How to Draw a Ship Captain (Easy Step by Step)
This ship captain is built from simple shapes: a big round head, a dome for the hat, and a round wheel in the middle. The wavy beard and tiny anchor badge make him look ready to sail. It is a good character to try because most parts are circles, curves, or straight lines.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 10 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a ship captain step by step
How to Draw a Ship Captain · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The round head
Draw a big round shape for the captain's head. Leave the top open, because the hat will sit there.
Step 3: The hat top
Draw a dome like half a ball sitting on top of the head. Close the bottom of the dome with a straight line across.
Step 4: Hat band and visor
Draw a long line across the head just under the dome, ending at both sides of the hat. Then add a short curved smile-shaped line below it for the front of the hat brim.
Step 5: Eyes and smile
Add two small round dots for eyes, spaced evenly apart. Draw a small curved smile in the middle, below and between them.
Step 6: The wavy beard
Starting at one side of the face, draw a long wavy line across the lower part of the head to the other side. It makes a fluffy beard.
Step 7: Body and ship wheel
Under the head, draw a tall body with straight sides that narrows toward the bottom. Add a round ship's wheel in the middle with spokes like a star, and two pairs of tiny buttons above it.
Step 8: The arms
Draw a curved arm on each side of the body, starting at the shoulder and bending down. End each arm with a little hand that reaches the wheel.
Step 9: Two oval shoes
At the bottom, draw two flat ovals side by side for the captain's shoes. Tuck them just under the bottom of the body.
Step 10: The anchor badge
On the front of the hat, draw a short straight line going down. Add a small curved shape at the bottom with a little curl at each end, and you have an anchor.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your ship captain? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a coral reef or how to draw a dolphin next.
Tips for drawing a ship captain
- The wheel is the trickiest part. Draw the round shape first, then add the spokes like slices of a pizza, and keep them small.
- Draw the hat dome first, then close it with a straight line. This keeps the hat looking even on both sides.
- Make the beard line wavy, not zigzag. Think of gentle ocean waves going up and down.
Free ship captain coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this ship captain coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your ship captain drawing
Try a navy blue hat and coat with a gold anchor, and a gray or white beard. For a creative twist, give the wheel rainbow spokes.
Ship captain fun fact for kids
A ship's steering wheel is called a helm, and the person who steers is called the helmsman. Many old sailing ships had wooden wheels with spokes that stuck out past the rim so sailors could grip them.
Questions about drawing a ship captain
What shapes do I need to draw a ship captain?
You need a round shape for the head, a half circle for the hat, a tall body shape, and two ovals for the shoes. The wheel is a circle with lines inside.
How do I draw the ship's wheel?
Draw a round shape in the middle of the body, then add straight lines going out from the center like a star. Keep the lines short so they stay inside the wheel.
How do I make my captain look friendlier?
Keep the eyes small and round and draw a gentle curved smile. A big fluffy beard also adds personality.
