How to Draw Charles Darwin: Easy 9-Step History Lesson

Bring history to life by drawing the father of evolution, Charles Darwin! This tutorial is designed for students and budding artists ages 8+ who want to practice portraiture. You will need a pencil, an eraser, and a black fine-liner to complete this iconic look.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A finished, colored illustration of Charles Darwin, showcasing his iconic beard and Victorian attire.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Eyes and Brows

Pencil sketch showing two lemon-shaped eye sockets and bushy eyebrows for a Charles Darwin portrait.

Lightly sketch two lemon-shaped outlines for the eye sockets, then place circles inside for the pupils. Add curved lines above to suggest wrinkles. Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light so you can easily adjust the symmetry of the brows later.

Step 2: Defining the Nose

Close-up pencil sketch of the nose structure and bridge details for a Charles Darwin drawing.

Draw thin lines above the brows. For the nose, sketch two diagonal lines near the right eye, adding a hook at the end and a C-shape on the left. Tip: The nose is the anchor of the face; ensure the bridge aligns with the center of the eyes.

Step 3: Starting the Mustache

Pencil sketch of the upper lip area and initial mustache lines for Charles Darwin.

Add a wavy line beneath the nose, followed by a soft curve. On the right, sketch a loose, wavy line with small triangles to suggest hair texture. Tip: Use short, flicking motions with your pencil to mimic the appearance of coarse facial hair.

Step 4: Outlining the Left Cheek

Pencil sketch showing the outline of the left side of Charles Darwin's face and beard.

Sketch a long, loose, wavy line that defines the left side of the face. Tip: Don't worry about making this line perfectly smooth; a slightly jagged line looks more natural for a beard.

Step 5: Developing the Beard

Pencil sketch detailing the texture and volume of Charles Darwin's full beard.

Complete the beard with a sketchy line crossing the left cheek. Add small triangles and curves to create depth. Tip: Vary the size of your triangles to make the beard look fuller and more realistic.

Step 6: Adding Head Shape

Pencil sketch showing the completed head shape and added beard texture for Charles Darwin.

Add small dashes inside the beard for texture, then draw a dome shape to outline the top of the head. Tip: Keep the dome rounded to balance out the busy, jagged lines of the beard below.

Step 7: Drawing the Collar

Pencil sketch of Charles Darwin's Victorian-style shirt collar and clothing details.

Sketch two diagonal lines under the beard. On the right, draw two triangles with vertical lines inside for the shirt collar. On the left, sketch a rectangle and a triangle with a parallel line inside. Tip: Use a ruler if you struggle with straight lines for the collar.

Step 8: Adding Shoulders and Chest

Pencil sketch showing the shoulder and chest area of Charles Darwin's coat.

Draw a curve with a small triangle near the top for the shoulder. Complete the arm with a loose Y-shape and add two dashes on the chest for clothing folds. Tip: These small lines add a sense of weight to the fabric of his coat.

Step 9: Final Inking

Final ink outline of the Charles Darwin portrait, ready for coloring.

Outline the bottom of the body with a wavy line and add final curves to the shoulders. Once satisfied, trace your pencil lines with a black ink pen. Tip: Wait for the ink to dry completely before erasing your pencil marks to avoid smudging.

Step 10: Adding Color

Fully colored portrait of Charles Darwin with a grey beard and maroon shirt.

Bring your drawing to life! Use a grey pencil for the beard, tan for the skin, reddish-brown for the coat, and maroon for the shirt. Keep the eyes white with dark pupils for a sharp, intelligent gaze.