How to Draw a Wanted Poster: Easy 10-Step Guide

Ready to create your own Wild West adventure? This tutorial is perfect for artists ages 6+ who want to practice character design and lettering. Grab your pencil, eraser, and paper, and let’s bring this classic outlaw poster to life!

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A finished, professional-looking Wanted Poster illustration featuring a cowboy and bold text.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Poster Frame

A rectangular paper outline with jagged edges and a curled corner, featuring small circles in the corners representing nails.

Draw a large rectangle for the paper. Add wavy, jagged lines on the sides to make it look weathered. Tip: Add a small 'V' shape at the bottom corner to make it look like the paper is curled—it adds a great 3D effect!

Step 2: Starting the 'WANTED' Header

The letters W, A, and N drawn in a bold, serif font at the top of the poster frame.

Begin sketching the letters 'W,' 'A,' and 'N.' Use blocky, straight lines. Tip: Give these letters a 'serif' style by adding tiny rectangles to the ends of each stroke—it makes the text look like an old-fashioned printing press.

Step 3: Finishing the Header

The full word WANTED written in a bold, blocky serif font inside the poster frame.

Complete the word 'WANTED' by adding the 'T,' 'E,' and 'D.' Tip: Keep your spacing consistent so the word looks centered and professional.

Step 4: Adding the Subtitle

The text DEAD or ALIVE written clearly beneath a horizontal line on the poster.

Draw a straight horizontal line under 'WANTED.' Beneath it, write 'DEAD or ALIVE.' Tip: Use your ruler if you struggle with straight lines, but a slightly shaky hand actually fits the 'old west' theme perfectly!

Step 5: Sketching the Cowboy Hat

A simple outline of a cowboy hat with a curved brim and a hatband.

Draw the crown of the hat with an 'M' shape and the brim as a wide, curved banana shape. Tip: The hat should be slightly tilted to give your character some personality.

Step 6: Drawing the Eyes and Nose

Close-up of a cowboy's face showing expressive eyebrows, almond eyes, and a nose bridge.

Add pointed eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes with dark, round pupils. Draw a curved line for the bridge of the nose. Tip: Make the pupils large to give the character a focused, intense look.

Step 7: Adding the Mustache and Ears

The cowboy's face now features a bushy mustache, ears, and hair framing the face.

Draw a wide 'W' shape for the mustache and add ears on the sides of the face. Tip: Don't forget to add a few small lines inside the ears to give them realistic depth.

Step 8: Adding the Bandana

The cowboy character complete with a bandana tied around the neck and shoulders.

Draw a bandana tied at the side of the neck using irregular, flowing shapes. Tip: Use curved lines to show the fabric folding—this makes the bandana look soft and tied tight.

Step 9: Adding the Reward Amount

The bottom of the poster now includes a large dollar sign and the reward amount of 100,000.

At the bottom of the poster, draw a large dollar sign ($) and the number '100.000.' Tip: Make these numbers big and bold so everyone knows the reward amount!

Step 10: Adding Color

The finished, colored Wanted Poster with a tan paper background and a detailed cowboy illustration.

Bring your poster to life! Use tan, cream, or light yellow for the paper to give it an 'aged' look. Tip: Use a light brown colored pencil to add 'stains' or 'tears' to the paper edges for extra realism.