How To Draw An African

How To Draw An African
Every African is unique — some with a smile that warms your heart, others with eyes that can enchant you with a single glance. Capturing the rich diversity of this amazing continent starts with mastering the basics of drawing an African figure. No matter your level of artistic experience, with practice and a few helpful tricks you can learn to draw an African that looks just like the real thing.
Drawing an African starts with sketching the human form. Start by drawing a stick figure that has a wide stance and rounded shoulders. Make sure the figure’s head is one-third the size of the body and draw the legs slightly akimbo. This will give the figure an African look, with a proud and confident posture.
Next, draw the facial features. Start with the eyes, making them slightly slanted and almond-shaped. Add the nose and mouth and draw the lips slightly fuller than normal. Draw the ears slightly bigger too. African faces are usually slightly longer than those of Europeans, so use long curved lines to capture that in your drawing.
The last step is to draw the hair. African hair is one of the most distinctive features of the African figure. Let your pencil wander freely, so the hair gives off a natural and effortless look. Don’t be afraid to make it wild and unique — every African has their own style.
If you’re a beginner, try drawing the facial features and hair with lightly sketched out lines. Once you’re happy with your sketch, fill in those features with more bold lines. This will give your drawing a more polished finish.
When you’re feeling brave, try applying color to your drawing. A light layer of brown over the face and a darker hue of brown on the hair will really bring your work to life. Another great trick is to use a dab of red and orange on the lips to make them look full and kissable.
Practice makes perfect when it comes to drawing an African. Draw your figure up close and full-body, and use a variety of tools such as color pencils, charcoal and ink to create a finished piece of art that you’ll be proud to show off.
Next, it’s time to add some texture and shading to your African drawing. Experiment with different shapes and shading to add depth and life to your image. If you’re feeling stuck, try looking at photos of real African figures to get some inspiration.
You can also use shading to bring out the character in your drawing. Try sketching wrinkles on the forehead and around the lips and mouth to give your African figure a look of wisdom and experience.
Finally, you can complete your African drawing by adding jewelry, fabrics and other adornments. Jewelry like arm bands, necklaces, earrings and bracelets can really bring your figure to life. You can also draw clothes, head wraps and other accessories that highlight the uniqueness of the African figure.
Drawing an African is a great way to celebrate the beauty and resilience of this amazing continent. With some practice and the tips above, you’ll be well on your way to creating a picture perfect African figure. So grab your pencils, paper and colors and get started!
Adding Facial Expression
Drawing an African can be much more than just filling in features and colors — you can capture the unique and expressive nature of this amazing people! To bring out the character in your drawing, start by adding facial expressions.
A Look of Wisdom — Give your drawing an air of wisdom and experience by drawing wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. Add a slight furrow to the brow and slightly raised eyebrows to give your figure a thoughtful look. A hint of a smile adds to the wiseness, giving your African a look of confidence and assurance.
A Look of Pride — Drawing lines around the chin that curve upward gives your drawing an air of pride. You can also draw fuller lips and slightly slanted eyes to make your African figure look even more proud. Add a furrowed brow to bring attention to the eyes, and draw a hint of a smile to bring out the joy and confidence of the African people.
A Look of Happiness — To draw an African with a big smile, draw the lips slightly fuller than normal and the eyes wide open. Throw in a few giggles lines around the eyes and mouth, and give your drawing a carefree and joyous look.
A Look of Resilience — If your African is facing a challenge, draw a straight line across the forehead and a slightly furled brow to give it a look of resilience. Add a slight smile and light furrows above the eyes to bring out determination and courage.
Adding facial expressions to your drawing is a great way to capture the rich diversity of the African people. So don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with different looks to bring out the personality of your figure!
Bringing Out the Details
Bringing out the details in an African drawing can really make it come alive. Start by adding jewelry and accessories — things like earrings, necklaces and head wraps can really give your figure a unique look. For a more traditional look, draw jewelry with geometric patterns and colorful beads.
You can also draw fabric and other materials to bring out the beauty and style of African fashion. Try bold patterns and bright colors for a vibrant and exuberant look. Use shading to emphasize the texture of the clothing and bring out the unique style of African dress.
Adding jewelry and fabrics can also add character and life to your drawing. Show your figure dancing, smiling or laughing — make them look alive and full of emotion. You can also draw in unique poses to make your African figure stand out from the crowd.
Eye contact is also an important part of drawing African figures. Draw eyes that look straight ahead, as if your African has something important to say. This will give your figure a look of strength and power, and show off their uniqueness and resilience.
Finally, don’t forget to draw small details. Draw small wrinkles on the skin or tiny droplets of water on the forehead — small touches like this can add life and depth to your African drawing.
Bringing out the details in an African drawing is a great way to capture the rich texture and diversity of this amazing continent. So don’t be afraid to bring out the personality of your figure with bold lines and colorful fabrics!
Bringing Your Drawing to Life
Now all that’s left to do is bring your drawing to life. To do this, use shading and soft lines to give your figure a 3D effect. Start by sketching light strokes for the face and body, then use a darker hue to fill in more details. Add more shading around the eyes, nose and lips to make them look more lifelike.
Shading can also bring out the clothes and other features of your African drawing. To do this, draw lines to form creases and pleats in the fabric, and use different hues of color to give the fabric a realistic look.
A great way to add life to your drawing is to use light and shadow. You can do this by shading with lighter and darker colors to give your African figure a realistic look. Add light to highlight certain features, and use dark lines to bring out their shadow.
Finally, you can use color to bring your drawing to life. Start by placing the facial features for a realistic look, then use a range of hues to give your drawing a natural skin tone. You can also add in shadow and light by using a blending technique.
Bringing your African drawing to life is a great way to emphasize the beauty of the African people and their amazing culture. From facial expressions to shading and color, with a few simple techniques you can create a picture perfect African figure that looks just like the real thing!

Robert Ortiz is an artist who has been writing about art and design for over ten years. His writing focuses on the creative process of art, from the conceptual to the material, and highlights its importance in our daily lives. He has a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Texas at San Antonio and has also attended other prestigious art schools like Savannah College of Art and Design. He has a passion for exploring the boundaries between fine art, design, commercial work, and technology. His work extends to social media campaigns, website development, magazine articles, video tutorials and more.

Leave a Comment