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How to Draw Male Paladins: Guides for Cartoon and Realistic Styles

Hello everyone! Today, we’re going to explore how to draw male paladins. This tutorial is designed to guide you through four distinct styles. We’ll start with a simple cartoon-style paladin, perfect for those just starting out. Next, we’ll step up the complexity with a more detailed cartoon paladin (somewhat Disney style). For our third guide, we’ll tackle a realistic paladin donned in a traditional knight helmet, adding a touch of authenticity to our drawing. Finally, we’ll challenge ourselves with the most complex guide: a detailed depiction of a paladin without a helmet, focusing on intricate armor details and facial features. So grab your pencils, and let’s get started on this drawing adventure together! But if you’re new to SketchOk, I’d recommend you to take a quick look at the next point about the structure of the guides.

Table of Contents

About the Drawing Guides

Each guide consists of a series of images, each designed to show a different step in the drawing process of male paladins. By following these images in order, you’ll see your drawing gradually develop from a simple sketch to a detailed and polished final piece.

  • Red Color: Highlights the current step you should focus on in each image.
  • Black Color: Indicates the lines from previous steps, helping you see how your drawing has progressed.
  • Grey Color: Shows the basic sketch, which is the foundation of your drawing.

We’ll start with a basic sketch that sets the structure and proportion of your paladin. The final step offers an option to ink your sketch. Inking adds a clean, defined edge to your drawing, making it stand out. After the ink dries, it’s important to gently erase the underlying pencil marks to avoid smudging, giving your artwork a neat and professional appearance.

Simple Cartoon Paladin – Beginner’s Guide

This first guide is designed for beginners and is the simplest among the four. Unlike the other guides, we’ll start drawing immediately without first creating a basic proportional sketch. The style of this paladin is straightforward, akin to a simple cartoon or perhaps even a game-style character. This approach makes it particularly accessible for those new to drawing.

The guide consists of 15 steps, each one building upon the last to gradually form a complete and charming cartoon paladin. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a fun and stylized character, perfect for those just starting their journey in the world of art.

Step 01 – Draw an oval shape with a narrow, arrow-like extension pointing downwards to represent the lower part of the face visible from the helmet’s opening

How to draw a cartoon paladin step 1: simple facial outline inside the helmet
Drawing the paladin’s face outline

Step 02 – Create a wide, drop-like shape around the head to form the overall helmet, encompassing the initial face outline

Easy paladin drawing step 2: helmet outline
Sketching the helmet’s shape

Step 03 – Draw two large, filled-in ovals for the eyes. Add a gentle, curved line between the bottoms of the eyes for a smile. Include several oval shapes or bold short lines above the eyes for ventilation marks on the helmet’s forehead area

How to draw a cartoon paladin step 3: eyes and smile
Adding facial features

Step 04 – Sketch the neck connecting the head to the shoulder armor, which should be broad and slightly curved over the shoulders

Easy paladin drawing step 4: neck and shoulder armor
Outlining neck and shoulder armor

Step 05 – Draw the outline of the arm from the shoulder down to the elbow, and sketch the shape of a shield mounted on the forearm

How to draw a cartoon paladin step 5: arm and shield
Drawing the arm and shield

Step 06 – Continue the arm’s outline from the elbow to the hand, forming a fist. Add lines to define fingers clenched around the shield’s handle

Easy paladin drawing step 6: complete the arm
Finishing the arm details

Step 07 – Draw the upper body down to the waist, adding a prominent belt buckle at the center of the waist

How to draw a cartoon paladin step 7: torso and belt buckle
Sketching the torso and belt

Step 08 – Shape the belt around the waist and extend lines downward to sketch out the tunic, which drapes over the legs

Easy paladin drawing step 8: belt and tunic
Outlining the belt and tunic

Step 09 – Draw the outline of the second arm and begin sketching the hand by adding the thumb, positioned to later grasp a sword

How to draw a cartoon paladin step 9: second arm and thumb sketch
Sketching the second arm and thumb

Step 10 – Continue the hand’s details by sketching three remaining fingers clenched as if holding a sword

Easy paladin drawing step 10: sketching remaining fingers
Detailing fingers on the hand

Step 11 – Add the sword handle within the grip formed by the thumb and fingers, ensuring it’s proportionate to the hand

How to draw a cartoon paladin step 11: sword handle sketch
Drawing the sword handle

Step 12 – Extend a straight or slightly tapered line from the handle to form the blade of the sword, making sure it’s aligned and balanced with the handle

Easy paladin drawing step 12: sword blade sketch
Sketching the sword blade

Step 13 – Sketch short, simple legs standing apart for stability, and add a horizontal line near the feet to represent the ground or a stylized shadow

How to draw a cartoon paladin step 13: legs and ground line
Drawing legs and ground line

Step 14 – Enhance the drawing with lines for simple creases in the armor, add a pattern to the shield, and detail the leg armor

Easy paladin drawing step 14: adding armor and shield details
Detailing armor and shield

Step 15 – Your drawing is now complete! Review it for any final adjustments or additional details to personalize your cartoon paladin

How to draw a cartoon paladin step 15: finished drawing
Completing the paladin drawing

Detailed Cartoon Paladin

Easy drawing of a cartoon style Paladin
How to draw a Disney style cartoon Paladin

The second guide in our series takes you through a more elaborate process of drawing a cartoon paladin, suitable for those who have some prior experience. This guide expands on the simple cartoon style by incorporating more intricate armor design and expressive face.

With 23 steps, this guide allows you to refine your skills further, adding depth and character to your paladin. Each step is designed to build complexity gradually, ensuring that you can follow along comfortably. Let’s get started.

Step 01 – Begin by drawing a basic outline of the face and a simple stick figure to establish the pose of your paladin

How to draw a paladin step 1: basic face and stick figure for pose
Starting with the basic face and pose

Step 02 – Sketch the placement of the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Shape the shoulder armor, shield, and body down to the knees

Easy paladin drawing step 2: detailing facial features and body armor
Adding facial features and body armor

Step 03 – Add basic shapes for the legs below the knees, sketch the outline of the hand holding the sword, and divide the shield vertically into two parts

How to draw a paladin step 3: legs, hand, and sword outlines
Outlining lower legs, hand, and sword

Step 04 – Define the outline of the face more clearly to prepare for detailed facial features

paladin drawing step 4: refining face outline
Refining the face outline

Step 05 – Draw the outline of the hair, considering the style and flow that complements the character’s head shape

paladin step 5: hair outline
Sketching the hair outline

Step 06 – Sketch two filled-in ovals for the eyes with small blank spaces for highlights. Add the nose, mouth, and ears to the face

paladin drawing step 6: eyes, nose, mouth, and ears
Adding eyes, nose, mouth, and ears

Step 07 – Draw the eyebrows and the upper eyelids to express the character’s emotion or mood. Add inner lines to the ears for depth

step 7: eyebrows and eyelids
Drawing eyebrows and eyelids

Step 08 – Begin outlining the first piece of shoulder armor, making sure it’s bulky and protective in appearance

Easy paladin drawing step 8: first shoulder armor outline
Outlining the first shoulder armor

Step 09 – Draw the neck connecting the head to the torso. Begin sketching the neck part of the armor, ensuring it complements the shoulder armor

paladin step 9: neck and neck armor
Sketching the neck and neck armor

Step 10 – Complete the details of the first shoulder armor. Sketch the second shoulder armor to match the first

paladin drawing step 10: completing first shoulder armor
Finalizing the first shoulder armor

Step 11 – Sketch the visible part of the hand that holds the shield and outline the shield as well

How to draw a paladin step 11: hand and shield outline
Outlining the shield-holding hand and shield

Steps 12 and 13 – Outline the body shape, ensuring it is proportionate and well-balanced. Add accessories like belts, sashes around the waist and a piece of cloth flowing down to the knee area

step 12: body shape and waist accessories
Drawing body shape and waist accessories

Step 13

paladin step 13: detailing body and accessories
Detailing accessories

Steps 14 and 15 – Begin sketching the second arm and hand, which will be holding the sword

Easy paladin drawing step 14: sketching second hand
Sketching the arm

Step 15

How to draw a paladin - step 15
Outlining the hand

Step 16 – Sketch the handle of the sword held by the paladin. Ensure the handle is detailed and fits comfortably in the hand

paladin step 16: sketching the sword handle
Detailing the sword handle

Step 17 – Extend the lines from the sword handle to form the blade. Make the blade proportionate to the handle and character size, tapering it towards the tip

Easy paladin drawing step 17: sword blade outline
Drawing the sword blade

Step 18 – Draw the upper parts of the legs, ensuring they appear strong and capable of supporting the armor. Outline the knee protection as well

How to draw a paladin step 18: sketching upper legs
Sketching the upper legs and knees

Steps 19 – Sketch the lower part of the legs / boots

Step 19 - Finishing the legs
Outlining the legs

Step 20 – 22 – Add details and patterns to the armor, sword and shield, enhancing their visual appeal and paladin design

paladin step 20: armor detailing
Adding details to the armor

Step 21

Easy paladin drawing step 21: shield detailing
Even more details

Step 22

How to draw a paladin step 22: sword detailing
Finalizing the paladin sketch

Step 23 – Review your drawing for any necessary adjustments. Erase the preliminary sketches and any extraneous marks. Optionally, you can ink the drawing to define and finalize the lines

paladin drawing step 23: final review and inking
Completing the paladin drawing

Realistic Paladin with Helmet

Helmeted paladin drawing - step-by-step tutorial
How to draw a realistic paladin in helmet

The third guide in our series introduces a more realistic approach to drawing a paladin, featuring a knightly helmet and detailed armor. This guide is ideal for artists who are comfortable with cartoon styles and are looking to explore more complex and realistic renderings.

Comprising 23 steps, this guide carefully guides you through each phase of drawing, from the initial layout of the body and pose to the polished finish of a helmeted paladin. Let’s learn how to draw our third male paladin.

Step 01 – Draw a vertical line from the top of the head to the ground to establish the paladin’s height. Add a short horizontal line at the top and a longer horizontal line at the bottom for the ground level. Sketch a basic helmet shape and a stick figure to define the pose

How to draw a realistic paladin step 1: initial pose and helmet outline
Starting with the basic pose and helmet

Step 02 – Draw basic outlines for the shoulder armor and the body structure down to the waist. Include a long, narrow vertical rectangle from the waist almost to the feet, representing a piece of cloth, a part of our paladin design. Sketch the outline of the shield

Realistic male paladin drawing step 2: outlining body and armor
Sketching shoulder armor and body structure

Step 03 – Sketch the basic structure of the legs and the visible part of the arm holding the shield. Outline the hand that will hold the sword and draw lines to indicate the sword’s position

realistic paladin step 3: legs, arms, and sword positioning
Placing legs, arms, and sword

Step 04 – Define the helmet’s outline more clearly, refining its shape and structure

Realistic male paladin drawing step 4: refining helmet details
Refining the helmet outline

Step 05 – Draw a horizontal slot for the eyes, allowing visibility through the helmet. Add a series of vertical lines below it for ventilation and breathing

realistic paladin step 5: helmet eye slot and ventilation
Adding eye slot and ventilation to the helmet

Step 06 – Draw the neck connecting the head to the torso. Begin outlining the neck part of the armor

Realistic male paladin drawing step 6: neck and neck armor
Sketching neck and neck armor

Step 07 – Begin sketching the initial shapes of the shoulder armor, making sure it appears robust and protective

Realistic paladin step 7: starting shoulder armor
Starting the shoulder armor

Step 08 – Complete the shoulder armor detailing, ensuring it integrates well with the previously drawn neck armor

Paladin drawing step 8: finishing shoulder armor
Completing the shoulder armor

Step 09 – Sketch the visible part of the arm that is hidden behind the shield and draw the upper half of the shield’s outline

Realistic paladin step 9: arm and partial shield
Outlining the arm and upper shield

Step 10 – Finish the full outline of the shield, detailing its shape

Realistic male paladin drawing step 10: full shield outline
Completing the shield outline

Step 11 – Draw the upper body down to the waist, ensuring the armor and fabrics integrate smoothly

Realistic paladin step 11: body to the waist
Defining the body to the waist

Step 12 – Outline the arm and hand that will be holding the sword

Realistic male paladin drawing step 12: arm and sword hand
Sketching the sword-holding arm

Step 13 – Sketch the handle of the sword, ensuring the handle is firm and detailed

Realistic paladin in helmet step 13: sword handle
Drawing the sword handle

Step 14 – Extend the lines from the handle to form the sword blade, ensuring it is straight and proportionate

Male paladin drawing step 14: sword blade
Sketching the sword blade

Step 15 Add detailing to the waist accessory as it’s shown below

Paladin drawing step 15: waist accessory
Adding waist accessory

Step 16 – Sketch the armor protecting the hips, integrating it with the vertical rectangle cloth drawn earlier, which hangs from below the waist accessory from step 15

Male paladin in helmet step 16: hips protection and cloth
Detailing hips protection and cloth

Step 17 – Draw the protective armor on the legs extending down to the knees, ensuring it looks sturdy and fits the leg’s contours

Realistic male paladin drawing step 17: leg armor to the knee
Outlining leg armor to the knee

Step 18 – Continue the leg armor from the knees down to the ankles, detailing each segment for mobility and protection

How to draw a male paladin in helmet step 18: knee to ankle armor
Sketching armor from knees to ankles

Step 19 – Outline the armor covering the feet, making sure it matches the style of the leg armor

Male paladin drawing step 19: foot armor
Drawing the foot armor

Step 20 – Sketch a cape flowing from the back down to the ground. Fill the inner part visible behind the legs with black to add shading and depth

Male paladin in helmet step 20: adding a flowing cape
Adding a flowing cape

Step 21 – Add intricate details to the helmet, neck, and shoulder armor. Incorporate a pattern into the piece of cloth from the waist, add inner frame lines to the shield, detail the sword, and draw a thin large cross on the chest

Realistic male paladin drawing step 21: detailing armor and cloth
Enhancing details on armor and cloth

Step 22 – Sketch folds in the fabric, add some shading below the armpits for depth, and complete the details on the sword-holding arm and its shoulder armor

How to draw a male paladin in helmet step 22: adding fabric folds and shading
Finalizing fabric folds and shading

Step 23 – Review the entire sketch for any needed adjustments. Gently erase any unnecessary lines and marks to clean up the drawing. Optionally, you can ink your sketch to finalize it, emphasizing clean, bold lines that bring out the details of your male paladin in a helmet

How to draw a male paladin in helmet step 23: final review and inking
Reviewing and completing the drawing

Complex Paladin without Helmet

Альт - step 28
How to draw a realistic male paladin

The fourth and final guide of our series is the most detailed and challenging, perfect for artists who want to practice the intricacies of medieval fantasy art. This guide focuses on a paladin without a helmet, exposing the character’s detailed facial features and hair, alongside a more complex armor design.

With 28 steps, this tutorial covers the creation of a paladin with elaborate details like crosses on the shield and chest, intricate patterns on the sword, and sophisticated armor detailing. Each step is crafted to help you focus on these fine elements, enhancing both your ability to handle complex designs in your drawings.

Step 01 – Begin by sketching a basic circle for the head with a chin shape. Add a vertical line for symmetry. Below it, draw a simple stick figure to establish the pose of the paladin. The stick figure should include lines for the arms, legs, and torso, suggesting the stance of the character

Basic head shape and stick figure outline for a male paladin pose - step 01
Initial sketch of head and pose

Step 02 – Draw placeholders for the eyes, nose, and mouth on the head. Sketch the neck and add basic shapes for the shoulders and body armor. Outline a shield shape next to the body and a rectangular cloth flowing from the waist to the feet

Adding facial features and basic body armor shapes to the paladin drawing - step 02
Placing facial features and armor

Step 03 – Add outlines for the leg armor. Sketch the hand that will be holding the sword, along with the basic outline of the sword itself, ensuring it aligns with the paladin’s pose

Outlining leg armor, sword, and hand of the male paladin drawing - step 03
Detailing legs, sword, and hand

Step 04 – Refine the outline of the face to more closely resemble the final shape, adjusting the jawline and forehead

Refining the face outline in the paladin drawing - step 04
Refining the face shape

Step 05 – Draw the outline of the hair, considering the style and flow

Sketching the hair outline on the paladin figure - step 05
Outlining the hair

Step 06 – Sketch the ear and refine the neck. Add the initial outlines for the armor around the neck, considering how it connects to the body armor

Drawing the ear, neck, and neck part of the armor for the paladin - step 06
Detailing ear and neck armor

Step 07 – Draw the upper eyelids, refining the shape of the eyes. Sketch the nose and mouth to begin forming the facial expression

Adding upper eyelids, nose, and mouth to the paladin's face drawing - step 07
Sketching facial expressions

Step 08 – Complete the eyes and add eyebrows. Detail the inner lines of the ear to give depth

Detailed drawing of eyes, eyebrows, and inner ear lines for the paladin - step 08
Adding facial details

Step 09 – Finish the neck armor by adding details for realism. Start sketching the shape of the shoulder armor

Enhancing the neck armor and beginning shoulder armor in the paladin drawing - step 09
Enhancing armor details

Step 10 – Complete the shoulder armor by adding additional protection layers

Finalizing the shoulder armor design on the paladin - step 10
Completing shoulder armor

Step 11 – Draw the arm armor extending from below the shoulder pieces. Refine the outline of the shield to prepare for detailing in later steps

Sketching arm armor and refining the shield outline - step 11
Detailing arm armor and shield

Step 12 – Add shadows inside the neck armor to create depth. Detail the body shape and shoulders. Sketch the belt buckle and finish the arm holding the shield

Adding shadows and details to the neck armor, body, and shield arm of the paladin - step 12
Adding shadows and body details

Step 13 – Start adding detailed elements to the waist armor, considering how each piece interlocks and overlays

Beginning waist armor detailing on the paladin drawing - step 13
Starting waist armor

Step 14 – Draw waist straps and detail the hip armor, ensuring each element aligns with the overall armor design

Adding waist straps and hip armor to the paladin - step 14
Finalizing waist armor

Step 15 – Sketch a piece of cloth flowing from the waist, falling in the middle towards the ground. Add straps at the top of this cloth to attach it securely to the armor

Adding a central piece of cloth and straps at the waist of the male paladin drawing - step 15
Detailing waist cloth and straps

Step 16 – Outline the leg armor, ensuring to add knee protectors. Focus on the shape and fit of the armor around the legs

Sketching leg armor and knee protection on the paladin - step 16
Drawing leg armor and knees

Step 17 – As the right leg is partially obscured by the cloth, sketch the armor on the visible leg, focusing up to the upper calf

Drawing visible leg armor up to the upper calf on the paladin - step 17
Detailing visible leg armor

Step 18 – Sketch the remaining armor details on both legs and the feet, ensuring continuity in design and fit

Completing the armor on both legs and feet of the paladin - step 18
Finalizing leg and foot armor

Step 19 – Outline the armor on the arm up to the wrist, preparing for the hand that will hold the sword

Outlining armor up to the wrist on the arm that will hold the sword - step 19
Detailing sword arm armor

Step 20 – Draw the hand that will grip the sword, focusing on the position and alignment with the fingers

Sketching the hand for the male paladin - step 20
Drawing the sword hand

Step 21 – Sketch the handle of the sword, ensuring it matches the style and era of the paladin’s overall design

Drawing the handle of the paladin's sword - step 21
Sketching the sword handle

Step 22 – Draw the blade of the sword, extending from the handle, with attention to its length and sharpness

Outlining the blade of the paladin's sword - step 22
Drawing the sword blade

Step 23 – Draw a cape that flows from the shoulders down to the ground, adding drama to the pose

Sketching a cape flowing to the ground for the male paladin - step 23
Adding the cape

Step 24 – Add detailed lines and frames to the shield and armor pieces, enhancing their three-dimensional appearance

Adding lines and frames to the shield and armor of the paladin - step 24
Enhancing shield and armor details

Step 25 – Sketch crosses on the shield and the paladin’s chest. Add intricate patterns to the sword’s blade and handle, and folds and creases to the fabric

Adding crosses and patterns to the shield, chest, and sword of the paladin - step 25
Detailing shield, chest, and sword

Step 26 – Enhance the smaller details on the crosses, the sword’s blade and handle, and the flowing cloth, emphasizing their design

Adding finer details to the crosses, sword, and cloth on the male paladin - step 26
Final detailing on decorations

Step 27 – Fill in the inside of the cape area and add shadows behind the sword, shield, and visible inner part of the right shoulder armor to create depth

Adding shadows and depth to the inner cape area and armor of the paladin - step 27
Deepening shadows and details

Step 28 – Gently erase the basic sketches and any pencil marks to clean up the drawing, presenting a finished and polished look of a male paladin

How to draw a paladin - Erasing preliminary sketches from the completed drawing of a male paladin - step 28
Cleaning up the final drawing of the paladin

Thank you for joining me in this detailed exploration of how to draw male paladins. Whether you started with the simplest cartoon style or ventured into the more complex realistic and detailed drawings, I hope you found this guide helpful and inspiring. Drawing paladins is a rewarding challenge that can help you practice your skills and bring your medieval fantasies to life.

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