How to Draw Knights
Drawing knights can be an intimidating process for a beginner. After all, these figures are often armored and have a lot of detail––some of it as intricate as the wings of a fairy. But learning how to draw knights shouldn’t be a daunting task. With a few basic tips and a bit of practice, you’ll be well on your way to sketching out your own knights in the round, just like a medieval artist.
First things first, you need to know some of the features to look for when drawing a knight. A knight’s breastplate is curved, like the back of a turtle’s shell, and their helmets are often topped with a variation of a crest. Knights also possess a shield and sword––the shield is often adorned with a pattern such as a coat of arms.
Once you have a basic idea of what a knight should look like, it’s time to begin drawing one. Start off with a few basic shapes to get the figure down. You can use a circle for the knight’s head, an oval for his body, and so forth. From there, you can adjust these figures until they match the proportions and size of a knight.
Now comes the fun part, adding details. To make your drawing look more medieval, think about what differentiates a knight’s outfit from something a modern-day warrior would wear. This can include simple geometric patterns like lozenges, or symbols such as a sun or a rose.
Once you have the details of your knight’s uniform down, it’s time to focus on the vital elements like the shield, sword, and helmet. Shields normally possess intricate designs and coats of arms, which can be tricky to draw if you’re a beginner. To make the process easier, you could look up different shields and copy the designs if you’d like.
Lastly, draw a sword and helmet for your knight. Swords are typically long, curvy, and have a hilt with a pommel. Helmets often have a tail-like feature known as a spike, secured atop the head with a chain-linked helmet.
Drawing knights may seem like a challenge, but with the right techniques and a bit of practice, anyone can feel like a medieval artist. Start by familiarizing yourself with a knight’s features, then break its figure down into basic shapes. From there, add details like patterns and symbols to bring the figure to life. Don’t forget the vital elements like the shield, sword, and helmet––these are what help make your knight feel like a real member of the Round Table.
Choosing the Right Colors for Your Knight
Adding the right colors to your knight can bring the whole figure to life. Different shades or hues can signify a knight’s station or rank, as well. But with the dozens of colors to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down your selection.
While conventional knights usually sport white, silver, or royal blue, you’re free to choose other shades. Blue, red, white, and yellow contrasting against one another can create a pleasing palette. To make your knight look more imposing or romantic, go for darker hues or pastels like gray and lilac.
Of course, the colors you select depend on your overall goal for your knight. War or fantasy knights will likely be draped in fiery reds, oranges, and deep blues. A romantic knight, on the other hand, might feature combinations of light purples, blues, and pinks. With a little creativity and experimentation, you can create a striking knight that’s as unique as you are.
Bringing Your Knight to Life with Depth and Texture
Once you’ve colored your knight in, it’s time to think about depth and texture. Textures help bring the figure to life and make it look more realistic. Pick out the various features of your knight’s armor and figure out ways to make them come alive.
For instance, you could emphasize the helmet’s spike with a line or two that slightly overlap each other. This is known as hatching, and it can be used to give off a sense of three-dimensionality and light bouncing off a surface.
In addition to hatching, you can draw curved or circular shapes on the surface of your knight’s armor to simulate texture. This is useful for giving your knight a realistic look. Just draw these shapes lightly, then erase them immediately.
Adding the Finishing Touches to Your Knight
When you’re happy with the look of your knight, then it’s time to add the finishing touches. These include small details like giving the knight a direct stare, or making minor adjustments to the shield’s pattern.
You can also add a background for your knight to make him stand out. A simple way to do this is to draw the edges of a castle or one of the positions in a knights’ chess game. A more complex approach is to draw clouds, sky, and other features in the distance.
Now your knight is ready to take his rightful place in your drawing! He might be ready to fight dragons, cast magical spells, or stand guard against any intruders. No matter what adventures you have in store for him, you can rest easy knowing that your drawing is one of a kind.
Adding Motion and Flowing Hair to your Knight
The last step to bringing your knight to life is to make it move. You can give your knight a dynamic pose by making him turn or pivot his body in some way. Of course, this type of pose may require adjustments to the overall figure, but it’ll be worth it if you want an action-packed figure.
You can also draw flowing hair for your knight as a finishing touch. This addition can be as simple as a few lines to represent the wind blowing through his hair, or a more detailed depiction of locks falling onto his shoulders. Whatever style you choose, having flowing hair on your knight will make him look more gallant and romantic.
Now that you know how to draw knights, it’s time for you to start sketching out your own! So grab your charcoal, colored pencils, or tablet and get ready to create a figure straight out of the middle ages.
