How to Draw Zorro

Time needed: 30 minutes

How to Draw Zorro

1. Sketch the starting body shape.

   To draw any character, we should start with the basic forms, and here you’ll establish Zorro’s proportions. Sketch a large oval-like shape for the head. Beneath it, sketch a narrow torso with rounded edges, almost like a stretched oval. You could draw the torso wider and longer if you want a more realistic or heroic figure, or keep it smaller as in my illustration, if you want to draw him in a cartoon style.

2. Draw Zorro’s eyes and mustache.

   Once the head shape is ready, place the main facial features. Draw two large circles for the eyes. Beneath the eyes, sketch Zorro’s iconic mustache with two curved shapes stretching outward from the center. Add a small nose just above the mustache.

3. Sketch the iconic mask and hat.

   Zorro is defined by his hat and mask, so now outline these important accessories. First, draw the hat sitting on top of the head, with the brim extending outward in long ovals. Add a rectangular crown on top to complete the hat’s shape. Across the face, draw a horizontal mask that covers the eyes.

4. Detail the hero’s mask and shirt.

   With the mask and hat finished, give more details to the outfit by adding the ends of the mask. To do this, sketch two flowing ends of fabric to one side, using curved lines that taper at the base. Draw a simple “V” neckline below the chin to illustrate the top of Zorro’s shirt. After that, draw the holes of the mask around the eyes with a couple of oval shapes.

5. Draw Zorro’s arms with clenched fists.

   Now give Zorro his iconic hero pose by drawing the arms. On one side, sketch a bent arm with a clenched fist, ready to hold the sword. On the other side, draw an arm bent at the waist, hand resting on the belt. You can change the pose so both arms are down, or one is raised higher above the head. Arms should be symmetrical and have the same length and width.

6. Sketch the sword and cape of Zorro.

   Zorro’s sword is his most iconic prop, so add it in this step. Sketch a long, thin line extending from the fist, and place a small circular guard above the hand. Below the hand draw the pommel of the saber. Then, sketch the outline of his cape flowing from the shoulders, using long, sweeping curves. After that, draw the belt using a couple of horizontal lines and adding the buckle in the middle.

7. Sketch the hero’s legs and boots.

   To complete the figure, draw the legs and boots. First, draw the bottom edge of the shirt. Then sketch two short legs with simple boot shapes at the bottom. Add the belt at the waist with a rectangular buckle. You can make the boots taller than those in my illustration.

8. Erase the hero’s body guidelines.

   To give your drawing a clear look, remove the unnecessary parts of the oval guide for the head, overlapping marks around the hat, and unused lines within the torso, arms, and cape. Darken the final outlines to create a bold cartoon style.

9. Add signature colors to Zorro.

   Let’s finalize the drawing and paint the hat, cape, mask, and boots in black or dark gray to create Zorro’s traditional look. You can add a brown tone for the belt and sword handle, and keep the blade gray or light blue. The skin can be a light natural tone, with the mustache colored darker.