How to Draw a Compass Rose

In this lesson, we will tell you how to draw a compass rose. This is a fairly popular picture that has many uses.

First of all, this is a schematic representation of the sides of the horizon. Also, the rose compass is often used as part of various logos or coats of arms.

This symbol appeared many years ago and became an integral part of cartography and navigation. You could often draw a wind rose in different places and perhaps wanted to learn how to draw it yourself. Here we will show you how to write a wind rose in the most classic form.

The compass rose is a fairly simple drawing, but it is a good opportunity to practice drawing straight lines and circles. Use very light lines in the first steps so that you can repeatedly erase incorrect strokes.

How to Draw a Compass Rose

Step 1: Draw the guidelines

Firstly, draw the basic straight lines of our compass rose. Try to draw this without using a ruler or other auxiliary tools. It’s great drawing practice. Also, these lines will determine the central lines of each ray from the next steps. The distance from all these lines should be equal.

Step 2: Draw the main rays of the compass rose

Secondly, draw the voluminous contours of the front figure. Try to draw these triangles as accurately and symmetrically as possible, as in our sample. Use very straight lines of equal length. All four triangles should be the same size and shape. To check proportions, loot at your compass rose through the mirror.

Step 3: Draw the additional rays of the compass rose

Mow, draw the back parts of the compass rose. Correlate these triangles with the figures from the previous steps, and pay attention to their size and location. These rays should be noticeably smaller than the previous rays and have equal length and shale. The pattern should look symmetrical and proportional.

Step 4: Sketch the rim around the compass rose’s center

Add two circles of different sizes as in our example to give the compass rose drawing a finished look. These two lines should be at the same distance from each other. Practice drawing such circles first on a separate sheet of paper if you are a beginner artist.

Step 5: Add cardinal directions letters

So, now you can remove the extra lines from the entire drawing. Check your Compass Rose for mistakes and inaccuracies. Try to fix it without the help of a ruler or other tools.

As a result, you should get something like this result. You can add interior details or draw a map, or create an independent drawing without additional elements. Also, you can add hatching to one side of each ray to make the compass rose looking more authentic.

The compass rose as a design element has a long history and has appeared in a wide range of artworks. It was often included on old maps to help viewers understand the cardinal directions, but it has also been used as a standalone decorative illustration. Naturally, this pattern also shows up frequently in modern design – on clothing, signs, and various decorative elements.

Try drawing a wind rose and integrating it into the map drawing. Or try drawing your home town from a bird’s eye view on a piece of paper, adding a symbol to one of the corners. Additionally, you can try adding colors to your drawing, such as contrasting blue and red.

We recommend checking out our tutorials on drawing a compass and a globe as well, to expand and deepen your skills in illustrating geographic elements.