How to Draw a Cyclops

In this lesson we will show you how to draw a cyclops – one of the most famous characters of ancient Greek myths.

We are very fond of characters from the myths of ancient Greece, and many of them have already been drawn on our website.

In different versions of myths and legends, Cyclopes are depicted in various ways, but they are always portrayed as one-eyed giants.

Cyclops is an anthropomorphic character, which means that drawing him is entirely based on the principles of drawing a person, with certain nuances that will be covered in the lesson itself.

How to draw a cyclops step by step

Step 1: Sketch the cyclops head and body

First, sketch the Cyclops’s head in the form of a sphere or oval. From it, draw a line downward to indicate the spine or the center of the body. In the upper part, outline the rib cage, keeping it positioned fairly high so you can later depict broad shoulders. In the lower part of the line, mark the pelvis, which roughly indicates the center of the creature’s body.

Step 2: Sketch the arm and leg guides

On both sides of the body, sketch the arm guidelines extending from the central line, marking the joints with small circles or short strokes. In the lower part, outline the legs with light strokes as well, and indicate the joints with small circles. The arms and legs should be placed fairly wide apart so that you can later convey the Cyclops’s powerful build.

Step 3: Mark the cyclops torso and facial guidelines

On the head, mark the axes of facial symmetry by first drawing a central vertical line, then a horizontal line crossing it slightly above the midpoint. Here we see a clear difference from human proportions, where these lines usually intersect approximately at the center of the face rather than in the upper part. Next, add volume to the torso, indicating it with light lines.

Step 4: Draw the arms and club of the cyclops

Now gradually begin adding volume to the limbs, starting from the upper part and sketching the shoulders as large spheres. Then define the powerful upper arms and forearms. Using general rough shapes, outline the Cyclops’s massive fists and indicate a club in one of the hands.

Step 5: Shape the Greek giant’s legs

The Cyclops’s legs, like the arms, should be very powerful and massive, so add the outlines of the lower limbs, trying to make them wider than those of an ordinary human. Use simple modified cylindrical forms for this. In the lower part, sketch the feet as well, using very general rough lines.

Step 6: Sketch the beard and eye placement

Now gradually begin adding general details with large shapes, starting from the head. First, draw the Cyclops’s beard with very rough outlines. Slightly above, indicate the placement of the eye and the nose. Then add the outlines of the clothing, belts, bracers, and boots.

Step 7: Draw the single eye of the cyclops

Move from the general rough details to a more precise and finished drawing, and draw the Cyclops’s eye directly in the middle of the face, slightly above the center. Depict the pupil inside and outline the shape of the top of the head. Slightly below, draw the nose and mouth of the Cyclops.

Step 8: Refine the cyclops beard and hair

Carefully and gradually refine the massive beard of the mythical creature using wavy lines. Then draw a proportionally small ear of the Cyclops and outline the visible part of the hairstyle. You may freely adjust the shape of the beard and hairstyle at your discretion.

Step 9: Draw the torso muscles of the cyclops

Outline the torso and draw the powerful chest muscles and abdominal muscles. Do not forget to add the oblique muscles on the sides of the abs. As you draw and finalize each detail and element of the Cyclops’s body, erase the construction lines and refine the proportions.

Step 10: Detail the creature’s arms and club

On both sides, symmetrically refine the shoulders in detail, indicating the muscle fibers visible through the skin. Then, in the same manner, alternately from left to right, draw the biceps, triceps, and forearms. Do not forget to indicate the bracers on the forearms and the fur on them. Add details to the fingers and the club in the hand.

Step 11: Detail the Greek character‘s clothes

Now let’s draw the lower part of the Cyclops’s body. Draw the torn loincloth. Next, carefully refine the outlines of the leg muscles, as shown in our example. Do not forget to draw the knees and the character’s shoes. Check the proportions of your cyclops drawing and remove any remaining unnecessary lines showing through the final outlines of the artwork.

Step 12: Apply hatching across the giant’s body

Even and consistent hatching will help your Cyclops drawing look more three-dimensional. Imagine that the light is falling on the mythical character from somewhere in front and above. Accordingly, you should darken the opposite sides of all parts of the body. When hatching the shadows, try not to concentrate too much on one detail; instead, work alternately on different parts of the drawing.

Myths about the Cyclops existed in ancient Greece from very early times and have a huge number of different interpretations, with varying descriptions of appearance and character.

In conventional imagery, a Cyclops looks like a huge man with a very strong build and one eye in the center of the face.

This is the main defining feature of a Cyclops; all other elements vary significantly. Hairstyle, clothing, physique, details, weapons, and so on can all be customized at your discretion depending on which version of the Cyclops you want to draw.

At the same time, it is important to remember certain key aspects described by the Greeks in mythology. Most importantly, according to myth, a Cyclops is not a creature that lives by human rules.

It is a wild being whose actions must clearly reflect this. The weapons should also be as simple as possible – no swords or bows.

Long, unkempt hair and a beard are also good ways to emphasize the nature of this mythical creature. We shared similar concepts in our centaur drawing lesson, another highly popular character from Greek mythology.