 1:

This type flame will have flame emitting in a good speed and at the end the flame will lose its speed and so the flame will twirl around creating this cloud of flames.

We're going to start by drawing the outline of the flame using a red color pen . We will start by the irregular straight line from the gun . Straight lines because the flame is at speed here . 

Towards the end we will have some curvy line creating this cloud like shape . Draw some curved lines at the inner zone to create more detail. 

Around this area draw some flames flaring out .

Now create a layer below and fill in the whole thing with yellow color. 

Using a white color draw the innerzones of the flames. 

Once done combine both the outline and fill in layer .

Duplicate the flame layer . Then go to filter > blur > motion blur . Change the angle to the angle where the fire is emitting . Adjust the strength then click on ok. 

Now using an airbrush and select transparent . Erase the areas where you don't want the blur.

Fire emission type 2:

This type of fire emission travels in high speed that's why the start is sharp and point instead of being cloudy like the previous one. 

Let's take a orange color and start to draw from the starting point of the emission which will be pointy like this and will have sparks around it .almost like the parks are falling out from the starting point due to speed. 

Now create a layer below and using a yellow color we will fill in the flame with irregular straight lines .

Draw some detail around the emission with that we're done. 

Fire emission type 3:

This type of emission has an explosion effect as soon as it comes out of the hand / gun it will blast emission which will create this Sparke and lot of smoke around it. This kind of flame emission can be kind of tricky to draw since the smoke will have it's natural color of grey but also some orange and yellow since the flame emitted will reflect it's light in the smoke too making it appear yellow orange .

We're gonna start by drawing the smoke at the start of the emission. Which have this scattered effect as the pressure and speed of emission will make the smoke scatter.  

Midway through will have alot of smoke especially in the middlezone. 

By the end of it we will draw smoke more in natural shape which is cloud like since the smoke is no longer near the explosive part .

We will create a new layer above and take yellow color and draw these bubbles. 

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Lave flame:

A flame in a liquid can be considered a lava. I often see magical themed comic having a Character who can control flame so what not lava. If you don't know how to draw lava here’s how

Lava has the same color scheme as the flame but the only difference is the fluidity of lava . It has thick, glow appearance and have smooth texture. Lava can appear glow due to its high temperature.

to draw a lava, start from creating its silhouette. remember lava is a liquid form but not as light as water its rather thick so it will have thick edges and the shape of the edges can be drawn in a droplet shape to indicate the liquid form. and also draw some splashes also in droplet shape

then take a air brush and choose a dark red color which we will brush in the mid regions of the lava to create the depth.

create a new layer above and clip it to the layer below . now take a yellow color and outline the lava.

then with the same color we will draw theses curvy lines indicting the flow of the lava.

duplicate the lava layer and set its blending mode to color dodge to create the glow effect.

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Hair flame :

f you're drawing fantasy world where you're character has a flame for hair this one is fo you . There are some points to remember when drawing a character's hair as flame . Fire is often associated with passion , power and intensity. The character with fire like hair can be used to convey these qualities. Showcasing a fiery nature .

Fire and it's flow are ever changing so capturing the flow and movement of flames in the characters hair is essential

Start from the roots and draw some curving , swirling and flickering lines to create the motion with in the hair .

The edges can have the same shape as the simple fire that we learnt before. 

Now using a yellow color imitate the same shapes and flow. And that's it .

We can even change the motion of the flamy hair according to the characters mood. Like if the character is angry we can shape the flames like the fire explosion. Symbolizing that the character is exploding from anger. 

If the character is shy or happy we can draw more curls in the flames to show it's softness and to match the characters mood. 

Or droopy lava flames to show that the character is sad or upset. 

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flaming sword

if you're drawing a flaming sword there are some characteristics to keep in mind. when visualizing the flames spiraling around the sword, think of fire as a fluid element that can flow and wrap itself around the blade. the flame should curve and twist following the sword while adding the sense of movement.

start by sketching the basic framework for the sword shape. draw the spiraling flame around the sword. using a curved line that wrap around the blade . make the flames and more intense towards the tilt of the sword , gradually tapering off while moving towards the tip

draw the lineart’

 

 

fill the color of the sword

then lets color the flames its quite simple