Beginner's Guide: Drawing a Diamond Shape Step-by-Step

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 10 July 2023 7 min read

Drawing can be a fun and rewarding hobby, and a simple shape like a diamond often serves as a starting point for many budding artists. Equipped with just a piece of paper, you can learn to create a picture-perfect sketch. This guide will walk you through the process of diamond shape drawing in simple steps, ensuring it's easy even for beginners. You'll master drawing straight lines, angled lines, and add a bit of sparkle to your diamond sketch, bringing it to life on the page. Let's dive into these steps, and before you know it, you'll be creating your very own sparkling diamond!

1. Get Your Drawing Tools Ready

Before you can start creating your masterpiece, you'll need to gather your tools. Let's make sure you have everything you need to start your diamond shape drawing.

Choose Your Pencil

The first tool you'll need to embark on your diamond drawing journey is a pencil. The type of pencil you choose can greatly influence the outcome of your drawing. A good starting point for beginners is an HB pencil. It's not too hard, nor too soft—making it perfect for sketching and outlining. If you want to add depth or shadows later, a darker pencil can come in handy. Remember, you're not carving in stone, so a softer graphite is more than okay for your initial diamond shape sketches. Once you're comfortable with the basic shape, you can explore using color pencils to bring your diamond to life. A blue color, for instance, can provide a nice touch, making your diamond look like a rare blue gem. As you progress, you'll find that these creative colors can significantly enhance even the most complex objects in your drawings.

Select Your Paper

Next in line is the selection of your canvas—your paper. Any paper can do, but opting for sketch paper or drawing paper can elevate your diamond drawing experience. These varieties are thicker and typically have a slightly textured surface, ideal for capturing the graphite from your pencil and portraying the outer edge of your diamond with precision. Using such a physical medium leads to more detailed and expressive diamond shape drawings. In addition, a clean paper with no smudges or marks provides a neutral background color, allowing your diamond to truly stand out. Remember, the right paper not only makes your drawing process smoother but also enhances the final visual appeal of your creation.

Ready Your Eraser

Finally, make sure you have an eraser handy. The eraser isn't just for mistakes—it can also be a powerful drawing tool. Used strategically, an eraser can help you add highlights and refine shapes in your diamond sketch. Look for a white plastic eraser or a gum eraser. These are gentle on paper and will cleanly lift your graphite without leaving smudges.

With these tools in place, you're all set to embark on your diamond shape drawing journey. Remember, every great artist started somewhere, and with practice, you can create beautiful diamond sketches in no time.

2. Draw the Basic Shape

Now that your tools are ready, it's time to draw. The first step towards creating a stunning diamond shape drawing is sketching the basic shape.

Sketch a Square

Start with a simple square. This will form the basis of your diamond. Draw it lightly; you'll be adding to this and erasing parts later. Don't stress about getting it perfectly right—remember, every great artist started with the basics. And you're no different!

Divide the Square

Once you've got your square, the next step is to divide it into four smaller squares by drawing a line from one corner to the opposite one. Repeat this for the remaining two corners. You should now have a divided square that looks like a small window pane. This layout will provide the basic structure for your diamond shape drawing.

Connect the Dots

Now comes the fun part—connecting the dots. Start by drawing a line from the midpoint of one side of your square to the midpoint of the opposite side. Repeat this for all four sides. You should now have a diamond shape within your square. Can you see your diamond starting to take shape?

With the basic shape in place, your diamond shape drawing is well underway. But hold on, we're not done yet. Next, we'll add depth to bring your diamond to life.

3. Add Depth to Your Diamond

With the basic shape drawn, you're ready to add depth to your diamond. This step is where your diamond shape drawing really starts to pop and look like a three-dimensional object. Let's get into it!

Draw Inner Lines

First, imagine a smaller diamond within your existing diamond shape. Draw lines to create this inner diamond, connecting the midpoints of each side of your existing diamond. This creates the illusion of depth, making your diamond shape drawing appear more realistic. You're doing great!

Create Reflections

Have you ever noticed how diamonds sparkle and reflect light in different directions? Time to replicate that in your drawing. Draw a few lines within the inner diamond you just formed. These lines represent the reflections within the diamond. Remember, they don't have to be perfect; real diamonds have unique reflections and your drawing should too.

Add Shadows

Lastly, let's add some shadows. Lightly shade the areas of your diamond that are furthest from the light source. Imagine where the light would hit the diamond and where it would cast shadows. Shading adds depth and gives your diamond a 3D effect. Congrats, you've just added depth to your diamond shape drawing!

But we're not done yet. The next step is refining your drawing, where we'll focus on checking the proportions, erasing unnecessary marks, and adding final touches. Let's keep going!

4. Refine Your Drawing

At this point, your diamond shape drawing is beginning to shine. But a little refinement never hurts. Let's polish up your drawing and make it truly sparkle.

Check Proportions

First, take a step back and look at your diamond. Is it symmetrical? Are the angles sharp and the lines straight? Checking proportions ensures your diamond shape drawing is balanced and realistic. Don't worry if it's not perfect—remember, every diamond is unique.

Erase Unnecessary Marks

Next, grab your eraser. It's time to clean up your drawing and remove those extra pencil lines. This will make your diamond shape drawing look cleaner and more defined. But remember to erase gently—you don't want to smudge your hard work.

Add Final Touches

Finally, let's add some final touches. You could darken the outlines for a more dramatic look or add more reflections for extra sparkle. You could even color your diamond if you're feeling creative. This is your diamond shape drawing, so make it truly yours.

Great job! You've refined your diamond drawing. But remember, practice makes perfect. Keep drawing different shapes, try using different materials, and don't be afraid to seek feedback. You're on your way to becoming a diamond shape drawing pro!

5. Practice to Improve

Now that you've learned the basics of drawing a diamond shape, it's time to take your skills to the next level. As with any art, practice and experimentation are key to improving. So, let's take a look at how you can continue to refine your diamond shape drawing skills.

Draw Different Shapes

Initiate your drawing process by experimenting with different shapes. Not all diamonds boast perfect symmetry. Some present an oval silhouette, others resemble a pear, and a few take on a heart-like form. Diversifying the shapes you attempt will expand your versatility in diamond shape drawing, making you adept at creating realistic drawings on a digital tablet or paper. You never know, in this exploratory process, you might stumble upon a shape that you cherish more than the classic 4 pointed star diamond.

Each new shape is like a previous step, helping you build upon your existing skills, introducing more dramatic angles and adding depth to your repertoire. Trying various forms can also inspire you to learn how to sketch a 3D diamond, adding an extra layer of realism to your work. Furthermore, this exploration might spark your creativity to add more hues to your diamond using color pencils, enhancing the richness and vibrancy of your artwork.

Use Different Materials

As your next step, venture into experimenting with different materials. If you've been consistently relying on a standard pencil, how about giving a mechanical pencil a chance? Or, you could try colored pencils, markers, or even acrylic paints. Different materials can bestow your diamond shape drawing with a completely fresh look and feel, accentuating your artistic skills.

For example, employing a blending brush with colored pencils can add depth to your diamond, making it look more three-dimensional. Additionally, a marker could provide a bolder, more eccentric diamond outline or create a distinct star shape within your diamond.

The core idea is to explore, learn, and adapt, leveraging different materials to enhance not just your artistic capabilities, but also your editing skills. Remember, it's all about discovering what resonates with you and best complements your style of drawing.

Seek Feedback

Lastly, don't be afraid to seek feedback. Whether it's from a friend, a family member, or a teacher, constructive criticism can help you spot any areas of improvement. Remember, feedback is not about bringing you down—it's about helping you shine brighter.

And there you have it! Keep these tips in mind, and you'll be on your way to mastering diamond shape drawing. Remember, the only way to improve is to keep practicing. So, keep those pencils moving, and soon, you'll be drawing diamonds that are truly a cut above the rest!

If you enjoyed this beginner's guide to drawing a diamond shape, consider taking your skills to the next level with Juliet Schreckinger's workshop, 'Composing Complex Illustrations using Basic Shapes'. This workshop will teach you how to create intricate and visually stunning illustrations by breaking them down into simple shapes, making it a perfect next step for aspiring artists.