How To Draw A Stick Man
The stick man is about the easiest thing to draw! Next to a house, simple dog or a cat - he can be Daddy, Mommy or an imaginary friend for a child to start them drawing.
However, it is not only children who draw these stick figures! Far from it. There are thousands of people doodling away, adding them to t-shirts, websites and anything else you can draw on.
Occasionally a particularly cute one will be in an advert or a book. There are popular comic strip sites on the net with a variety of stick designs. The idea behind stick design is in logos and graphics throughout our world - an easily recognisable image to give the viewer a message.
From fun to business and relaxation in between - there is more to this simple character than meets the eyes.
This page covers the basic stick figure from the classic shape with a few techniques and many examples to take him a little bit further. The images are variable in quality because they were drawn over a period of several years. As my technique developed so did the designs. Hopefully.
There are a lot of pictures on this page so apologies if it takes a while to load. Draw a stickman while you're waiting.
However, it is not only children who draw these stick figures! Far from it. There are thousands of people doodling away, adding them to t-shirts, websites and anything else you can draw on.
Occasionally a particularly cute one will be in an advert or a book. There are popular comic strip sites on the net with a variety of stick designs. The idea behind stick design is in logos and graphics throughout our world - an easily recognisable image to give the viewer a message.
From fun to business and relaxation in between - there is more to this simple character than meets the eyes.
This page covers the basic stick figure from the classic shape with a few techniques and many examples to take him a little bit further. The images are variable in quality because they were drawn over a period of several years. As my technique developed so did the designs. Hopefully.
There are a lot of pictures on this page so apologies if it takes a while to load. Draw a stickman while you're waiting.
About This Page
This page was originally created when I had just started drawing stick figures. It was a small set of ideas about the classic guy.
I occasionally come back here and add new tricks in. So the page begins with the basics and gradually expands into a number of things you can do with a stick figure.
It is a bit long, random and messy but hopefully fun and useful.
Here is your basic stick man.
I occasionally come back here and add new tricks in. So the page begins with the basics and gradually expands into a number of things you can do with a stick figure.
It is a bit long, random and messy but hopefully fun and useful.
Here is your basic stick man.
Stickman Profile
The first drawing shows everything I think the character needs. Some people may disagree and have their own ideas. That is fine. There is no set rule that says exactly how he should be drawn.
The second drawing is the stick man in profile. It is a joke but there is a purpose to it.
With one line and a few words you have a cartoon. A stick guy is just the start. What can you do with him?
The second drawing is the stick man in profile. It is a joke but there is a purpose to it.
With one line and a few words you have a cartoon. A stick guy is just the start. What can you do with him?
Different Types of Stick Figure
There is no right way to draw a stick figure. This is obvious when you look at the variety that people produce. No one can say one style is more correct than others.
Any art should be enjoyable. As you doodle, play and experiment your own style will begin to appear.
Here are a few stick figures.
Any art should be enjoyable. As you doodle, play and experiment your own style will begin to appear.
Here are a few stick figures.
What Pen to Use?
For drawing on paper I used a couple of black felt pens. Reasonable quality - fine and fatter points. Plus a selection of color felt tips as well.
On a tablet or drawing pad there is every pen type available. Brushes, chalks - you name it. Some examples are shown below.
For the most part I stay within my comfort zone. A black fine painted line. But it is fun to play sometimes.
On a tablet or drawing pad there is every pen type available. Brushes, chalks - you name it. Some examples are shown below.
For the most part I stay within my comfort zone. A black fine painted line. But it is fun to play sometimes.
The Great Arm Position Debate
The traditional design for a stick man is shown in figure 1. The arms are part way down his body. That seems like the right position for the basic figure.
Some people, notably XKCD comics, draw the arms higher up towards the head.
When you need elbows and hands things get more complicated. That is when position three seems to be the ideal place to position them.
You have to leave a little space for the neck.
Some people, notably XKCD comics, draw the arms higher up towards the head.
When you need elbows and hands things get more complicated. That is when position three seems to be the ideal place to position them.
You have to leave a little space for the neck.
Stick figure arm position choices
Hands and Jointed Limbs
The image below contains four stick guys.
A basic one.
Walking.
Waving and thumbs up.
Pointing with other hand on hip.
They are simple sketches to show the variety that adding joints and simple hands allows.
Once you experiment with jointed limbs there is no limit to what your stick guy can do. Climb, sit, walk - all that good human stuff instead of standing there with a silly grin on his face.
A basic one.
Walking.
Waving and thumbs up.
Pointing with other hand on hip.
They are simple sketches to show the variety that adding joints and simple hands allows.
Once you experiment with jointed limbs there is no limit to what your stick guy can do. Climb, sit, walk - all that good human stuff instead of standing there with a silly grin on his face.
Drawing Hands
The ultimate original stick figure (see 1 below) has no hands. Hands look stupid. They are unnecessary additions to the simple classic design.
Things get more complicated when you need him to do stuff. My next step in stick design was guy number 2. He has two stick fingers to hold things or point at them. That is pretty much all you need.
Some people draw him with the shapes in figure 3 - a weird oval blob which seems pointless to me.
Figure 4 shows simple hands in cartoon style. They have a few fingers and are coloured in flesh tone for contrast. They are more than good enough for cartooning.
Things get more complicated when you need him to do stuff. My next step in stick design was guy number 2. He has two stick fingers to hold things or point at them. That is pretty much all you need.
Some people draw him with the shapes in figure 3 - a weird oval blob which seems pointless to me.
Figure 4 shows simple hands in cartoon style. They have a few fingers and are coloured in flesh tone for contrast. They are more than good enough for cartooning.
The subset of hands shows a little more detail.
Why bother? Because I want my stick man to be a little fuller, more colourful and look good on a black tee. Black lines don't show on a black background but colour does.
Once you get relaxed doing cartoon style and forget about drawing perfect human hands it becomes a whole lot easier.
- a - thumbs up
- b - pointing
- c - a hand
Why bother? Because I want my stick man to be a little fuller, more colourful and look good on a black tee. Black lines don't show on a black background but colour does.
Once you get relaxed doing cartoon style and forget about drawing perfect human hands it becomes a whole lot easier.
More on Hands
This is a fun technique which helps when your stickman needs to hold some stuff. Drawing real hands is a pretty tough thing to do even for real artists so the graphic below shows a simple method.
The stick guy is holding a baguette. That's a French bread stick to save you time on Wiki. The bread is brown and his arm and fingers (the important bit) are flesh tone.
You can see how the suggestion of a thumb and fingers are created very easily. Simple ovals for those overlapping fingers and a continuation of arm into thumb. Adding colour helps to give the impression of a hand holding something.
The stick guy is holding a baguette. That's a French bread stick to save you time on Wiki. The bread is brown and his arm and fingers (the important bit) are flesh tone.
You can see how the suggestion of a thumb and fingers are created very easily. Simple ovals for those overlapping fingers and a continuation of arm into thumb. Adding colour helps to give the impression of a hand holding something.
Stickman Draws Himself
Here is a simple and fun comic strip idea where our resident stick man draws his own image.
He does a good job of showing how to draw one. The figure is so lifelike that it shouts and starts to run off.
He does a good job of showing how to draw one. The figure is so lifelike that it shouts and starts to run off.
Drawing and Using Accessories
I don't mean adding fashion items although they are fine if you can think of any.
I mean picture clues to what the stick guy is about. They are fun to draw and add colour, interest and meaning.
Here are some examples. Eating a burger, raising a hat, reading a paper.
I mean picture clues to what the stick guy is about. They are fun to draw and add colour, interest and meaning.
Here are some examples. Eating a burger, raising a hat, reading a paper.
Shades and Sunglasses
The usual face contains a couple of round eyes and a line for the mouth. See figure 1 below.
A very simple trick to make your stick guy look cool is to draw shades instead of eyes. Sunglasses are easier to draw than eyes and the face furniture makes an easy effect. See figure 2 below.
In figure 3 he is wearing mirror shades. It didn't work so well but you get the idea. Experiment with rim colours and shapes and generate instant coolness!
A very simple trick to make your stick guy look cool is to draw shades instead of eyes. Sunglasses are easier to draw than eyes and the face furniture makes an easy effect. See figure 2 below.
In figure 3 he is wearing mirror shades. It didn't work so well but you get the idea. Experiment with rim colours and shapes and generate instant coolness!
Drawing Hair
The classic stickman has no hair but drawing some is an easy way to add difference, colour and interest to your stick figure designs.
The examples below are in order of how I developed my preferred hair style - from 1 to 6. Here is a brief explanation.
The examples below are in order of how I developed my preferred hair style - from 1 to 6. Here is a brief explanation.
- classic style - no hair - some people said they looked bald.
- stylised hair - straight lines - got bored with that.
- similarly stylised - alternate style for stooge in two character cartoon.
- more random hair - more natural and arty.
- similar random strokes - this time across the forehead.
- real hair with colour! - well nearly.
Simple Cartoon With Several Stick Figures
The cartoon below is a play on the 'evolution' idea. Often this shows an animal crawling out of a swamp and ending with that perfect specimen of evolution - the human.
Perhaps humans are a little bit up themselves with the higher evolution thing because there are plenty of other creatures that have evolved - and most of them don't go round starting wars.
Perhaps humans are a little bit up themselves with the higher evolution thing because there are plenty of other creatures that have evolved - and most of them don't go round starting wars.
Badly Drawn Stick Man
There is no such thing as a badly drawn stick man. This is the art-world. There is no bad in art - only different styles and interpretations.
The guy in the cartoon with a missing arm and parts of his body in the wrong place might be a poor drawing. But it could be artistic so be careful with criticism.
"I can see what you were trying to do" is sufficient condemnation.
The guy in the cartoon with a missing arm and parts of his body in the wrong place might be a poor drawing. But it could be artistic so be careful with criticism.
"I can see what you were trying to do" is sufficient condemnation.
Draw Facial Expressions
It is amazing how expressive a stickman can be. Easily enough to cover most requirements for illustrations, cartoons, web pages, product and so on.
Here is a selection of simple faces. The faces show how the mouth and eyes offer a whole range of emoticon style expression. Stickman is an emoji with arms and legs.
There are thousands of possibilities to make drawing fun!
Here is a selection of simple faces. The faces show how the mouth and eyes offer a whole range of emoticon style expression. Stickman is an emoji with arms and legs.
There are thousands of possibilities to make drawing fun!
Colour v Black and White
The stick man is black lines on white paper. There are no ifs and buts about this - it is a fact. If you Wiki it and they had bothered to write an article about it - which they haven't - they would say "Always draw in black pen on white paper".
However. A little colour will add interest to any picture especially when it contrasts well with the basic design.
Of course there will always be a sarcastic traditionalist waiting to pounce...
However. A little colour will add interest to any picture especially when it contrasts well with the basic design.
Of course there will always be a sarcastic traditionalist waiting to pounce...
Don't Just Draw Him - Do Something!
Once you have the basic figure there is so much he can do. Sitting, walking, climbing - shouting, praying, talking - the possibilities are endless.
Each activity takes a little practice and before you know it your creation will be able to master anything you throw at him. Not that you should throw anything at him. There is no need to be mean... unless you feel like it.
In proper art lessons they teach the basics of human figure drawing by using the stick man as a tool to get the movement and posture. I wouldn't know about that.
Google Images has pictures of pretty much everything the human being can do and a little studying and effort can soon achieve a reasonable looking character.
Each activity takes a little practice and before you know it your creation will be able to master anything you throw at him. Not that you should throw anything at him. There is no need to be mean... unless you feel like it.
In proper art lessons they teach the basics of human figure drawing by using the stick man as a tool to get the movement and posture. I wouldn't know about that.
Google Images has pictures of pretty much everything the human being can do and a little studying and effort can soon achieve a reasonable looking character.
Adding Other Elements
In the Science Cartoon I created a couple of stick figures plus stooge and spent a while drawing random bits of chemistry equipment.
Adding the simple details and colour makes the whole picture into much more of a proper work.
Adding the simple details and colour makes the whole picture into much more of a proper work.
Add a Hat!
Although stickman should be fairly stick like in appearance there is no rule to say he can't wear a hat. There are no rules at all anyway so you can do what you like.
There are many great things about hats.
So don't forget a hat if you feel like it!
There are many great things about hats.
- Easy to draw
- Give a clue to what he is
- Chance to add some colour
So don't forget a hat if you feel like it!
The handy thing about a baseball hat - top left in the image above - is this.
I often forget to draw a hat on my stick figure. Some of them are difficult to add on when the head is already drawn. But for a baseball hat you just draw a line through the top of the head, come out one side, and colour in the top part.
Like this...
I often forget to draw a hat on my stick figure. Some of them are difficult to add on when the head is already drawn. But for a baseball hat you just draw a line through the top of the head, come out one side, and colour in the top part.
Like this...
Stopping Children From Drawing Stick Figures!
Having spent years drawing stick figures and putting my favourites on the internet it was disappointing to get a visit for the above search term.
A worried parent clearly wanted to move their child away from the basic figure and onto other things. That is where the dividing line comes between 'proper' drawing and graphic design.
A stick drawing is a graphic image. It is good enough for lots of things including info-graphics, simple illustrations and company logos. It is certainly good enough to have fun with which is surely the whole point of drawing?
What put me off art at school was trying to produce a realistic still life. Well hey. We have cameras for that.
The parent should celebrate any lines their child draws on a page.
A worried parent clearly wanted to move their child away from the basic figure and onto other things. That is where the dividing line comes between 'proper' drawing and graphic design.
A stick drawing is a graphic image. It is good enough for lots of things including info-graphics, simple illustrations and company logos. It is certainly good enough to have fun with which is surely the whole point of drawing?
What put me off art at school was trying to produce a realistic still life. Well hey. We have cameras for that.
The parent should celebrate any lines their child draws on a page.
Art Style Stickman
Here is a fun image which first got me started on stick figure design. I thought "Hey, I can do things with this".
He is called Cubist Stickman and changed my view about drawing. Drawing is cool. Drawing is fun. The main thing is to get started and see where it goes.
He is called Cubist Stickman and changed my view about drawing. Drawing is cool. Drawing is fun. The main thing is to get started and see where it goes.
A 3D Stick Man
This may be the worst 3D picture on the internet. There are wonderful examples on the net and it would be great to be able to draw a realistic stick man climbing out of the page.
This quick drawing just plays with the idea. How easy is it to draw a stick figure standing up on a piece of paper?
I forgot to add shadow and light which are important perspective clues but it almost works.
This quick drawing just plays with the idea. How easy is it to draw a stick figure standing up on a piece of paper?
I forgot to add shadow and light which are important perspective clues but it almost works.
Adding a Little Depth
Some months after trying and failing to draw a 3D figure I discovered the fun of shading. Adding a little light grey wash brush around or inside lines to give the impression of depth, shadow or rudimentary 3D.
Like all new techniques this needs practice which will come from overuse, mistakes and eventually add to my small artistic tool box. The guy below is at the early stages of learning how to shade. It's not his fault. He is just trying to escape from the paper and had no choice over his graphic designer.
A couple of things worth mentioning in that drawing are...
The stickman is fleshy. Not really a stickman at all. This makes the contrast between figure and background much easier to achieve. He can be colour filled which is fun and shaded which is even more fun.
The '3D' shading effect is done using a wash brush in a grey colour. Go round some of the lines and shade as it feels right to do.
The paper tears or rips don't work so well. Another technique I need to learn.
Like all new techniques this needs practice which will come from overuse, mistakes and eventually add to my small artistic tool box. The guy below is at the early stages of learning how to shade. It's not his fault. He is just trying to escape from the paper and had no choice over his graphic designer.
A couple of things worth mentioning in that drawing are...
The stickman is fleshy. Not really a stickman at all. This makes the contrast between figure and background much easier to achieve. He can be colour filled which is fun and shaded which is even more fun.
The '3D' shading effect is done using a wash brush in a grey colour. Go round some of the lines and shade as it feels right to do.
The paper tears or rips don't work so well. Another technique I need to learn.
Creative Stick Figure Profiles
Here are a couple of examples of creating a body shape in stick style. A fat guy and a sexy lady.
The drawing does not have to be the straight lines that come as standard when trying to draw something in MS Paint. It is possible to put curves in.
The fat guy shape could easily be turned into a pregnant stick woman or he could exercise a bit and develop a six-pack. As the artist it is entirely up to you.
The drawing does not have to be the straight lines that come as standard when trying to draw something in MS Paint. It is possible to put curves in.
The fat guy shape could easily be turned into a pregnant stick woman or he could exercise a bit and develop a six-pack. As the artist it is entirely up to you.
Stick Figures With a Message!
One of the great things about stick people is they are quick and easy to draw. That means you can create loads of them and play with ideas. See what works and what doesn't.
This picture is a favourite because it is fun and contains a message about freedom, peace and equality without hammering you over the head with it.
This picture is a favourite because it is fun and contains a message about freedom, peace and equality without hammering you over the head with it.
Dressing Your Stickman
The basic figure is fine without clothes. He is a stick man - therefore he needs that black shaped thin body.
However, if you want to add some colour - clothes make it happen. It can be very easy to do. There is no need to spend time creating realistic shirts, jeans and shoes if you either can't or can't be bothered.
A simple wash or coloured felt-tip can add an extra layer to your stick figure. Here is stickman choosing and wearing an outfit. He chose suede shoes, blue jeans and a tee.
However, if you want to add some colour - clothes make it happen. It can be very easy to do. There is no need to spend time creating realistic shirts, jeans and shoes if you either can't or can't be bothered.
A simple wash or coloured felt-tip can add an extra layer to your stick figure. Here is stickman choosing and wearing an outfit. He chose suede shoes, blue jeans and a tee.
The three stick figures in the image below show the effect of different ideas for clothing.
- colour replacing part of the black lines for a tee and jeans
- using the wash method over lines for clothes
- drawing clothes shapes and colouring in
The proper way is probably clothes shape and colour in. But art does not have to be the proper way. You can do whatever you feel like doing.
Adding Proper Clothes to Stickman
Here is a simple way to add more detail to a stick figure design. No great art talent is required but you get a fuller looking character at the end of it.
Use the stick design to layout the basic person. To design what they are doing - standing, sitting, walking, whatever.
Save picture.
Add the basic clothing outline for a tee, pants, shoes and accessories. This is rough and ready work - just a few extra simple lines. Create arms by adding extra lines to the existing arms plus hands if you need them.
Save picture.
Finally - colour in the new details. Modify as you go along if you need to and you have moved a simple stick figure onto the next stage up. Example of the three basic stages below.
Use the stick design to layout the basic person. To design what they are doing - standing, sitting, walking, whatever.
Save picture.
Add the basic clothing outline for a tee, pants, shoes and accessories. This is rough and ready work - just a few extra simple lines. Create arms by adding extra lines to the existing arms plus hands if you need them.
Save picture.
Finally - colour in the new details. Modify as you go along if you need to and you have moved a simple stick figure onto the next stage up. Example of the three basic stages below.
More Stickmen!
There are a lot of stick figure designs, pictures and general thoughts on this site under the Arty page.
If you like stick figures it is all the same sort of thing. Pictures and a bit of writing.
It's not rocket science - except for the rocket science page.
Whatever you decide I hope you enjoyed this page, found it useful and will get the same enjoyment from doodling, sketching and drawing as I do.
Cheers - Mark Ewbie
If you like stick figures it is all the same sort of thing. Pictures and a bit of writing.
It's not rocket science - except for the rocket science page.
Whatever you decide I hope you enjoyed this page, found it useful and will get the same enjoyment from doodling, sketching and drawing as I do.
Cheers - Mark Ewbie
