How to Draw Lady Eboshi

Finished Lady Eboshi drawing with detailed clothing and hatched shadows.

Anime characters are diverse and interesting, and that is part of their appeal. But there are general principles for drawing anime characters that we can apply in this step-by-step tutorial on how to draw Lady Eboshi from Princess Mononoke.

As usual, you will start with simple basic forms and only then add the details that will turn the rough construction into a character the viewer can recognize.

How to draw Lady Eboshi step by step

Step 1: Sketch Lady Eboshi’s stick figure

Sketch a basic female figure as in the first step of our girl drawing tutorial. Pay attention to the relative widths of the shoulders and pelvis. For this figure, draw the shoulders no wider than the pelvis. Start with an elongated head shape, then extend a short neck and a slightly curved line down through the torso. Mark the rib cage and pelvis with simple outlines. Mark the arms and legs as simple lines.

Sketching Lady Eboshi's basic figure with light construction lines.

Step 2: Build the character’s body volume

Now add volume to the body using the lines from the previous step. The process is similar to the second step of our tutorial on how to draw Avatar Korra. Add a curved vertical centerline and an eye guideline across the head to indicate the face turning slightly toward the left side of the drawing. Build the neck as a short cylinder, narrow the torso at the waist, and connect it to the pelvis. Use tapered cylindrical forms for the arms and legs.

Adding volume to Lady Eboshi's torso and limbs over the initial guidelines.

Step 3: Sketch Eboshi’s hair and clothing

Now let’s add the main details to the Lady Eboshi drawing. First, sketch the anime facial features using simple lines. Place the eyes along the curved guideline, then mark the nose and mouth below them. Extend the hair beyond the skull outline and sketch long, narrow sections beside the face. After that, sketch her wide, loose outfit. At this stage, mark outer clothing as several large masses of fabric hanging from the shoulders and waist.

Sketching Lady Eboshi's facial features, hair, and loose clothing outlines.

Step 4: Refine Lady Eboshi’s facial features

Using smooth, controlled lines, draw the anime girl’s eyes, nose, and lips. Outline the face so it narrows toward the chin. Define the raised section of hair above her forehead and the small tie at its base. Draw the two long locks beside her cheeks with nearly parallel lines and a few fine strand marks. Add the eyebrows above the eyes, darken the upper eyelids, and place the irises beneath them.

Refining Lady Eboshi's hairstyle, eyes, nose, lips, and facial contour.

Step 5: Draw the sleeve and fist

Lady Eboshi’s left hand is hidden, so draw only her right hand. Draw the wide, loose sleeve that hangs from her forearm. Do not forget to mark the collar and the pattern on the sleeve fabric. Taper the exposed forearm toward the wrist and draw the anime fingers curled around the sword grip. Outline the belt knot and its two hanging ends below the sword handle.

Drawing Lady Eboshi's right fist, loose sleeve, collar, and fabric pattern.

Step 6: Refine Lady Eboshi’s outer garment

Now refine the outer garment that Lady Eboshi wears over the rest of her outfit. Draw its long front edges down from the shoulders, then outline the hanging fabric and lower edges. Add a few folds and erase the unnecessary guidelines from this part of the clothing. Erase the remaining guidelines from the upper body.

Refining the contours and fabric folds of Lady Eboshi's outer garment.

Step 7: Draw the pants and footwear

With Lady Eboshi’s upper body complete, move on to the lower body. Trace the contours of her wide, loose pants using smooth lines. Draw her lower legs and traditional footwear, then remove all remaining unnecessary guidelines.

Refining Lady Eboshi's wide pants, lower legs, and traditional footwear.

Step 8: Add shadows to Lady Eboshi

To make the anime drawing look more three-dimensional and realistic, add shadows using classic hatching. Apply the hatching to the areas of her body and clothing that receive the least light. Add small shadows beneath the hair and chin. Darken the folds beside the sword grip and around the belt knot. Add narrow shadows beneath the overlapping garment hems and at the ankles.

Adding hatched shadows to Lady Eboshi's figure and clothing.

The characters of Princess Mononoke are very interesting and distinctive, but they still follow the basic principles of anime drawing and, in turn, the basics of drawing.

Volume, form, and the ways of creating space in a drawing remain the same. To make these skills automatic, study the basics of drawing anime and try to apply them when creating your own character.

Or draw Ashitaka from Princess Mononoke and then try to draw Princess Mononoke from the same anime using our step-by-step tutorial.