How to Draw a Soviet Soldier

In this step-by-step tutorial, we will show you how to draw a Soviet soldier wearing a standard military uniform, helmet, and field gear.

Our soldier is shown in a crouching firing position, but you can easily modify individual pieces of equipment or other details to create your own variation of the drawing.

How to draw a Soviet soldier step by step

Step 1: Sketch the soldier’s pose

This tutorial is quite complicated, but we will begin with a very simple stick figure made of lines and circles. Before drawing the stick figure, remember the basic rules of human body proportions:

• The height is approximately equal to the length of seven heads;
• Three of these head lengths make up the body from the neck to the waist;
• The remaining four make up the legs.

However, be especially careful at this stage because the soldier is not standing upright, as when drawing a doctor. He is positioned as if preparing to fire.

Step 2: Add the helmet and rifle

Now work on the upper part of the soldier. Draw the helmet line at the top of the head, then mark the lower part with two guidelines: a vertical line for facial symmetry, slightly angled to show the tilt of the head, and a horizontal eye line. Add part of the helmet and sketch the silhouette of the soldier’s rifle in his hands. The stock should cover the lower part of the face. Mark the hands with rectangular guides.

Step 3: Add volume to the upper body

Add volume to the arms and upper body. At this stage, simply outline the previously marked lines. Use cylinder-like shapes to sketch the arms.

Step 4: Shape the lower body

Now do the same with the lower part of the body. This will be easier if you represent the body parts as simple shapes: the belt and groin as a triangle, the legs as cylinders, and the knee joints as circles and flattened ovals. There is no need to render the muscles and tendons anatomically.

Step 5: Refine the helmet and face

The three-dimensional stick figure, or the soldier’s silhouette, is now ready, so you can begin adding details. If you are unsure about the soldier’s position or body structure, hold the sketch up to a mirror and study its reflection. This will make errors easier to notice.

Erase the extra guidelines from the helmet and refine its contour. Add the strap across the soldier’s cheek, then draw the eyes, keeping one of them narrowed.

Step 6: Detail the uniform and hands

Begin adding details from the top down, moving from the head toward the feet. Work on the clothing by drawing the sleeves, fabric folds, and cuffs. Then mark the strap running diagonally across the body, the collar, and the lines that will become the large chest pockets. Use short strokes to separate the fingers.

Step 7: Outline the jacket and legs

Move lower and draw the soldier’s lower torso and legs. First, add the belt and side pockets, then continue by drawing the bag and the loose lower edge of the jacket. Note the smooth curve of the jacket near the closest leg, which helps convey the soldier’s pose. Next, draw the legs of the Soviet solder. Erase the extra guidelines, make the contours slightly wavy, and add wrinkles to the fabric. The legs should look voluminous to emphasize the loose cut of the pants.

Step 8: Detail the right arm

Add more details to the soldier. Carefully refine the warrior’s right arm and the edge of the rifle stock. Include small details such as the elbow patch, collar edging, buttons, and fabric folds. Draw the knuckles on the outside of the hand of the Soviet solder.

Step 9: Refine the left arm

Repeat the same process on the other arm. Unlike the previous arm, the fingernails are visible here, so mark them along with the finger joints. Add the cuff, buttons, elbow patch, and fabric folds.

Step 10: Draw the Mosin rifle

Draw the Mosin rifle. Much of the rifle stock was made of wood, so add several lines along its front section to suggest the material. Also draw short horizontal lines across the barrel. The first should be near the front sight, and the last should be near the left hand. Add the sight, trigger, and sling, paying attention to the buckle and its inverted position.

Step 11: Complete the uniform details

Detail the torso of the Soviet solder. Draw the collar stripes, horizontal fastener line, and pockets. Note the edging around the pockets and the folds extending from the belt. Add the bag and belt buckle. Then draw the strap at the soldier’s waist and the pocket fasteners. Finish with short, smooth folds along the lower edge of the jacket.

Step 12: Finish the right leg

Draw the legs of the Soviet soldier, beginning with the right one. Refine its previously marked wavy contour, draw the seam of the pants, and add a rectangular patch at the knee. Then draw the boot with a thick, rough sole and add several folds to its upper section.

Step 13: Complete the left leg

Now detail the other leg. Refine its contour, mark the fabric folds, and draw the cloth wrap around the lower leg. Add the boot’s thick sole, laces, and a few short strokes to indicate folds in the material.

Step 14: Shade the soldier’s helmet

Now begin adding shadows. Before starting, compare the structure of the helmet shadow with the rounded shadows used when drawing grapes. The forms are similar and can be shaded using the same basic principles.

Before applying the shadow, determine the position of the light source. The light falls on the front of the soldier from a source located approximately at his height and to our right.

Add the shadows with light, smooth hatching. Leave a narrow strip of reflected light along the edges of the helmet.

Step 15: Shade the right arm

Apply shadows to the right arm. Note that almost every fold casts a light shadow, while the areas around the deltoid and trapezius muscles are especially dark.

Step 16: Shade the uniform and rifle

Use light crosshatching to mark the shadows across the body, increasing the number of layers in the darkest areas.

Step 17: Finish shading the legs

All that remains is to apply shadows to the legs. Use the same light, smooth hatching as before, adding more layers in the darkest areas.

This was a tutorial on how to draw a Soviet soldier by Drawingforall.net. Visit us for new tutorials and leave your requests in the comments.