How to Draw a Potter (Easy Step by Step)
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A potter at the wheel is a cozy scene to draw, and it is built from very simple shapes. You will use a circle, long lines, ovals and a few curves to make a smiling craftsperson shaping a vase.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 8 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a potter step by step
How to Draw a Potter · 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: The round head
Draw a big round circle near the top of your page for the head. Leave a small gap at the bottom where the neck will be.
Step 3: The tall body
Under the head, draw a short line across for the shoulders. Then draw two long straight lines going down from its ends for the sides of the body.
Step 4: Headband and face
Draw a curved line across the top of the head for the headband. Add two small dots for eyes and a little smile curve below them.
Step 5: Two arms
From the right side of the body, draw two long wavy lines reaching out to the right, one above the other. Then draw a third wavy line below them to finish the lower arm.
Step 6: Stool, hands and post
Draw a flat oval for the stool seat around the bottom of the body, with two slanted legs below it. Add two small ovals for shoes and two little curves on the tummy for the apron. At the end of the arms, draw a small loop for the hands, then draw a tall U shape on the ground for the wheel post.
Step 7: The clay vase
Above the wheel post and next to the hands, draw a vase. Start with a short neck with a flat top, then curve out into a round belly on the right.
Step 8: The pottery wheel
Draw a wide flat oval under the vase for the spinning top. Then draw a flat oval on the ground for the base, joined to the top with two short straight lines.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your potter? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a miner or how to draw a window washer next.
Tips for drawing a potter
- Draw the two arms as long, wavy lines that reach toward the vase. The hands sit at the ends, so keep the arms pointing at the vase.
- Make the vase belly round and the neck short and straight. If the shape wobbles, sketch it lightly first and then trace over it.
- The stool sits behind the body, so stop its lines where they touch the body instead of drawing through it.
Free potter coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this potter 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 potter drawing
Try a warm terracotta orange for the vase and a bright headband in red or blue. For a creative twist, decorate the vase with stripes, dots, or zigzags, just like real pottery.
Potter fun fact for kids
Potters have used spinning wheels to shape clay for more than 5,000 years. The wheel lets them pull a lump of clay up into a smooth, round pot.
Questions about drawing a potter
What shapes do I need to draw a potter?
You need a circle for the head, long straight lines for the body, and ovals for the stool, shoes and wheel. The vase is a rounded belly with a short neck.
How do I make my potter look cuter?
Make the head extra big and round, and give the potter a wide smile with two small dot eyes. A colorful headband adds a lot of charm.
How do I draw the pottery wheel?
Draw a flat oval for the spinning top, then a second flat oval lower down for the base. Join them with two short straight lines and the wheel is done.
