How to Draw Classic Cars

Classic cars can be enjoyable to draw because of their exaggerated features and shapes. Drawing classic car demands paying attention to vintage details such as original upholstery or old side mirrors. It can be challenging and fascinating to recreate the weathered texture of chipped body paint or of the bumps and scratches that come with age.

Things You'll Need

• Drawing paper (60# or heavier) Drawing pencils (HB, 2B, 4B) Eraser

Instructions

1. Study a classic car, in real life, in a photograph or online. Analyze the shapes that make up the car, such as the rectangles for doors and the circles or ovals for tires. Now notice how the shapes come together--essentially their relationship to each other. Take your time and notice the main shapes in the background, too.

2. Using your HB pencil, start lightly sketching the shapes of the classic car in the proper relationship to each other. It is O.K. to erase and start over, adjusting the drawing as you proceed. Once you are satisfied with the composition, add some of the main shapes from the setting or background. Again, think about the shapes and their relationship to each other and the car.

3. Stand back and look at your composition. Note if there are any really dark shapes in the drawing. Using a 2B or 4B pencil, fill them in and see how they look. Do this again with medium dark shapes, adjusting the tone as you go. If a dark shape has lighter areas in it, use the edge of your eraser to make them light. Continue filling in the shapes with with various shades of gray.

4. Compare your composition to the classic car you are sketching. Find which details of the actual car jump out at you and emphasize these details in your drawing, using the HB or 2B pencil. Do not hesitate to erase and redraw until you capture the special elements of the car, because these details are what make the car more interesting.

5. Looking at both your drawing and the reference material, analyze the biggest, simple shapes in the composition. If you like, use the 2B or 4B pencil to add weight to some of the big, overarching shapes; for example the entire car or a building or tree in the background. Finish by standing back and adding any shading or detail you may have missed.

Tips & Warnings

• In step three, you can forgo adding dark shapes with pencil and, instead, complete your drawing in pen and ink, colored pencils, watercolor or some combination of media.

• Lighter papers will tear or not bear up well with repeated erasing and working on the drawing.

Resources

• Classic cars Flickr gallery