How to Draw Armor
Welcome, aspiring artists! We have an affinity for all things medieval, which is why we’ve curated a collection of drawing lessons centered around this theme. You can find tutorials on drawing knights and even a beginner’s guide to sketching their majestic form. Today, we will focus on the intricacies of portraying the armor of a knight. Fear not, for this lesson is relatively simple, so let’s dive right in.
Step 1: Laying the Foundation
Despite the fact that we will be drawing armor and not a complete figure, we must follow the same initial steps as we would for any figure drawing. Let’s start by choosing a pose. Next, sketch out the head using a circle and draw the basic body lines.
Step 2: Adding Depth and Shape
In the second step, it’s time to bring our figure to life by adding volume. Use cylinders to outline the neck, arms, and legs. Employ circles to trace the shoulders, elbows, and knees. Sketch out the pelvis, hands, and feet. You may recognize this figure from our previous beginner’s guide to drawing knights, but this time we’ll be focusing on more intricate details and shading.
Step 3: Adding Intricate Details
Moving on to the knight’s armor, let’s begin with the helmet. Add a couple of lines to indicate the center line of the face and the eye level. Outline the lower part of the helmet, followed by the shoulder pads, knee pads, elbow pads, and gloves. Notice how the knight’s armor tapers at the waist before expanding.
Step 4: Crafting the Helmet
Now, let’s focus on perfecting the knight’s helmet. Erase the guidelines for the head. Trace the lines of the helmet and create openings at the front. Don’t forget to add the lower lines of the helmet. It’s fascinating to compare this helmet with the one we drew in our previous knight drawing tutorial.
Step 5: Sculpting the Torso
In this step, we’ll work on the armor’s torso. Remove any remaining guidelines from the torso. Define the lines of the torso and draw the belt. Below the belt, add the tasset to protect the pelvis. Lastly, draw horizontal lines on the tasset to enhance its appearance.
Step 6: Detailing the Arms
Now, let’s shift our focus to the armor’s arms. Erase the guidelines. Don’t forget to draw the gloves and elbow pads. Feel free to add additional elements to the arms, or even create your own unique design. Keep in mind that the elements of knights’ costumes varied across different times and cultures.
Step 7: Perfecting the Legs
In this step, we’ll repeat similar actions with the knight’s legs. Erase any unnecessary lines and outline the legs. Add desired elements to the legs, and don’t forget to draw lines on the feet. Some of these elements serve a practical purpose, while others are purely aesthetic.
Step 8: Adding Depth and Shadows
To give the knight’s armor a realistic touch, it’s time to add shadows. Use light hatching techniques to create a metallic shine on the armor’s components. Draw chainmail by crisscrossing lines in the groin area. Lastly, add a drop shadow beneath the knight’s armor.
Feel free to share this tutorial on drawing knight armor with your friends. Don’t forget to follow us on social networks and share your thoughts in the comments section below. Happy drawing!
Source: paintxwiki.com