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How to Draw a Gun

ByStepan Ayvazyan
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This lesson will show you how to draw a gun easily and quickly using simple lines and basic hatching for volume.

Drawing a gun can be useful in many artistic tasks, from creating comics where this object appears to depicting individual characters, such as a soldier or James Bond.

This lesson will also be helpful for anyone who wants to complete a project that includes an image of a gun.

Here, we will not go too deeply into technical nuances, but will demonstrate with general shapes how to quickly draw a gun and what variations can be made to modify certain parts for greater uniqueness.

How to draw a gun step by step

Step 1: Sketch the gun barrel shape

A gun or pistol visually consists of two main parts – the barrel and the grip. Begin constructing the gun from the upper part by drawing it as a horizontally elongated rectangle using very light lines. The proportions of this shape will determine the overall appearance of the gun in the final step.

Sketch the gun barrel shape

Step 2: Draw the gun grip outline

Now sketch the grip of the gun as a slightly tilted geometric shape on the right side of the composition. The grip can vary noticeably depending on the specific model, being wider or narrower, or having a greater or smaller angle of tilt.

Draw the gun grip outline

Step 3: Add the trigger and guard

Begin gradually adding the larger, visually noticeable details, the first of which is the trigger. First, draw the trigger guard with smooth lines, then add the trigger inside it. The trigger may be depicted as a solid shape or as a thin curved detail, and the guard can have either a smooth or a more angular form.

Add the trigger and guard

Step 4: Sketch the hammer and rear grip

Now move to the upper right part of the gun and draw the top of the grip with a smooth curved line. Then depict the hammer directly above this part as a protruding shape, either smooth or angular.

Sketch the hammer and rear grip

Step 5: Sketch the front and rear sights

If you often play video games, you may know that mechanical sights consist of two parts – the front sight at the muzzle end of the gun and the rear sight at the back of the slide. Depict them as two slightly protruding shapes at the front and rear of the upper part of the slide. Next, draw the line separating the frame and the slide.

Sketch the front and rear sights

Step 6: Detail the side area

At the very front, draw the slightly protruding, short visible part of the barrel. Next, add horizontal lines indicating the edges and angles on the slide. At the rear of the slide, depict angled serrations.

Detail the side area

Step 7: Draw details on the gun

Above the trigger, draw the safety lever that switches between safe and ready-to-fire modes. Next, on the grip itself, use smooth lines to draw the grip panel. Near the hammer, depict the magazine release button. On the grip panel, add two rivets, one at the top and one at the bottom.

Draw details on the gun

Step 8: Outline and complete the pistol

Bring your gun drawing to a clean, finished look by removing all construction lines and outlining the drawing where necessary. At this stage, you can also check the proportions of your sketch and add elements if you want to make your drawing more unique and slightly different from our example.

Outline and complete the pistol

Step 9: Shade the gun with hatching

To give your gun drawing a more complete and three-dimensional appearance, add hatching. It is not necessary to include a large number of halftones or complex shadows; simply consider the direction of the light and carefully apply smooth, even hatching in the areas indicated in our illustration.

Shade the gun with hatching

A gun, like any other object that can be illustrated in comics, various visual works, or character concepts, can have a completely different appearance.

You may fully follow the outlines and forms shown in our example, depicting a classic gun similar to those seen in many games such as Call of Duty or Medal of Honor.

Alternatively, you can move toward more unusual concept variations with exaggerated forms or numerous additional elements.

You may also shift further toward abstraction by simplifying details while keeping the overall shape, making the gun more cartoon-like, similar to those seen in Disney animated films or comic-based cartoons.

After drawing an individual object, it is always important to practice it in context—that is, in interaction with characters.

Try drawing a gun in the hands of James Bond, Nick Fury, or any other well-known hero or villain from comics, films, anime, or other media.

Draw it from different angles, adding and adjusting various details. This will significantly strengthen your skill and help you develop a more automatic and confident ability to draw a gun and other similar objects.

Stepan Ayvazyan

Professional artist, photographer and sculptor. Co-founder and co-owner of Drawing For All. Has been drawing and studying art since childhood, and is an expert in the field of fine arts. Has been teaching drawing since 2013.

82 Comments

  4. If you don’t like it, why are you here? This is a very helpful tutorial and you shouldn’t hate on it just because it’s a gun.

    Reply

  9. coooooooooooooooolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

    Reply

  13. this was great i really loved it i had some free time at school so i started to draw and this really gave me some practice thanks for making it

    Reply

  18. Very helpful
    The person I’d take a bullet for is behind the trigger

    Reply

    1. I’m here because society veiw gun as a great weapon/tool, and I need to know how to draw them for a comic. But it doesn’t mean I like them.

      Reply

      4. To be honest guns don’t kill people, blood lose and organ injury does, so quit your yapping

        Reply

  25. Thank you!! This made it so easy to learn. I’ve never tried to draw a gun but now i’m starting to be able to!!

    Reply

  26. A yell look at this picture what i drawing ok gucciguccigang okkkkkkkk

    Reply

  27. this is moderately hard but pretty easy going. Exactly how its supposed to be done

    Reply

  28. Yo dude I made some changes in it pistol (not that your wasn’t good) and it looks a little more real

    Reply

  34. WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for how to draw a gun for beginners

    Reply

  36. Ummm I drew the gun right beside a dog and it’s pointing to the dogs head

    Reply

  42. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about how to draw
    a gun for beginners. Regards

    Reply

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