AR Drawing
Drawing Tutorials
There's something deeply satisfying about drawing a sword — that long, tapering blade catching an imaginary light, a dramatic curved crossguard, and a grip wrapped and ready to be held. It's the kind of drawing that looks like it belongs on the cover of a fantasy novel, and yet it comes together from just a few clean, confident shapes: two long lines for the blade, a couple of curved wings for the guard, and a simple wrapped handle. Once the proportions click into place, the whole thing reads as a genuinely formidable weapon. Let's get drawing!
Starting from the lower-left of your page, draw two long lines running diagonally up toward the upper right, angling slightly toward each other as they rise so the blade tapers gently along its length. At the bottom, let the two lines curve inward and meet at a sharp point rather than a blunt end, forming the tip of the blade. At the top, leave both lines open with a small hooked flick outward, since this is where the crossguard will attach in a later step. Keep the blade nice and long — a longer, more dramatic taper reads as far more impressive than a short, stubby shape.
Down the center of the blade, running roughly parallel to the two outer edges, draw one or two thinner lines to suggest the fuller — the shallow groove running down the middle of many real sword blades that lightens the weight without weakening the edge. Keep these inner lines a little shorter than the outer edges, stopping just before the very tip and just before the base, so the detail feels embedded in the blade rather than floating independently on top of it.
At the top of the blade, where you left that small hooked flick in Step 1, draw two curved, wing-like shapes sweeping outward and slightly upward in opposite directions, like a pair of stylized bat wings or curling flames. This is the crossguard, the piece that protects the hand and gives the whole sword its dramatic silhouette. Let the curves swoop and taper to points rather than staying blocky and rectangular, since that flowing shape is what pushes the design from a plain utility blade into something that feels distinctly fantasy-inspired.
From the center of the crossguard, draw two parallel lines extending upward to form the grip, adding a few short diagonal lines wrapping around it to suggest leather or cord winding around the handle. At the very top, draw a small angular shape — the pommel — wider than the grip itself, which balances the weight of the blade and gives the hilt a finished, deliberate look rather than trailing off into nothing.
Now for the most satisfying part!
Once the color goes on, that gleaming silver blade paired with the rich gold hilt and a bold-colored grip gives the sword real presence — the kind of weapon that looks like it has a story behind it. ⚔️
The step people tend to spend the most time adjusting is Step 1, since the whole sword's proportions hinge on how that initial taper is drawn — too wide near the tip and the blade loses its elegant, dangerous point; too narrow near the base and it starts to look flimsy rather than substantial. It's worth sketching the two blade lines lightly first and stepping back to check the overall taper before committing to a firmer outline. Everything that follows, from the fuller lines to the crossguard's curling wings, is much more forgiving and mostly about confident, flowing strokes rather than precise measurements.
Once this version feels comfortable, try designing a second sword with a completely different guard shape — a simple straight crossbar instead of curling wings, or a rounded basket-style guard — since the blade and handle techniques stay exactly the same no matter how the guard is styled.
Hands have a reputation for being one of the trickier things to draw, but broken down piece by piece it's actually a very manageable drawing — you're really just repeating one basic shape five times. This easy step-by-step tutorial walks you through the whole process, from the palm outline to the finished, colored artwork.
A hibiscus is one of those flowers that immediately feels like summer — big, open petals fanned out around a long graceful stamen. It looks impressive, but the secret is that every single petal follows almost the same shape, just rotated slightly around the center. Follow this easy step-by-step tutorial!
A honey bee has to be one of the most instantly likable little creatures to draw — round and fuzzy, striped like a tiny referee, with delicate see-through wings and a face that's almost always drawn grinning.
There is something magical about a hot air balloon floating across a clear blue sky. Those bold, colorful stripes and the little wicker basket hanging below make it one of the most satisfying things to draw — perfect for beginners of all ages!