How to Draw Yoda

Finished pencil drawing of Master Yoda holding a wooden staff

In this drawing tutorial for Star Wars fans, we will show you how to draw Master Yoda step by step.

It is difficult to say much about Master Yoda’s past. George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars universe, did not allow subsequent films to reveal details about Yoda’s youth, parents, or other events from his early life.

How to draw Master Yoda step by step

Step 1: Sketch Yoda’s basic figure

Using circles and lines, sketch the stick figure. The head is very large, especially in comparison with the body. The chest and pelvis are nearly the same width. As you can see, the figure has almost no visible neck.

Sketching Yoda's large head, compact body, arms, and short legs

Step 2: Add the robe and limbs

Once the stick figure is ready, outline the robe. The garment narrows slightly around the waist on the right side. Use smooth, curved lines to form the arms and legs. Do not forget the wooden staff. Although Master Yoda uses it for walking, he can cast it aside when fighting clones or droids.

Also add the facial guidelines.

Adding Yoda's robe, limbs, staff, and facial construction guidelines

Step 3: Draw Yoda’s facial features

Use the guidelines from the previous step to place the facial features. Continue by drawing the eyes, then add the pointed ears extending horizontally from the head.

Drawing Yoda's almond-shaped eyes, nose, mouth, and pointed ears

Step 4: Refine Yoda’s face

The basic sketch is nearly ready, so refine the face. First, erase the unnecessary guidelines from the previous step. Then define the eyes, nose, and lips. Do not forget the inner details of the ears.

Refining Yoda's eyes, nose, lips, ears, and head outline

Step 5: Add the facial wrinkles

Draw the character’s wrinkles. The lines on the forehead resemble the web pattern used when drawing Spider-Man’s mask. Do not forget the wrinkles between the eyes.

Adding deep wrinkles across Yoda's forehead, cheeks, and eye area

Step 6: Draw the robe folds

Now add the fabric folds. The robes of Jedi Masters contain many folds, so the lines to draw are marked in red.

Marking the main folds across Yoda's robe with red lines

The drawing without the red guide lines:

Yoda's robe with the main fabric folds cleanly outlined

Step 7: Finish the robe details

Continue outlining the robe and its fabric folds. First, erase the remaining stick-figure lines and any unnecessary marks from the previous steps.

Cleaning Yoda's figure by removing the remaining construction guidelines

Step 8: Draw the remaining folds

Draw the vertical folds hanging down Yoda’s robe. Add details to the cane, then erase any remaining construction lines from the drawing of Master Yoda.