How to draw zombies the Zombie Nation way.
I get asked how to draw zombies often enough to finally be motivated to write up a tutorial on it. I hope you like it.
The first step in how to draw zombies is to start with some decent reference material. I like to start with an image of someone so viral, so obviously in the prime of their life, and reeking of health that the idea of them becoming a horrific rotting zombie simply boggles the mind. Naturally I chose to use a picture of myself to start my zombie illustration.
Ladies (and some of you men) I know what your thinking, but I’m sorry, our love can never be as I am already married. You’ll simply have to worship me from afar.
I start by scribbling shapes out on the page simply trying to make sure I’ve got the proportions correct. At this point don’t focus on details just simple shapes. Your zombie is going to look pretty funny if he’s got a lopsided head… actually sometimes that works. The beauty of how to draw zombies is that even when you screw up it just adds to how horrific the final zombie drawing will be.
Of course given how damned handsome the original reference photo of me is, we’re going to have to work really hard to make this zombie gross looking.
Now it’s time to start working on the values of our zombie. I use a set of drawing pencil to start lightly shading in the face. I’m just putting in blocks of light and dark down. At this point I also start figuring out how I’m going to draw the rotting flesh of the zombie. If you want more reference material for wounds and gross zombie examples it’s readily available online.
This is the part of how to draw zombies that I start adding details, while further refining my values. When drawing gross zombie wounds you can’t add too many details, in fact the more wrinkles, folds, holes, and divots you add to the zombie’s face the more interesting it looks. Nothing looks more boring than a zombie with a smooth complexion and a pleasant expression. That’s what those stupid vampires are for, and vampires suck.
With the pencil drawing done I scan it into photoshop. I set my pencil layer to “Multiply” and create a layer underneath it. Wherever my zombie is I fill this area with grey. You can use photoshop’s tools to adjust your pencil drawings values at this point as well.
This is the fun part of how to draw zombies. On the grey layer I use the paintbrush set to a low opacity to start working the values up and down till I’m happy with the illustration. Often I’ll use the dodge and burn tools at the end to push the values just a little bit more for contrast. Keep in mind your light source when detailing scratches and divots. It doesn’t hurt to make your zombie’s face look like the craters of the Moon.
It’s time to add a background and make sure there is enough contrast with it and your zombie for the zombie to stand out. I like to use a textured paper background. I like the water stains on it, it looks messy.
The comic at the top is the final result. I added the text and finished the illustration off with some custom splatter brushes to represent blood, dirt, and other zombie grossness. Also I put a glow over the zombie’s eyeballs to show it’s a supernatural zombie type …. Spooky I know. 
Hope you liked that tutorial, feel free to link to this all over the interwebs, write about in your diary, possibly call your grandparents and let them know how this zombie drawing tutorial made you feel inside. (I feel warm and gooey)
I seem to have a problem with comments showing up today. Leave a comment if you have time I’m trying to test some things.
I thought I would see if posting was working. You truly are a good looking man.
Tell me about it….. No really with my fragile self esteem I need to hear that constantly. Preferably in a chorus sung to me by a throng of anxious worshipers and acolytes.
Brothers and Sisters of The Zombie Nation;
I have seen the light coming from their dead eyes and know the certainty of our futures fate! Do YOU see the Light? Fight as long and as hard as you can, they will eventually wear you down and you will join their ranks. They will find you when you’re sleeping, They will find you when you’re awake. They’ll eat you if you’re bad or good. So have fun for your sanity’s sake. Do YOU see the Light?
Do YOU see the Light?
Praises to the unholy Trinity: Cthulhu, Romero, and The Zombie Carter.
Join us now in singing “I’m Zombie and I know it” Found on page 133 of your ZN Hymn book.
“When you walk on by, you might see that I’m covered in flies!
I groan to the beat, stumblin dow the street in my new LaReek, yeah
This is how I roll, all torn clothes and rottin’ outta control,
I’m zombie and I know it!”
Heroine’s a helluva drug Hecter.
No need of drugs with all the voices in my head.
LOL Now that really got me. I laughed a lot. Thanks Hecter.
Great Tutorial Carter. The illustration is killer as well. If I get some time I may try to add some color. If you don’t mind me adding some color and you have a hi-res version you can e-mail it to me. We could do some collabs for some folks at some point.
Sure, I have no problem with that.
You make a hell of a comic and making you laugh is the least I can do to say thanks for all the hard work you put into it and the laughs we get out of it… the song idea came from my nephew. He likes the original and asked me to make a zombie version. So I’m workin on it.
That is awesome, seriously you should put music to them and put them up on youtube. You’ll be the next Jonathan Coultan.