How to Draw a Chess Piece (Easy Step by Step)
This guide has two chess pieces standing side by side: a tall one with a cross on top and a small round one. Both are built from simple shapes you already know: ovals, circles, curved lines and rounded rectangles. Giving each piece a smiling face makes them feel like new friends.
- 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 chess piece step by step
How to Draw a Chess Piece · 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: Tall rounded head
Draw an upside-down U with a nice round top, like the top of a tall egg. Leave the bottom open for now.
Step 3: The wide collar
Across the open bottom of the head, draw a wide, flat oval like a ring. The bottom of the head tucks into the top edge of the oval.
Step 4: Curvy tall body
Start under the collar and draw two long curved lines that swoop outward, like a bell or a tall skirt. Keep both sides matching.
Step 5: Stacked base
At the bottom of the body, draw two stacked rounded rectangles, the lower one a little wider, like two flat pillows. The body lines end at the top one.
Step 6: Cross and happy face
Draw a small plus sign on top of the head. Then add two round dots for eyes and a little curved smile between them.
Step 7: Little round head
Next to the tall piece, draw most of a big circle for the pawn's head. Leave a small gap at the bottom where it will meet the collar.
Step 8: Little collar
Draw a flat oval ring in the gap under the circle, so the head sits on top of it like a ball on a plate.
Step 9: Pawn body and base
Draw two long curved lines swooping outward from the collar, then a rounded rectangle at the bottom for the base. Join the lines to the top of the base.
Step 10: Pawn smile
Give the round head two dot eyes and a small curved smile, just like the tall piece.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your chess piece? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a toy car or how to draw a doll next.
Tips for drawing a chess piece
- Draw the flat oval rings lightly and wide. Keep them thin from top to bottom, like a squished circle.
- The curvy bodies are the trickiest part. Draw the left side first, then copy it on the right so both sides swoop out evenly.
- Put the eyes at the same height, with the smile centered between them, so the faces look friendly and balanced.
Free chess piece coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this chess piece 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 chess piece drawing
Try two matching colors, like deep blue for the tall piece and bright orange for the small one, with lighter shades on the bases. For a creative twist, color the background like a checkerboard of squares behind them.
Chess piece fun fact for kids
A chess board has 64 squares, and each player starts with 16 pieces. Eight of them are pawns, the small round pieces that march forward.
Questions about drawing a chess piece
What shapes do I need to draw a chess piece?
You need ovals for the collars, a circle for the pawn head, an upside-down U for the tall head, and rounded rectangles for the bases. Two curved lines connect each collar to its base to make the body.
How do I make the two chess pieces look matching?
Use the same kind of face and the same flat oval collar on both. Drawing the collars at the same angle makes them look like a team.
Why is the bottom of my chess piece wobbly?
Draw each base as a rounded rectangle, starting with a straight top line and a straight bottom line. Then round off the corners at the ends.
