5 Simple Steps to Draw an Indian Easily: A Beginner's Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 6 min read

If you've always wanted to sketch a portrait but felt overwhelmed, don't worry. We're going to break it down into manageable steps, making it easy to draw an Indian figure. This guide is perfect for beginners and will make drawing feel less intimidating and more enjoyable. So, grab your sketching tools and let's get started.

1. Gather Your Materials

Before we dive into drawing, it's important to have the right tools at your disposal. This will make the process smoother and the end result more satisfying. Here's what you'll need:

Sketch Pencils

Sketch pencils are your main tools for this task. They come in a variety of hardness levels. A good starting set for a beginner includes soft pencils like 2B, 4B, or 6B for shading and a harder pencil like 2H for creating outlines. Remember, don't press too hard with the pencil—let the pencil do the work for you.

Eraser

Don't forget a good quality eraser. This isn't just for correcting mistakes—it's also a drawing tool in its own right. You can use it to lighten areas of your drawing, create highlights, or clean up your outlines. A kneaded eraser is a great choice as it can be molded to fit your needs.

Drawing Paper

The choice of paper is just as important as the choice of pencils. You'll need a good quality drawing paper that can handle the pressure from your pencil without tearing or smudging. Look for a medium weight paper—like a sketch pad, which has a slight texture that helps grab the graphite from your pencil.

Colored Pencils

Lastly, you'll need colored pencils to bring your drawing to life. There are many brands to choose from. You'll want a set that offers a wide range of colors, including various shades of skin tones for your easy to draw Indian figure. Prismacolor or Faber-Castell are good options for beginners.

Now that we've got all our materials ready, let's move on to the next step—learning the basic shapes. This will be the foundation of our drawing.

2. Learn Basic Shapes

Every drawing starts with basic shapes. These shapes help you to structure your drawing and maintain proportion. By breaking down a complex figure into simpler shapes, it becomes much easier to draw an Indian—or any figure, for that matter. Let's explore these foundational shapes.

Circle

Let's start simple. The circle is a key shape in drawing the human figure. It's used most prominently for the head but can also be used to sketch the joints. Practice drawing circles of different sizes. Remember, no need to get it perfect—your circle doesn't need to be the next Pieta.

Ellipse

An ellipse, or an elongated circle, is useful for representing 3D shapes on a 2D surface. This shape will come in handy when drawing parts of the body viewed at an angle, like the arms or the torso. The secret to drawing a good ellipse? Keep your hand loose and let it flow.

Rectangle

The rectangle is another essential shape in figure drawing. It helps create the main body structure, like the torso and limbs. These rectangles can be long, short, wide, or narrow, depending on the perspective. So, grab that 2H pencil and sketch out a few rectangles. See? You're already getting the hang of this easy to draw Indian figure.

Triangle

Last but not least, the humble triangle. This shape is useful for sketching the nose, the shape of the face, or the folds in clothing. It's all about noticing where these shapes appear in the human body. So, keep your eyes open and your pencil ready.

With these basic shapes under your belt, we can start constructing our Indian figure. Ready to move on to the next step?

3. Start Drawing the Outline

Now that you've mastered the basic shapes, it's time to start sketching the outline of your Indian figure. Just remember, every great piece of art starts with a simple sketch, so don't fret if your drawing doesn't look like a masterpiece just yet. We're focusing on making it easy to draw an Indian figure and having fun in the process. So, let's get started!

Draw the Head

Start by drawing a circle for the head. Keep it simple—there's no need for intricate details at this stage. Remember that circle practice from earlier? Time to put it to use! Just draw a simple circle for the head, and we'll add features later on.

Draw the Body

Now, let's tackle the body. Draw a rectangle beneath the head to represent the torso. The length and width of this rectangle will determine the overall proportions of your Indian figure. No pressure, just keep it roughly in proportion to the head.

Draw the Arms

Next up? Arms. Draw two ellipses extending from the upper part of the torso. Remember, these are just the underlying shapes—don't worry about muscles or details just yet. And if it helps, imagine you're drawing the arms of a beloved action figure or doll.

Draw the Legs

Lastly, let's draw two more rectangles for the legs. Position them directly beneath the torso and try to keep them roughly the same length for balance. You're well on your way to creating an easy to draw Indian figure!

Now that we have the basic outline, it's time to add some details. Are you excited to proceed to the next step?

4. Fill in the Details

With the basic outline finished, let's dive into the details that will transform these shapes into an easy to draw Indian figure. If you're thinking, "Wait, am I really doing this?" Yes, you are! And you're doing great. So, let's keep going.

Draw the Eyes

Let's start with the eyes. Draw two ellipses within the circle that forms the head. Position them where you think the eyes would naturally be. There's no perfect way to do this, so feel free to experiment! After all, each artist has their own unique style.

Draw the Nose

Now, for the nose. Draw a smaller ellipse in the middle of the circle. You can make it as wide or narrow as you want. Remember, this is your drawing, and it's your unique interpretation of an easy to draw Indian figure.

Draw the Mouth

Next, let's draw the mouth. This can be as simple as a curved line beneath the nose. You can also add a smaller line beneath it to indicate the lower lip. Again, remember that we're going for simplicity here.

Draw the Clothing

Finally, let's draw the clothing. Indian attire is diverse and beautiful, so this is a chance to have some fun. You could draw a simple kurta and dhoti, or go for a saree if you want a challenge. Just remember to keep it simple and follow the outline of your figure.

There you have it! You've filled in the details and your easy to draw Indian is starting to come alive. Ready to add some color?

5. Color Your Drawing

Alright, let's move on to the final step—coloring. This is where your easy to draw Indian truly comes to life. Grab your colored pencils and let's add some hues!

Color the Skin

First, let's color the skin. Choose a shade that feels right to you. Indian skin tones vary greatly, so there's no single correct choice. The only rule here is to color within the lines you've drawn. Or hey, go outside the lines if you feel like it—this is your masterpiece, after all!

Color the Eyes

Next, let's move to the eyes. Brown is a common color for Indian eyes, but you can choose whatever color you like. Remember, this is your interpretation. Don't forget to leave a small white spot for the reflection that adds life to the eyes.

Color the Clothing

Now, let's color the clothing. Here's where you can really have fun! Indian attire is known for its vibrant colors and beautiful patterns. You could go for a simple solid color, or dive into intricate patterns. Go with what feels right for your easy to draw Indian.

Color the Background

Finally, let's color the background. This part is entirely up to you. You can either choose a simple color to keep the focus on your figure, or create a vivid landscape. Whichever you choose, make sure it complements your easy to draw Indian.

And voila! You've just created your own easy to draw Indian masterpiece. See, that wasn't too hard, was it? With practice, you'll get even better. So, what are you waiting for? Grab those pencils and start drawing!

If you enjoyed learning the 5 simple steps to draw an Indian easily and want to further develop your drawing skills, check out the workshop titled 'Drawing with Ease and Accuracy' by Yazmin Moktan. This workshop will provide you with valuable techniques and tips to enhance your drawing abilities and create beautiful artwork with confidence.