1. Draw roughly the shape of the flame
When drawing a flame, start by sketching the shape of the flame. There are no straight lines in a flame, but waves made up of curves.
When you want to draw a large flame, remember a shape that tapers towards the top, and for a small flame, use a rounded shape that flickers less.
In the rough stage, it's important to get the overall balance and flow.
2. Select flame color
The color of the flame changes from the center outward. A typical flame is white or yellow on the inside, turning orange and red as it moves outward.
In the case of blue flames, the center is pale and the blue color spreads outward.
You can express warmth and brightness through your choice of colors, so use colors that match the characteristics of the fire you want to paint.
3. Consider the balance of light and shadow
Since fire is a source of light, it affects things around it.
Create a gradient where the area around the flame is bright and the further away from it, the darker it becomes.
The flame itself also has a shaded portion. You can paint a fire with movement by making parts of the color darker or lighter to create the illusion of a flickering flame.
4. Add realism through gradients
Gradients are important because the flames change colors smoothly.
For example, if you draw a smooth transition from yellow to orange to red, you will get closer to a realistic flame.
Using a soft brush or the blur feature of a digital tool will help create natural color transitions. If you draw the flicker of the fire in detail, you'll get a more realistic effect.
5. Use highlights to emphasize the light of the flame
Finally, add some highlights inside the flame to create a glow.
You can make a flame look like it's burning intensely by adding white dots or lines inside the flame or in parts that are exposed to light.
You can feel the light and energy of the fire by scattering small light particles around you. It's also important to maintain balance and avoid adding too many highlights.
Summary
When painting flames, focus on the undulations of shape and the gradation of color.
You can get closer to a real flame by changing the color from the center to the outside of the flame and expressing the shine with highlights.
With lots of painting and practice, while paying attention to the balance of light and shadow, you will be able to paint a beautiful flame that is your own.