If you want to know how to draw Anubis easy, you don’t need advanced art skills—just a good reference, some basic shapes, and a step-by-step approach. Anubis, the ancient Egyptian jackal-headed god, is a popular character for artists, from hobbyists to professionals, and can be stylized to fit any skill level. This guide breaks down the process into simple shapes and clear elements, so you can draw Anubis in a way that looks impressive but stays approachable.
What You Need to Know Before You Start
Before you pick up a pen, it helps to understand the core design of Anubis. In most depictions, he is a tall, slender figure with a jackal (or canine) head, often shown in profile or three-quarter view. He usually wears Egyptian regalia, including a pharaoh-style headdress, a decorative collar necklace, and sometimes a was-scepter or ankh. The key to drawing him easily is simplifying these features into basic geometric shapes and adding details slowly, one layer at a time.
Choose a Style That Fits Your Skill Level
For a simple, fast draw, stick with a semi-frontal or slightly turned pose. If you're drawing by hand, pencil and fine liner are ideal for lines, while digital tools give you more flexibility. Your style can range from clean cartoon to realistic—just keep the proportions symmetrical and the head large enough to capture the jackal features clearly.
Step-by-Step: How to Draw Anubis Easy
Start with a circle for the head. Below it, sketch a vertical rectangle for his torso, then add lines for the limbs. For the beastly head, overlay two triangles for the ears, a long snout shape for the muzzle, and large almond eyes. His collar necklace should wrap around the neckline—a row of decorative shapes here adds instant Egyptian detail. Then add hands (often depicted as slender, clawed or with an artifact). Keep the torso long and straight; this exaggerates his towering figure. The tail or scepter—if included—adds grounding and balance.
- Circle Head Start: Begin with a circle, then add guidelines.
- Basic Body Block: A long rectangle for the torso and limbs.
- Refine the Head: Jackal features come next, using simple shapes.
- Egyptian Details Headdress and Necklace.
- Define with Inking or Finishing.
Tips to Achieve More Depth Without Complexity
The easiest way to make your Anubis drawing look more advanced is to use simple shading. Add subtle shadows under the collar, along the sides of the skull, and beneath the headdress. If you're digital, a soft brush with low opacity does wonders. Keep the outline bold if going cartoon, or soft if aiming for realism. Even a slight tilt of the head or adding a slight curve on the tail can turn a stiff drawing into something with life.
Practicing Variations After Your First Anubis
Once you’ve done one easy Anubis, try slight variations. Different poses—sitting, kneeling, or holding different artifacts. A seated Anubis is an easy win: sit him upright, cross-legged or on a throne, and keep the features consistent. Practice a few times to get his hard-to-draw areas—like the collar and head—into muscle memory. You’ll see how little tweaks can shift the whole vibe.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Drawing Anubis
The biggest mistake is overcomplicating too early. Studies show markers and pens may help, but keep things tested first with pencil and eraser. Another misstep—body proportions—legs too long or head too small and he starts looking off, or underplayed Egyptian elements—no headdress, or blurry lines. Did you get shapes messy. A ruler for symmetrical headdress, or digital tools for perfect circles. Check proportions between head vs. head width and the necklace. Fix quickly.
Final Touches: Making Your Anubis Stand Out
If it feels flat, add hieroglyphs in the background or a small hieroglyphic border. These are fast, simple strokes that scream “ancient.” And if you want color, use classic Egyptian palette—black, gold, deep red. A minimal palette keeps things elegant and readable.
Once you finish the linework, practice on clean paper or a new layer. Smoother lines make more impact, so take your time refining key details: the eyes, the curve of the ears, the edges of the headdress. These touches separate decent drawings from memorable ones.
