HOW TO DRAW A LEATHER JACKET

Start by drawing your model. Take your time and make sure the figure is proportional. The well-drawn fashion figure is the base for a good-looking design. ‘How to draw the female torso” will help you in case you have difficulties.

Draw the shape of the jacket around the figure. This step is very important. When drawing outwear you need to remember that it is not close to the body. There should be enough space between the body and the jacket outline for a sweater underneath

First, erase all the unnecessary lines in your drawing – the model body is no longer visible.

In this particular example, the zipper of the leather jacket will be moved to the side. Find the figure centerline and draw a line about halfway to the jacket outline. Draw the hemline of the sleeves and the waistline and mind that they are curves, not straight lines.

Start from the place where the neck and the left shoulder joint and draw a diagonal to the moved centerline. Add the right side of the collar and notice that it goes toward the real Centerline instead of the new one. Draw curved lines on the shoulders to mark the place where the sleeves connect to the body.

This is a different approach to drawing the collar from what you know from “How to draw a jacket”. The first step is to draw a soft line indicating how big the collar of the jacket will be. Make sure the left and the right side are symmetrical.

The second step is to cut two triangles out of the shape you just made. The placement of the triangles is close to the collarbone.

One of the things that will make your sketch really look like a leather jacket is the stitching details. Add stitches to the inner part of the sleeves, around the collar and the hem of the sleeves.

The wrinkles on leather fabric are more sharp and edgy shapes instead of soft. Draw some wrinkles and folds around the elbows.

Zippers and buttons are what ca make a basic design into something truly unique. Draw a zipper over the new Centerline and add shorter ones to indicate the pockets.

As you know from the “How to draw leather pants” tutorial the easiest way to replicate leather fabric is by leaving shiny parts in irregular shapes close to the outline. This is how the leather jacket will be colored too.

The shadows can be drawn with a black pencil touching very lightly and building up the color. Make darker the area below the collar, the right side of the jacket underneath the zipper and everywhere you’ve drawn folds.

This last step is optional but it will add even more realism to your drawing. Make tiny lines in white color here and there to show the most illuminated spots. Work carefully – you don’t want too much shine.

This was a technique to help you draw a basic leather jacket. Use it as a foundation to build amazing collections of motorbike jackets for bad boys and girls or just to add something interesting to your fashion sketch.

Happy drawing!