How to Draw a Plague Doctor: Easy 10-Step Tutorial

Bring this iconic historical figure to life with a guided drawing session perfect for ages 8+. You will need a pencil, eraser, and paper to complete this character study. Follow along to practice layering shapes and creating fabric folds for a professional-looking illustration.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A finished, high-quality illustration of a plague doctor in a dark, historical style.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Hat Base

A simple rectangular outline representing the top portion of a plague doctor's hat.

Start by drawing a curved rectangle using four soft lines. Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light so you can easily adjust the shape if it looks a bit lopsided.

Step 2: Adding the Hat Brim

An S-shaped line drawn beneath the rectangle to define the wide brim of the hat.

Draw a long, flowing 'S' shaped line to form the brim. Tip: Ensure the center of the 'S' touches the hat base to create a realistic 3D perspective.

Step 3: Defining the Iconic Mask

The outline of the bird-like mask with a circular eye hole and beak details.

Sketch the bird-like beak using two curved lines that meet at a point. Add a circle for the eye and shade it in. Tip: Use short, light dashes along the beak to suggest texture.

Step 4: Drawing the Scarf and Headband

The head of the plague doctor with a scarf and mask strap added.

Outline the back of the head and the scarf wrapped around the neck. Tip: Add small, curved lines on the scarf to mimic the look of bunched fabric.

Step 5: Sketching the Arm and Book

The arm of the robe with folds, holding a rectangular book.

Use overlapping curved lines to draw the sleeve. At the end, draw a simple rectangular shape for the book. Tip: Overlapping lines are the secret to making fabric look heavy and realistic.

Step 6: Adding Garment Details

The torso of the robe with button details added.

Draw the top of the robe using overlapping lines and add small circles for buttons. Tip: Keep the buttons aligned to show the center of the coat.

Step 7: Drawing the Lantern

The full torso with a belt and a detailed lantern hanging from the hand.

Outline the torso, belt, and the lantern. Use rounded rectangles for the lantern body. Tip: Draw the central globe slightly larger to make the lantern look like it's glowing.

Step 8: Adding the Robe and Shoes

The lower half of the robe and the doctor's shoes.

Draw the long skirt of the robe and the shoes. Tip: Add small lines across the shoes to represent buckles or laces for extra detail.

Step 9: Finalizing Details

The completed line art of the plague doctor with refined details.

Go over your drawing and add small lines to the clothing to emphasize the folds and texture. Tip: Use a darker pencil for these final details to make them pop.

Step 10: Adding Color

The fully colored plague doctor illustration.

Bring your doctor to life with dark, moody colors. Tip: Use shades of black, grey, and brown to maintain the historical aesthetic.