How to Draw a Space Marine

Warhammer 40,000 is full of very interesting and unique-looking characters. This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to draw a Space Marine from Warhammer 40,000 in his characteristic armor and helmet and with a weapon.

The tutorial is very detailed, and in many ways it will use the basic principles of drawing the male figure, although with some characteristic adjustments.

How to draw a Space Marine step by step

Step 1: Sketch the warrior’s basic skeleton

The Space Marine in our example has a very broad, powerful torso. Sketch the outline of the head and a line for the spine. Along this line, sketch a wide chest and pelvis. Use simple lines to mark the arms and legs. Draw the arms and legs slightly bent at the elbows and knees.

Step 2: Add volume to the body

First, draw two crossing guidelines on the head. Then sketch the neck and the warrior’s broad torso. Use simple geometric shapes to form the arms and legs. Build the limbs with thick cylindrical forms and mark the knees with ovals. Sketch broad feet, with the left one turned outward. The body should look wide and powerful.

Step 3: Outline the armor and gun

The character is armored from his helmet to his boots, so now outline the armor. Start with the helmet and its small, horizontal eye lenses. Add the raised collar around its base and the backpack behind the shoulders. Then move down to the torso and limbs, sketching the armor with light lines. Outline the gun in his hands. Draw its long rectangular body beside the left leg, with the barrel pointing down.

Step 4: Refine the Space Marine’s helmet

Since the main overall volumes have been constructed, it is time to move on to the details, starting at the top and working downward. Carefully refine the outline of the mask by tracing the previously indicated forms with darker lines. Next, draw the eyes and openings, as well as the emblem on the helmet.

Step 5: Draw the chest armor details

Add a smooth, curved rim along the lower edge of the chest. Don’t forget the winged skull above this rim. Divide the wings into rows of feathers with short lines. Below the chest, draw the abdominal plates, ribbed sections at the sides, and a belt with a rectangular buckle and circular center. Then erase the unnecessary guidelines from this area.

Step 6: Detail the armored arms and gun

The joints and muscles are covered by armor, so draw the massive shoulder pads, spikes, and armor plates over the arms and hands. Add thick borders to the shoulder pads and narrow bands at the elbows and wrists. Then add the details of the armored fingers and the Space Marine’s gun. Mark the gun’s side attachment, circular openings, and closely spaced grooves.

Step 7: Refine the leg armor and boots

Move on to the lower body. As with the arms, draw the leg armor and massive armored boots. Use broad shapes with angular edges where the armor plates meet. Outline the oval knee guards, flared shin plates, and soles. Don’t forget the skull emblem on the belt. Add the U-shaped symbol beneath it on the hanging plate. The Space Marine’s legs should look like those of a bulky robot.

Step 8: Add shadows to the armor

The drawing is almost finished, and we only need to add shadows. As in our other tutorials, first determine the light source. Place the darkest strokes beneath the collar, shoulder pads, and overlapping armor plates. Use lighter hatching along the curved knees and sides of the shin guards. Then apply hatching of varying density to the areas that receive the least light to finish your Space Marine drawing.

A Space Marine may look very detailed and complex, but if you break him down into basic forms and elements in this way, he becomes much easier to understand. You can apply the same principle when drawing a Chaplain from the same universe and many other characters.

This classic method of drawing characters will also work when drawing Scorpion from Mortal Kombat, superheroes from the Marvel and DC universes, and any other heroes or villains, as long as you remember the basic underlying pattern.