How to Draw Harriet Tubman: Easy 9-Step Portrait Guide

Honor the legacy of Harriet Tubman by creating your own portrait. This tutorial is designed for students and history buffs who want to practice facial proportions and character sketching. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and a sheet of paper to begin.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Eyes

Close-up sketch of Harriet Tubman's eyes and nose bridge showing initial facial proportions.

Start by drawing two almond-shaped curves for the eyes and a small bridge for the nose. Tip: Keep your pupils small and centered to give her a thoughtful, focused expression.

Step 2: Defining the Mouth

Detailed sketch of the nose and mouth area for the Harriet Tubman portrait.

Add the nostrils and lips using gentle, curved lines. Tip: A little shading inside the nostrils adds instant depth, making the face look three-dimensional.

Step 3: Shaping the Face

Outline of the face shape and hairline for the Harriet Tubman drawing.

Draw the jawline and forehead using a continuous curved line. Add wavy lines near the hairline to suggest the texture of her hair. Tip: Use a light touch here; you want the face to look soft, not rigid.

Step 4: Adding the Hair

Drawing the hair volume and neck line for the Harriet Tubman portrait.

Layer wavy lines to create the hair, ensuring they overlap near the ears and the center part. Tip: Think of hair as 'shapes' rather than individual strands to make it look more natural.

Step 5: Adding Hair Texture

Adding fine wavy lines to the hair for realistic texture.

Add smaller, wavy lines throughout the hair to create texture and volume. Tip: Vary the length of your strokes to avoid a 'uniform' look—hair is naturally irregular!

Step 6: Drawing the Collar

Sketching the collar and shoulder lines of the dress.

Sketch the collar of her dress using structured, geometric shapes. Tip: Ensure the collar sits symmetrically on both sides of the neck to keep the portrait balanced.

Step 7: Adding Buttons

Adding buttons and sleeve details to the dress.

Outline the shoulders and add a series of small circles for the buttons down the front of the dress. Tip: Use a circular object like a coin if you struggle to draw perfect circles freehand.

Step 8: Adding Fabric Folds

Adding fabric folds to the dress for a realistic look.

Draw subtle curved lines across the dress to represent fabric folds. Tip: Keep these lines sparse; too many lines can make the drawing look cluttered.

Step 9: Final Contouring

Final contouring of the Harriet Tubman portrait.

Refine the neck and dress lines with a final, confident pass of your pencil. Tip: Erase any stray guidelines now to clean up your portrait before coloring.

Coloring Your Portrait

Finished and colored portrait of Harriet Tubman.

Bring your drawing to life with color! Use warm browns for her skin and dark tones for her hair. Choose a classic color like deep blue or grey for her dress to match the historical era.