How to Draw a Detective (Easy Step by Step)
This little detective is ready to find clues with a big magnifying glass. The drawing is built from circles, ovals and rounded boxes, so it is a good one for beginners. The hat and the magnifier are the two parts that make it look like a detective.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a detective step by step
How to Draw a Detective · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch these 2 ovals. They only show where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase them at the end.
Step 2: Head and ears
Draw the bottom of a big round head, a little wider than it is tall, starting on one side and curving around to the other. Add a small half-circle ear on each side of the head.
Step 3: The hat dome
Draw a curved dome on top of the head, like half a ball. Add two small loops side by side on the very top for the hat's knot.
Step 4: Hat band and fringe
Draw a gently curved band straight across the bottom of the dome. Under it, draw a wavy line across the forehead.
Step 5: The coat body
Under the head, draw two side lines that go down and out a little, like a rounded box. Close it with a flat line along the bottom.
Step 6: Collar, belt and legs
Draw two tilted rectangles under the chin for the collar, one on each side. Then draw a straight belt across the middle with a small buckle and a short line going down. Under the coat, add two short lines for the legs.
Step 7: Arms
On the left, draw a long rounded arm with a small circle at the end for the hand. On the right, draw a curved sleeve that bends up toward the face.
Step 8: Magnifier and face
Draw a big circle over one side of the face for the magnifying glass, with a dot in the middle. Add a short handle going down to a small hand circle, then a dot for the other eye and a curvy smile.
Step 9: Shoes
Draw two wide ovals at the bottom, side by side and touching, for the shoes. They sit right under the legs.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your detective? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw an explorer or how to draw a grandma next.
Tips for drawing a detective
- Draw the magnifying glass circle lightly first so the dot sits in the middle of it.
- Make the two shoe ovals touch in the middle, and keep them the same size so the detective looks steady.
- Draw the hat band as a gentle curve, not a straight line, so the hat looks like it wraps around the head.
Free detective coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this detective 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 detective drawing
Try a tan hat and coat, a brown belt and dark shoes, with a light blue tint inside the magnifying glass. For a creative twist, draw a tiny footprint or a hidden clue seen through the glass.
Detective fun fact for kids
A magnifying glass works because its curved glass lens bends light, which makes small things look bigger. You can try it yourself by looking at a leaf or a coin through one.
Questions about drawing a detective
What shapes do I need to draw a detective?
You need a big circle for the head, an oval for each shoe and a rounded box for the coat. The hat is a half circle with a curved band and a little knot on top.
How do I draw a magnifying glass?
Draw a circle, add a dot in the middle, then add a short handle coming out from the bottom. Finish the handle with a small circle for the hand.
How do I make my detective look cuter?
Make the head very round and big, and keep the eye dot small. A curvy smile helps too.
