How to Draw Katherine Johnson: Easy 10-Step Portrait Guide

Celebrate the legacy of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson with this step-by-step portrait tutorial. Designed for students and aspiring artists, this lesson requires only a pencil, paper, and an eraser. Follow along to build your portrait-drawing skills while honoring a true pioneer of space exploration.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A finished, colorful portrait of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, perfect for educational art projects.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Glasses

Close-up sketch of Katherine Johnson's glasses and eyes, showing the initial lens outlines and pupils.

Start by drawing the frames of her signature glasses. Use curved lines that meet at points to outline the eyes and lids. Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light so you can easily adjust the shape of the lenses if they look uneven.

Step 2: Defining the Frames and Brows

Drawing the bridge of the glasses, the nose bridge, and the arched eyebrows above the eyes.

Connect the lenses with a bridge and add the earpieces. Draw a curved line for the nose and add the eyebrows above the eyes. Tip: Use short, quick strokes for the eyebrows to give them a natural, expressive look.

Step 3: Adding Facial Features

Detailed sketch of the nose, mouth, and cheek dimples for the Katherine Johnson portrait.

Sketch the nose, lips, and dimples using soft, connected curved lines. Tip: Focus on the corners of the mouth; keeping them slightly upturned gives the portrait a warm, friendly expression.

Step 4: Outlining the Face

Outlining the jawline, chin, and neck to establish the structure of the face.

Use overlapping curved lines to define the chin, neck, and cheekbones. Tip: Think of the face as a rounded shape—don't make the chin too pointy; keep it soft and rounded.

Step 5: Sketching the Hairline

Adding the hairline and widow's peak to the top of the forehead.

Draw the hairline, including the distinct 'V' shaped widow's peak in the center of the forehead. Tip: Use light, feathery strokes to make the hair look more natural rather than like a solid block.

Step 6: Adding Ears and Hair

Drawing the ears and the side hair framing the face.

Use wavy lines to draw the ears and the side sections of her hair. Tip: Ensure the ears align roughly with the space between the eyes and the nose.

Step 7: Finalizing the Hairstyle

Adding final hair details and texture lines to complete the hairstyle.

Close the hair shape with a long, sweeping curved line and add texture with shorter, internal lines. Tip: Vary the length of your lines to create the illusion of depth and volume.

Step 8: Drawing the Collar

Sketching the neck, shirt collar, and button detail.

Draw the neck and the structured collar of her shirt. Add an oval button with a small curved line to give it a 3D effect. Tip: A clean collar adds a professional look to your portrait.

Step 9: Shoulders and Sleeves

Adding the shoulders and upper sleeves to complete the outline.

Complete the figure by drawing the shoulders and the tops of the sleeves. Tip: Keep these lines smooth and flowing to match the rest of the drawing.

Step 10: Adding Color

The finished, colored portrait of Katherine Johnson.

Your outline is ready! Use dark brown for her hair and your favorite colors for her clothing. Tip: Use a light tan or peach for the skin, and don't forget to shade the lenses of her glasses with a very light blue to represent the glass.