Drawing a Kokeshi Doll

Let's start the head with the Ellipse tool in the Paths mode.

Use the Direct Selection tool to make the necessary adjustments to the shape of the head.

Save this path as head.

Create a new path layer. Use the Pen tool to create the hat and then adjust as we did above.

Continue on until you have each path created as shown below.

Select the head layer. Choose a yellowish color and fill the head. Do this also for the pedestal.

At this point you can go ahead and make any paths adjustments necessary and refill with the base color.

Select the head. Move over to the Layers palette.

Apply a gradient to the head. Then select the pedestal and do the same.

With the head path selected again, use the Pen tool to draw in the hair. Save the new path as hair. Fill with black. After filling make the necessary adjustments with Direct Selection tool and refill if necessary.

Create the eyes in Paths with the Elliptical shape. Fill with black. Name the path. Then use a small brush to add to the eyes.

Create the nose and mouth with the brush. Use the Pen tool and create the brow and stroke it with the small brush using black as the color. Each brow will have to be drawn and stroked individually. Save the paths layer as brows.

Paint in some pink cheeks with a soft brush and the opacity of the color set to 37%.

On a separate path layer create the black designs for the doll by drawing them in with the Pen tool. To fill, select each path individually and fill as shown in previous steps.

Create the apron on a separate layer, adjust, and fill.

Add a new path layer and fill the pieces with green.

Create a yellow bow.

Create a couple of green leaves.

Select the hat path. Click on Load Path as Selection. Move over to the Layers palette. Select a hard edged paint brush and the color white. Paint in some flower petals. Deselect.

Add some pink petals on the hair. Add a blue center to the white petals and a yellow center to the pink petals.

Reduce the size of the brush. Change the color to yellow. Click by the flower and then hold the Shift key down and click by the little buds out by themselves. This will create a straight line for you.

Continue adding decoration.

Select the bow path. Select a good small brush and pick white. Stroke the path.

Make the head layer active. Select the Burn tool and change the setting to Shadows. Add a shadow to the bottom of the head.

With the Dodge tool lighten the top of the head.

Select the body path and make it active. Select the Burn tool and change the settings to Highlights. Add some shadow at the top and the bottom and around the edges.

With the Dodge tool set at Shadows, add some highlight to the top part of the body to replicate a shine.

When you're finished open Hue/Saturation and adjust the Saturation up to give the doll a brighter look.

To add a shadow, duplicate the layer. Select the first layer of the doll. Use the Transform Perspective and Scale to create the shadow. Fill with 50% gray then lighten the opacity of the layer.

We're done.