How to Draw a Scroll (Easy Step by Step)
A scroll is a fun thing to draw because it is built from simple shapes: two long rounded rectangles, wavy lines, and a few circles. This guide adds a feather pen and a smiling ink pot to make a cozy writing scene. Everything starts with shapes you already know.
- Easy
- 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 scroll step by step
How to Draw a Scroll · 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 top roll
Draw a long, wide rounded rectangle across the top, like a sideways sausage. Add a small oval near the left end to show the rolled paper.
Step 3: The bottom roll
Draw a second long rounded rectangle across the bottom, the same size as the top one. Add the same small oval near its left end.
Step 4: The paper sides
Connect the two rolls with two gently wavy lines, one on the left and one on the right. They hang down from the top roll to the bottom roll.
Step 5: Wavy writing lines
Inside the paper, draw wavy lines like little ocean waves, one under the other. Start each line at the same spot on the left.
Step 6: The ribbon seal
Under the bottom roll, draw a small circle with a dot in the middle. Then add two ribbon tails hanging down from it, spreading apart at the bottom.
Step 7: The feather
Next to the scroll, draw a tall, pointy leaf shape for the feather. Draw a long line up the middle of it.
Step 8: The ink pot
Draw a round bowl shape with a wide, flat oval at the top for the opening.
Step 9: Quill and face
Draw a short stick going from the bottom of the feather down into the pot. Finish with two dots for eyes and a little smile on the pot.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your scroll? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a magician or how to draw a viking next.
Tips for drawing a scroll
- Draw the top and bottom rolls the same length so the scroll looks balanced. Light guide lines help you match them.
- Wavy lines are easiest if you think of them as a row of small hills. Keep your hand moving smoothly and do not stop in the middle.
- Draw the feather as a leaf shape first, then add the middle line. Leave a little gap between the feather and the pot so the stick is easy to fit in.
Free scroll coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this scroll 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 scroll drawing
Try tan or cream paper with brown rolls, a red ribbon, and a blue or purple feather. For a creative twist, write a secret message on the scroll in your own made-up alphabet.
Scroll fun fact for kids
Long ago, people wrote on scrolls made from papyrus, a paper-like material made from a tall water plant that grew along the Nile River in Egypt.
Questions about drawing a scroll
What shapes do I need to draw a scroll?
You need two long rounded rectangles for the rolls, two wavy lines for the paper sides, and small ovals and circles for the details. Wavy lines fill in the writing.
How do I make my scroll look rolled up?
Add a small oval near the left end of each roll, and let the paper hang between the two rolls. Those ovals show the paper curling around.
How do I make the ink pot look cuter?
Give it two round dot eyes and a small curved smile near the bottom. Keep the face low on the pot so it looks friendly.
