How to Draw a Street Lamp Post

Start with a basic lamppost, if a beginner to drawing.

To improve basic drawing skills start will something relatively easy, such as a lamppost. Hundreds of different styles of lampposts are seen daily on sidewalks, streets and yards throughout the world. When first beginning to draw a lamppost stick with something basic. As skills improve, try attempting a more difficult, detailed lampposts.

Things You'll Need

• paper
• ruler
• pencil

Instructions

1. 

   Pencil and paper are essential tools for drawing.

   Get pencil and paper ready. Lay the paper on a flat surface (desk or table) and make sure the pencil is sharpened.

2. Determine the size of the lamppost. Mark where the top of the lamppost will be on the piece of paper. A few inches below the top mark (inches determined by desired light style and size) make a mark for the bottom of the light portion of the lamppost. Make a third mark towards the bottom of the page, indicating the bottom of the lamppost.

3. 

   Many lights form the shape of and upside-down egg.

   Draw the light. Depending on the desired shape of the light portion of the lamppost, the way the top two marks connect may differ. Generally the light area will be a shape that is wider at the top and smaller at the bottom, looking much like an upside-down egg. Connect the top two marks by drawing this shape between them.

4. Draw the post. At the base of the light portion, where the second top mark was, find the middle of the line and make a mark. Grab a ruler and draw two straight lines parallel to each other on either side on the mark just made. Width between the parallel lines is up to personal preference. Continue the parallel lines all the way down to the mark at the bottom of the page, then connect the two lines.

5. 

   Many lampposts exhibit extreme detail.

   Add detail and finishing touches. The basic outline of the lamppost is complete. To make it look realistic, add desired detail. This may include adding a cap on top of the light, a decorative base at the bottom or top of the post, and/or subtle lines extending from the light to show light emanating from within. The easiest way to do this is to look at a picture of a lamppost, or go outside and find one on the street to look at. Copy the detail seen into the drawing.

Tips & Warnings

• To give yourself a bit of a challenge, try drawing straight lines without the use of a ruler.

References

• Roland Lee: Lampost on Temple Square