How to Draw a Shirt: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 20 June 2023 9 min read

Step 1: Drawing the Basic Outline

Step 2: Adding Details to the Collar

Step 5: Adding Creases and Folds

Drawing Shirts on Characters

Male Characters
Female Characters
Different Poses

Learning how to draw a shirt can be a fun and rewarding experience for both beginners and experienced artists alike. In this step-by-step guide, we'll walk you through the process of drawing various types of shirts, including T-shirts, polo shirts, and dress shirts. By following these simple steps, you'll be able to create realistic and stylish shirt designs that can be used in your artwork or even as part of your own clothing line!

Choosing the Right Shirt

Before diving into the drawing process, it's important to decide which type of shirt you want to draw. Shirts come in various styles, and each one has distinct features that make them unique. Here, we'll cover three popular shirt types: T-shirts, polo shirts, and dress shirts. By understanding the differences between these styles, you'll be better equipped to draw the perfect shirt for your artwork.

T-Shirt

T-shirts are versatile and casual, making them a popular choice for many artists. When drawing a T-shirt, keep in mind the following features:

Simple, rounded neckline
Short sleeves that typically end above the elbow
Loose, comfortable fit
Can be plain or feature graphics and text

Polo Shirt

Polo shirts offer a slightly more formal look compared to T-shirts, making them a great option for characters or scenes that require a bit of sophistication. When drawing a polo shirt, consider these elements:

Collared neckline with buttons
Short sleeves, often with ribbed cuffs
Slightly more fitted than a T-shirt
Typically made from textured fabric, like piqué cotton

Dress Shirt

Dress shirts are the most formal of the three styles and are often worn for business or special occasions. To capture the elegance of a dress shirt in your artwork, pay attention to these features:

Collared neckline with a top button and sometimes accompanied by a tie
Long sleeves with buttoned cuffs
Fitted, tailored design
Button-down front
Possibly includes a pocket on the chest

Now that you're familiar with the different shirt styles, let's move on to drawing the basic outline of your chosen shirt and adding details to make it come to life.

Step 1: Drawing the Basic Outline

Regardless of the shirt style you've chosen, the first step in learning how to draw a shirt is to create a basic outline. This will serve as the foundation for the rest of your drawing, so it's important to get it right. Here's a simple process to follow:

Draw the neckline: Start by sketching a simple curved line for the T-shirt or a V shape for the polo and dress shirts. This will represent the top of the shirt where the collar would be.
Create the shoulders: From the ends of the neckline, draw two lines that extend outward at a slight angle. These lines will form the shoulders of your shirt.
Add the sides: From the ends of the shoulder lines, draw two vertical lines that represent the sides of the shirt. The length of these lines will depend on whether you're drawing a short or long shirt.
Close the bottom: Lastly, connect the two side lines with a horizontal line to complete the basic outline of your shirt.

At this point, you should have a simple outline that resembles a shirt. Next, we'll add details to the collar, sleeves, and body to make it more realistic and stylish.

Step 2: Adding Details to the Collar

Now that you have a basic outline, it's time to focus on the collar. This is an important aspect of how to draw a shirt since it can help distinguish between different shirt styles. Follow these guidelines to enhance the collar:

T-Shirt collar: For a simple T-shirt collar, draw another curved line inside the existing neckline, following its shape. This creates the thickness of the collar. You can also add a small V-shaped notch for a more casual look.
Polo shirt collar: First, draw a narrow V-shape from the neckline, and then extend two short, curved lines from the ends of the V to create the collar points. Finish by drawing the back of the collar with a slightly curved line connecting the two collar points.
Dress shirt collar: Start with a narrow V-shape from the neckline, similar to the polo shirt. Next, draw two diagonal lines extending outward from the ends of the V to create the collar points. Finally, add a horizontal line connecting the collar points and another curved line for the back of the collar.

With the collar details in place, your shirt is starting to take shape. Let's move on to the sleeves in the next step of our guide on how to draw a shirt.

Step 3: Creating Sleeves

Sleeves are an essential part of any shirt, and knowing how to draw them correctly can make a big difference in your shirt illustrations. Whether you're drawing short or long sleeves, the process is straightforward and easy to follow.

Short Sleeves

For short sleeves, follow these simple steps:

From the shoulder line, extend two slightly curved lines that taper towards each other, creating the basic shape of the sleeve.
Next, draw a curved line at the end of the sleeve to represent the hem. The curve should follow the shape of the arm, giving the appearance of natural folds.
Finally, add some subtle creases along the length of the sleeve to suggest the fabric's texture.

Long Sleeves

When drawing long sleeves, follow these guidelines:

Start by extending two parallel, curved lines from the shoulder line, all the way down to the wrist area. The lines should be slightly wider at the top and taper towards the wrist.
Draw a curved line at the wrist to represent the cuff. This line should follow the shape of the wrist, similar to the hem of the short sleeve.
Add a series of creases and folds along the length of the sleeve. Pay special attention to the elbow and wrist areas, where fabric naturally bunches up.

With your sleeves in place, your shirt is really coming together. Next, let's move on to the body of the shirt — an important step in learning how to draw a shirt.

Step 4: Drawing the Body

The body of the shirt is the largest part of the garment and provides ample space for adding details and character to your illustration. Follow these steps to create the body of the shirt:

Begin by drawing two slightly curved lines, starting from the bottom of the collar and extending downwards to the desired length of the shirt. These lines represent the sides of the shirt.
At the bottom of the shirt, connect the two side lines with a horizontal line to form the shirt's hem. Depending on the style of the shirt, this line can be straight, slightly curved, or feature a more pronounced curve.
For a more realistic look, add some gentle curves and folds along the sides and at the bottom of the shirt to indicate the fabric's natural draping. This step helps give your shirt illustration depth and dimension.

Now that the body of your shirt is complete, it's time to add some texture and details. This is a crucial part of learning how to draw a shirt, as these extra touches can bring your drawing to life.

Step 5: Adding Creases and Folds

Adding creases and folds to your shirt illustration is essential in making it look realistic and visually appealing. When learning how to draw a shirt, keep in mind that the placement and appearance of these creases and folds will vary depending on the type of fabric and the fit of the shirt. Here are a few tips to guide you:

Start by observing real-life shirts or reference images to understand how the fabric drapes and folds in different areas. Pay special attention to the areas around the collar, sleeves, and the bottom hem.
Use light, curved lines to represent the creases and folds. Remember to vary the length and curvature of these lines to create a natural appearance.
Consider the direction of the fabric when adding folds. For example, the folds on the sleeves might follow a horizontal or diagonal direction, while those around the bottom hem might be more vertical.
Add shading to the folds and creases to give them depth. To do this, apply a darker shade or more intense lines in the areas where the folds are the deepest.

Once you've added the creases and folds, your shirt drawing is starting to look much more realistic. Next, let's add some color and patterns to bring your shirt illustration to life!

Step 6: Coloring Your Shirt

Coloring your shirt is an exciting opportunity to showcase your creativity. With various colors and patterns to choose from, you can make your shirt illustration truly unique. Let's explore different coloring techniques for your shirt:

Solid Colors

Applying solid colors is a simple yet effective way to color your shirt. You can use colored pencils, markers, or digital tools to fill in the shirt with your chosen color. Remember to consider the shading and highlights of your drawing when choosing a color — darker shades can emphasize the creases and folds, while lighter shades can help create a sense of depth and dimension.

Patterns

Adding patterns to your shirt illustration can bring extra personality and style to your drawing. Here are a few popular patterns you can try:

Stripes: Horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines can create a classic striped pattern. Vary the thickness and spacing of the lines to achieve different effects.
Plaid: This pattern consists of intersecting horizontal and vertical lines, often found on flannel shirts. To create a plaid pattern, draw evenly spaced lines in one direction, then draw another set of lines perpendicular to the first set.
Polka dots: Circular dots scattered evenly across the shirt can create a fun, playful design. Experiment with different sizes and colors for the dots to make your shirt stand out.

When learning how to draw a shirt, don't be afraid to experiment with different colors and patterns to create the perfect design. Once you've added color to your shirt, it's time for the final touches!

Step 7: Final Touches

Now that your shirt is colored, it's time to add the finishing touches to make your illustration truly stand out. Here are some suggestions to polish your drawing and enhance its overall appearance:

Shading: Add shadows and highlights to give your shirt depth and dimension. Consider the light source in your drawing and apply darker shades where the light doesn't reach, and lighter shades where the light hits the fabric.
Texture: Adding texture to your shirt can make it look more realistic. You can create the illusion of texture by using small lines, dots, or cross-hatching. This technique is particularly effective for materials like denim or flannel.
Details: Incorporate additional elements like buttons, pockets, or embroidery to enhance the design of your shirt. Be mindful of the shirt style you're drawing and try to keep these details consistent with the overall look.
Cleanup: Erase any unnecessary lines or smudges, and sharpen your drawing by refining the edges and outlines. If you're working digitally, use layers to keep your work organized and make editing easier.

With these final touches, your shirt illustration should now look polished and complete. But how about taking it one step further and applying your newfound skills to draw shirts on characters?

Drawing Shirts on Characters

Now that you know how to draw a shirt, it's time to apply your skills to drawing shirts on characters. This can add an extra level of realism and depth to your artwork. Here are some tips for drawing shirts on male and female characters, as well as characters in different poses:

Male Characters

Pay attention to the character's body shape and musculature; this will help you create a shirt that fits naturally.
Consider the character's personality and style when choosing the type of shirt. For example, a more formal character might wear a dress shirt, while a casual character might wear a t-shirt.
Remember to add creases and folds to your shirt, especially around the arms and waist, to make it look more realistic.

Female Characters

Like with male characters, consider the character's body shape and personal style when designing the shirt.
Female shirts often have different cuts and styles, such as scoop necks, v-necks, or crop tops. Experiment with these designs to find the right fit for your character.
Add details like buttons, ruffles, or lace to enhance the shirt's design and make it more feminine.

Different Poses

When drawing a character in a specific pose, be mindful of how the shirt's fabric would move and stretch. This will help you create a more dynamic and believable illustration.
Pay attention to how the shirt interacts with other elements of the character's outfit, such as a jacket or a belt. This will help you create a cohesive look.
Remember to adjust the creases and folds in the shirt based on the character's pose. For example, if the character is raising their arm, the fabric around the shoulder and armpit will bunch up.

By following these tips and practicing how to draw a shirt on different characters, you'll be well on your way to creating more dynamic and engaging illustrations. Keep experimenting with various styles, materials, and poses to develop your unique artistic voice. Happy drawing!

If you're looking to improve your character design skills, don't miss the workshop 'How to Draw Beautiful Character Designs from Scratch' by Trey Zimmerman. This workshop will teach you the techniques and tips to create stunning and unique character designs that truly stand out. Elevate your artwork and bring your characters to life with Trey's expert guidance.