Railroads are one of the greatest engineering feats of all time. They are no longer the lifeline of a nation, but can still add an interesting artistic element to your artwork. Here’s how to draw a railroad!
Start by using a skecting pencil to lay out the basic route of the railroad. Think of the railroad like flowing branches. Start with the line of the main track and then follow it out, branching off with sidings, spurs and freight lines. Pay attention to the details, like slopes, curves and crossings. You’ll want to draw in the roads and rivers that the railroad intersects with.
Once you have the basic railroad line mapped out, start to build up the features around it. Draw in the bridges, stations and yards, with their platforms and switches. Use hyperboles to give your drawing more detail and make it look as realistic as possible. For example, draw a bridge so tall that it looks like the clouds are skimming against its arches.
Now it’s time to focus on the little details that make a railroad come alive. Draw in signals, fences and posts, along with light poles and discarded items like old buckets, furniture and tires. Give passengers a reason to be on the train, like a mailbag or a package. Don’t forget to draw yourself and add in some of your favorite modifiers, like fuzzy dice hanging off the back of the engine or a lucky rabbits’ foot tied to the side of the caboose.
When you’re finished, take a step back and admire your handiwork! Take a moment to add any additional details that you can think of to really make the scene come alive. Then it’s time to go all out with your choice of medium. Use markers, colored pencils and watercolors; use emotional triggers to raise each item to life. Let the railroads swirl and bump across the page, and watch as the landscape transforms.
Now that the rails and surrounding features are complete, you can use a fine liner pen to add in the final touches. Make sure to add in the perspective of the tracks, scattered with shifting shadows from passing cars. Fill in the cracks with weeds, tall grasses and flowers. Your railroad painting is almost finished!
Finally, put some color in the sky. Paint it with a beautiful sunset, or a gentle dawn. You can even make it night time and add a starlight twinkle to the tracks. With the railroad magically connecting you to a time long forgotten, all that’s left to do is to add a few inspirational sentiments.
To really make your drawing stand out, you can add a few creative touches. Include an old-timey advertisement or a historical illustration that hints at the story of the railroad. Finally, write a few powerful phrases to set the tone and make the scene come alive.
Now that you know how to draw a railroad, why not experiment with other textures and shapes? Try adding in different points of view and use different materials to discover the endless possibilities.
