VECTOR ART – Patience is a virtue! ;-)

Open your image in Photoshop and duplicate the background layer twice.Turn off the visibility of top copy.Working on the middle copy desaturate it (Ctrl + Shft + U)Next Posterize this layer. Image >> Adjustments >>Posterize…Set the level to approximately 7 and click OK.(Levels will depend on the amount of layer you desired for the shadows)Rename this layer “Posterized”

Your layer palette should now look like the one shown above.

The posterized layer is only there as a rough guide for when you get stuck. (Personally I always find the FEATURES of the face to be a difficult and use the posterize layer to help me).

Turn the visibility ON for the “Background copy”. This way you will just see the path and colour won’t get in the way.

Change the foreground color choose a dark color of the skin for the base. Grab the pen tool making sure it is set to create Shape Layers (see image below).Make sure the new shape layer sits below the “Background Copy”.

Trace around the face making sure that you close the path (use the PosterizeLayeras your guide). Repeat the steps for the second layer up to the top layer of the face. Change the skin tone to a bit lighter and lighter to the top. See images below:

Do the same procedure for the hair:

After tracing the face, Group your layers and name it Face(To group the layers, highlight all layers and press Ctrl+G.

Add highlights for the hair. Be creative in blending the colors.

DON’T FORGET TO SAVE YOUR WORK!

Features of the Face: Nose

Still using the Posterize Layer as your guide, trace around the area of the nose and color it from lightest to the darkest. See images below. Group you layers when your done.

Now, do the same procedure for the lips.trace around the area of the lips. Change the foreground color. See image below. Group you layers when your done.

The eyes is the most complicated feature for me, please be patient in doing this. Start tracing the white area of the eyes. Take note, do not use a solid white color. Start blending your colors from the darkest to the lightest.

Trace also the eyebrows.

When done with the white area, trace the outer area and the eyelashes.

Now add the Iris..make 3 copies of the Iris. Set the colors from darkest to lightest. your image should look like below:

CONGRATULATIONS YOU’RE DONE!