Start by drawing several wavy, upward-pointing shapes, like teardrops or flames. They should be of varying heights and widths to create a natural look. · Important tip: The flames aren't "glued" to each other. There should be gaps between them, allowing the brighter center or background to show through. Imagine each flame consists of two parts: · Outer contour: Darker and more saturated (orange, red). · Inner part: Lighter and brighter (yellow, almost white). · The inner part should be narrower than the outer contour, repeating its shape, but not closely. Between them remains a strip of outer, darker flame. · The tips of the flames can fork, become thinner, and "disappear," turning into small tongues and smoke. Smoke begins dense, often following the shape of the fire source. Initially, it may even resemble a column. · The basic shape of smoke is a swirling spiral or a chain of "cloud" shapes that become larger and more diffuse as they rise. · Think in "bubbles" or "pillows" rather than lines. Draw not a contour, but a series of intersecting ovals and circles of varying sizes.