Professor John Fisher

English Professor
San Juan College
4601 College Blvd
Farmington, NM 87402

Dear Professor Fisher,

For the final project of this semester, I am sending the attached instructions How-to Draw an
Android.
The instructions are a step-by-step explanation of how to illustrate an android full of detail with
simple drawing programs as well as pen/pencil and paper. The purpose of the instructions is to
teach anyone who wishes to draw a mechanical character with plenty of detail. However, these
instructions are not meant for beginners learning to draw, but rather those who already
understand the basics of illustrating.
That being said, I have decided to make this report as user friendly as possible. All the steps are
detailed and informative, listed in chronological order, with accompanying illustrations. While
this is not something many would consider useful, I do hope that these instructions not only
help artist learn a bit on how mechanical characters can be drawn, but also inspire them to
create their own characters and techniques to draw those characters.
As I stated earlier, this is meant to be used on a simple drawing program or with pen/pencil
and paper. I wanted to make these instructions as accessible as possible, since many people do
not have advanced drawing and painting programs, and many more don’t have the hardware to
draw digitally anyway, but at the very least they have a pen or pencil and a sheet of paper to
use.
I trust that this project will meet the requirements. If you have questions or concerns, please contact me
via Canvas or by phone at (505)-801-6552.

Sincerely,

Erik Jones

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How-To Draw an Android
A step-by-step instruction document

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 How-to Draw an Android
A step-by-step instruction document

submitted to

Professor John Fisher

San Juan College
Farmington, New Mexico

April 4, 2020

By
Erik Jones

These instructions detail how to illustrate an android. It covers the necessary subjects such as:
Drawing the basic figure and proportions, drawing the large objects that compose the subject,
drawing the smaller and more complex objects of the subject, and finishing the illustration with
fine details.

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 Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
1.1 Purpose ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5
1.2 Background ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
1.3 Scope ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5
2.0 Drawing the Basic Figure and Proportions ………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
2.1 Drawing the “Frame”……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6
2.2 Drawing the Basic Shapes …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
2.3 Connecting the Shapes ……………………………..……………………………………………………………………….. 6
2.1-2.3 Illustrations ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
3.0 Drawing the Composition ………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………… 8
3.1 Drawing the Torso ………………………….………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
3.2 Drawing the Arms ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8
3.3 Drawing the Legs ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
3.1-3.3 Illustrations ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
4.0 Drawing the Hands, Feet, and Face …….…………………………………………………………………………………………..
10
4.1 Drawing the Hands ……………………………….…………………………………………………………………………… 10
4.2 Drawing the Feet ..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10
4.3 Drawing the ‘Face’ ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10
4.1-4.3 Illustrations …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11
5.0 Drawing the Details …………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………… 12
5.1 Drawing the Smaller Cables and Wires …………………………………….……………………………………….. 12
5.2 Drawing Damage …………………..………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12
5.3 Drawing Dirt and Grime ….………………………………………………………………………………………………….
12
5.1-5.3 Illustration ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
13

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6.0 Conclusion …………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………….
14

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1.0 Introduction
1.1-Purpose
How to Draw an Android is exactly what the name says, it will guide you through the
steps to draw an android. Why draw an android? Why not. It’s fun.
1.2-Background
Before you start, however, you will want some basic understanding of how to draw,
and that the android will be human shaped and not that complex.
1.3- Scope
This report covers drawing a humanoid android. The reason the android is simple
compared to many other androids and robots in reality and fiction is because it is
the easiest form for someone to understand and draw. You have to have an
understanding of what your drawing, so giving it a human form is far easier to
understand than a walking six legged tank with a 360 view head.

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2.0-Drawing the Basic Figure and Proportions
Before we can start with the more noticeable features of an android, we need to
draw the base of the character. To do that, we will be drawing a “frame,” or a line
sketch that details the basic shape and proportions, and the basic shapes that make
up the figure.
2.1-Drawing the "frame"
Creating a simple line "frame" will help plan out the shape of the android and will
create the proportions you will want before continuing. The basic frame would be a t
shape for the shoulders and chest, a triangle for the pelvis, and simple lines and
spheres for the arms/legs and joints.
2.2-Drawing the basic shapes
Now that the frame is in place, using simple shapes will fill in the figure. Using a
box/trapezoid shape for the chest, while using either boxes or cylinders for the
limbs. These shapes are meant to be an outline for the figure.
2.3-Connecting the shapes
Once the shapes are drawn in, you will use a few lines to connect the shapes in a few
different ways. For a more seamless connection, there will be smoother lines
connecting the shapes directly, but a more segmented appearance can use lines that
connect into the shape or are its own shape used to connect others.

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2.1 2.2 2.3

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3.0 Drawing the Composition
Now that we have an idea on what the android will look like, we can start adding the
most recognizable parts of an android.
3.1-Drawing the Torso
Starting back at the torso, you will start by drawing either two separate square
shapes on the upper torso, or a longer length wise single rectangle. This will be the
chest plate of sorts. Along the slopes of the shoulders, you can either draw it as a
single plate on each side or overlapping plates from the neck to the arms. The front
of the abdomen can be overlapping plates or a series of larger plates. And the sides
of the abdomen can be a series of more overlapping plates, either connecting to the
original overlapping plates or lying underneath the larger plates.
3.2-Drawing the Arms
Starting from the shoulder, draw a quarter circle with the center of the circle resting
on top of the arm where it can be “anchored,” as if it’s attached to the arm there.
The upper arm can be broken up into a few different plates, such as covering the
‘bicep’ with one single plates, and a plate on the other side of the arm. The lower
arm is much the same way, with a single large plate on the outside/upper part of the
forearm and overlapping plates on the underside.
3.2-Drawing the Legs
Drawing the legs will be very similar to the arms, but there are still some major
differences. On the upper leg, the ‘bicep’ plate will rest on the outside of the thigh
and overlapping plates on the inner thigh. The knees have a kneecap, or plate in this
case. The knee plate will overlap above both the thigh and the calf. The lower leg
will mostly be a single plate facing forward.

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3.1 3.2 3.3

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4.0-Drawing the Hands, Feet, and Face
Since we have drawn the arms, legs, and torso, we can now start with the hands,
feet, and ‘face.’ These will have more detail that what has been drawn before.
4.1-Drawing the Hands
Starting at the hands, we will draw cylinders for every segment of the fingers, and
once that is finished, we will draw circular joints connecting every segment to form
the finger. Draw a plate on the top of the hand. Around the thumb, where it
connects to the rest of the hand, we will draw a series of overlapping circular plates
to indicate that the thumb has full range of movement.
4.2-Drawing the Feet
The feet are simpler to draw than hands, thankfully. From the leg, there will be a
single plate wrapping around the top of the foot and stopping right before the heel
section and before where the toes would go on a foot. For the toes, it will be one
solid piece like the toes on a boot, as a smooth semi-circle around the end of the
foot. And for the heel will also be a solid piece, but it will be more of a wedge rather
than a semi-circle.
4.3-Drawing the ‘Face’
The face is not really a face, nor is it just the face. We will draw the head, but the
face is what we will focus on more. Around the head, draw a half circle around the
back, starting from the neck and around towards the front. Now, from there will be
a strait line down then sharply around the framed ‘chin’ to frame the face. Halfway
up the head, two flat rectangles will serve as the eyes, and a similar looking
rectangle 3/4s the way down the head for a mouth. Or skip this if you want a more
robotic face. On the side of the head, where the ears would be, a simple circle will
replace the ear. We will touch back on this area later, but for now, the face has been
drawn.

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4.1 4.2 4.3

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 5.0-Drawing the Details
Now that the android is almost finished, we will now add the final finishing touches
that give it more personality and implied history. However, these steps are optional.

 5.1-Drawing Smaller Cables and Wires

Around and between the larger plates, draw a few fluid lines that curve around and
twist. Now draw another line right next to the first, curving with, but never over, the
original line. This will be the basic cable or wire. Now you can segment up the cable
with curving lines perpendicular to the outlines, or a crosshatching over the cord to
give it a braided sheath kind of look.

 5.2-Drawing Damage
This step is mainly going back and altering things we have already drawn. For
example, a large gash in a metal plate will have a jagged triangular shape in the
metal, but the edge will have to be erased and connected with the gash instead. Or
drawing in a dent and dings on the edges of the metal. There are also light lines to
imply scratches and scrapes on the metal.

 5.2-Drawing Dirt and Grime

 This may be the easiest step of all, since its mostly just shading in specific areas
to make the android look dirty. Like around the bottom of the legs, you can add a
wavy line and shade in that space to look like the android has been stomping
around in the mud. Or around the edges of plates, draw a dripping type of
pattern and shade that in to look like mud or oil leaked out at one point and
made the metal a little grimy.

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6.0-Conclusion
And with that, your android is complete. My hope is that this will give ideas on
drawing other androids and robots, and to encourage people to draw. If you wish to
change some of the details to make it your own, rather than a copy of this example,
then feel free to. After all, this How-to is to be a guideline rather than the rule.
Change some steps, instead of drawing a hand, draw a mechanical clasp instead.
Instead of legs, give it some wheels. Instead of plates covering the body, draw a
more detailed frame and a bunch of exposed wires and cables. Give it one eye,
three, or even a dozen. Give it more than two arms. Whatever you decide, it will be
yours.

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