How to Draw Abraham Lincoln: Easy 10-Step Guide

Bring history to life with this simple portrait of Abraham Lincoln, designed specifically for young artists and beginners. You will only need a pencil, an eraser, and a piece of paper to complete this iconic profile. Follow these steps to build confidence in sketching facial features and historical figures.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A completed, colorful cartoon illustration of Abraham Lincoln wearing his iconic top hat.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Top Hat Base

Line drawing of the top section of Abraham Lincoln's stovepipe hat.

Start by drawing the top of Lincoln’s signature stovepipe hat using two parallel vertical lines connected by a curved top. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light so you can easily adjust the proportions later.

Step 2: Adding the Hat Brim

Adding the wide brim to the base of the stovepipe hat.

Draw a wide 'C' shaped line at the base of the hat to form the brim. Tip: Make sure the brim extends slightly past the sides of the hat to give it a realistic, balanced look.

Step 3: Defining the Hatband

Drawing a horizontal curved line to create the hatband detail.

Add a curved line across the bottom of the hat's crown to represent the hatband. Tip: This small detail adds depth and helps the hat look three-dimensional.

Step 4: Sketching Hair and Beard

Outlining Lincoln's hair and beard using jagged, textured lines.

Use jagged, curved lines to outline the hair and the start of the beard. Tip: Think of the beard as an 'L' shape that connects from the ear area down to the chin.

Step 5: Drawing the Ear

Detailed sketch of the ear with internal cartilage lines.

Draw a 'C' shaped line for the ear and add small inner curves for detail. Tip: Keep the ear positioned roughly halfway down the side of the head for correct anatomical placement.

Step 6: Profiling the Face

Sketch the profile using a series of connected curves for the forehead, nose, lips, and chin. Tip: Focus on the slope of the nose—Lincoln’s profile is very distinct!

Step 7: Adding the Eye and Brow

Draw the eye using a 'V' shape and a curved line, then add the pupil and a bushy eyebrow. Tip: Use short, quick strokes for the eyebrow to give it a natural, textured look.

Step 8: Drawing the Collar

Sketching the shirt collar and button at the base of the neck.

Extend lines from the neck to form a rectangular collar shape and add a small circle for the button. Tip: Ensure the collar lines are straight to contrast with the curves of the face.

Step 9: Completing the Collar

Finalizing the collar outline with clean, defined lines.

Finish the collar by enclosing the shape with clean, firm lines. Tip: Use your eraser to clean up any overlapping sketch lines inside the collar area.

Step 10: Adding Color

The finished, colored portrait of Abraham Lincoln.

Bring your drawing to life! Use black for the hat and suit, and white for the shirt. If you want a creative twist, use copper and bronze tones to make him look like he's on a penny. Tip: Use light pressure with your colored pencils to blend colors smoothly.