How to Draw Anvil — Free Practice Sheets

An anvil is a satisfying drawing subject because its silhouette is distinctive and built from a few clear shapes. This page shows how to construct an anvil step by step, starting with the long flat top face and adding the curved horn, the small round hole, the tapered waist and the wide flared foot. The practice sheets let you trace the outline first, then draw it independently and compare your result with the full reference.

Start With the Top Face and Horn

Begin with the anvil's working surface: a long, flat rectangle that reads as the top face. Keep its front and back edges parallel so the surface looks level. Near the center of this rectangle, draw a small circle for the round hole. Its size should stay modest relative to the top face; a circle that is too large changes the character of the anvil.

On the left side, add the horn. It grows out of the top face and curves gently outward before tapering to a point. Draw the upper curve and the lower curve as separate lines so the horn has visible thickness near the body and narrows toward the tip. The point should sit roughly level with, or slightly below, the top face.

1. Draw a long rectangle for the flat top face, keeping the front and back edges parallel.
2. Place a small circle near the center of the top face for the round hole.
3. Add the curved horn on the left, tapering from the top face to a point.
4. Check that the horn's upper and lower curves meet cleanly at the tip.

Build the Waist and Flared Base

Beneath the top face, draw the waist. It narrows inward before the base widens again, which gives the anvil its familiar pinched middle. Keep the waist centered under the top face so the shape does not lean. Then draw the base, widening toward the bottom into a flared foot. The foot should look stable and broad enough to support the body above it.

On the right side of the top face, add the short rectangular heel extension. It projects outward at roughly the same level as the top face and stays compact. Together, the horn on the left and the heel on the right balance the silhouette.

1. Draw the tapered waist beneath the top face, narrowing inward.
2. Widen the base into a flared foot that sits level at the bottom.
3. Add the short rectangular heel extension on the right side of the top face.
4. Compare the left and right extensions so the silhouette feels balanced.

Trace, Then Draw Independently

Use the tracing sheet first to feel the contour: follow the reference outline, paying attention to where the horn curves and where the waist pinches. Then move to a blank sheet and draw the anvil from the same steps without tracing. Compare your independent drawing with the separate full reference sheet.

Other drawings can be correct. Assess the visible features and proportions rather than pixel-perfect matching. A slightly different horn curve or base width is fine as long as the flat top face, small round hole, pointed horn, tapered waist and flared foot are all clearly present.

1. Trace the reference outline to learn the contour.
2. Redraw the anvil on a blank sheet using the same construction steps.
3. Compare your drawing with the full reference sheet.
4. Note one proportion to adjust, such as horn length or base width, and redraw.

Using the Grid and Frame Sheets

The grid sheet asks you to copy the reference onto the blank grid using matching grid intersections. Place key points first: the corners of the top face, the horn tip, the widest part of the foot and the heel corner. Connect these points with the construction steps above.

The bounding frame and center guide sheet helps you place the silhouette before adding details. Use the frame to judge overall width and height, and the center guide to keep the waist and base aligned under the top face. The partial-outline sheet asks you to complete the blank right-hand portion using the full reference, which tests whether you can continue the top face, heel and base accurately.

1. Mark the top-face corners, horn tip, foot width and heel corner on the grid.
2. Connect the marks using the top face, horn, waist and base steps.
3. On the frame sheet, use the center guide to align the waist and base.
4. On the partial sheet, continue the top face, heel and base to complete the silhouette.

Check your work

• The top face is drawn as a long, flat rectangle with parallel front and back edges.
• A small round hole sits near the center of the top face.
• The horn on the left curves and tapers to a point with visible thickness near the body.
• The waist narrows beneath the top face and the base widens into a flared foot.
• A short rectangular heel extension appears on the right side of the top face.
• The waist and base are centered under the top face rather than leaning to one side.

Worked example

anvil: Trace the reference outline, then practise the contour independently. Compare with the separate full reference sheet.

Common mistakes

• Drawing the horn as a straight triangle instead of a curve. Draw the upper and lower horn lines as gentle curves that taper to a point, keeping thickness near the body.
• Making the round hole too large or placing it off-center. Keep the circle small and near the middle of the flat top face.
• Letting the waist and base drift sideways under the top face. Use the center guide to keep the waist and flared foot aligned beneath the top face.

Questions and answers