Drawing a sports car - detailed tutorial

In this tutorial we'll explain step by step how to draw a sports car. Since most of the work is done through pen tool we have included a flash clip where you can see how to work with pen tool. Lets start by creating a new file. Select pen tool.

Check from the top bar if Shape layers is selected or not. Whenever you want to draw something using pen tool, shape layers should be selected from the top bar.

Using pen tool draw a shape as shown below. if you are new to pen tool, have a look at the flash clip below. Also notice a few instructions below the flash clip.

From layer palette reduce the opacity to 34%. We'll keep the opacity of rest of the layers too at the same level so that one can see the layers below while drawing.

In next few steps keep on following the shots below and draw parts of the car using pen tool.

Now we'll draw headlights of the car. Draw a rectangle using rectangle tool.

Select direct selection tool and click on one of the nodes to select it.

drag the node towards right bottom. Select other nodes and drag to create the shape shown below.

Press Ctrl+J to duplicate the layer. Press Ctrl+T, Right click and select flip horizontal. Move it to the other side.

Again select the nodes and drag to convert to the shape shown below.

Using pen tool create a shape on one side of the car as shown below.

Now let's draw side view mirror. Using rectangular shape tool draw a rectangle.

Select nodes and move to create a shape as shown below.

Press Ctrl+J to duplicate the layer. Press Ctrl+T, Right click and select flip vertical. Move it upwards.

Using polygon shape tool draw a triangle and place as shown below. You will have to add 3 to the number of sides on top bar to create a triangle.

Using ellipse shape tool drawn an ellipse for the wheel.

Select rectangle tool. Enable subtract from shape area at the top bar and draw a rectangle.

Using ellipse shape tool draw another ellipse for the wheel.

Select pen tool. Enable subtract from shape area at the top bar and draw a shape like shown below.

Press Ctrl+J to duplicate the layer. Scale it down a bit. With subtract from shape area still selected draw a few ellipses to create holes in wheel cover.

Create an ellipse for the rear wheel.

Duplicate the wheel layers on front side. Squeeze it a little and place over the rear wheel.

Using pen tool draw a couple of shapes as shown below.

Create some thin shapes using pen tool. Follow the shots below for their shape and placement.

Our car model is almost done. Now we have to fill it with colors and styles. In layer palette hide the layers from top till bottom. Keep selecting each layer in layer palette, change opacity back to 100%. Select foreground color and press Alt+Del to fill the layer with that color. I filled the main body layer with yellow color.

Double click the layer in layer palette to open layer style window. Adjust the settings as shown below.

Fill the main windows with black color.

Fill the small side windows with dark gray color.

Fill the front shape with a darker shade of yellow.

Double click the layer in layer palette to open layer style window. Adjust the settings as shown below.

Lets work on headlight now. Rather than filling it with a color we'll apply a layer style. But before that make sure you change the opacity of this layer to back to 100.

Double click the layer in layer palette to open layer style window. Adjust the settings as shown below.

Right click this layer in layer palette and select copy layer style.

Select the other headlight layer. Right click and click paste layer style.

Fill the side view mirror and other shapes with colors shown below.Use a slightly darker shade of yellow for the side shape we created on car body.

Double click the layer in layer palette to open layer style window. Adjust the settings as shown below.

Repeat the steps for rear wheel.

Fill the front shape with black color.

Double click the layer in layer palette to open layer style window. Adjust the settings as shown below.

Apply same effect on the other side shape.

Select the thin streak layer we drew using pen tool and fill with light brown shade to finalize the car.