Draw a Small Cross: Proportion and Shading Steps

Object Drawing Lessons

This lesson teaches a reliable method for drawing a small cross with balanced proportions and basic shading. You will set a vertical guide, mark the arm-length ratio, build a clean outline, and shade the form with a single light direction. The convention used here is simple: the vertical bar is longer than the horizontal bar, and the horizontal bar crosses the vertical bar above its midpoint. Letter styles and handwriting vary, so treat the numerical ratios as starting points you can adjust while keeping the cross symmetrical and readable. All measurements are in centimeters, and any specific numbers are hypothetical examples you can replace with your own chosen values.

Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.

Reference illustration

Use the stated measurements and conventions for each exercise.

Set the vertical guide and arm-length ratio

Begin with a light vertical line for the full height of the cross. Choose a total height, for example 8 cm. Mark the top and bottom ends. Decide where the horizontal bar will cross; a common choice is about one third of the way down from the top, for example 3 cm from the top on an 8 cm vertical. This placement keeps the lower arm longer and gives the cross a stable look.

Next, choose the arm-length ratio. A simple convention is that each horizontal arm is about one quarter of the total vertical height, so on an 8 cm cross each arm is about 2 cm. The full horizontal width is then about 4 cm. Mark the crossing point on the vertical guide, then measure left and right by the arm length. Keep both sides equal. These numbers are hypothetical examples; measure your own paper and adjust the ratio while keeping symmetry.

1. Draw a light vertical line and mark the total height.
2. Mark the crossing point above the midpoint, for example one third from the top.
3. Measure equal left and right arm lengths from the crossing point.
4. Check that the horizontal width is roughly half the vertical height, or your chosen ratio.

Build the outline with consistent bar widths

Choose a bar width that suits the small size, for example 1 cm. Mark half the bar width on each side of the vertical guide at the top and bottom, and on each side of the horizontal guide at the left and right ends. Connect these marks to form the outer outline. Keep the bar width constant along both bars so the cross looks deliberate rather than tapered.

Work lightly at first. A common mistake is to make one arm wider than the other; compare the left and right arm widths at the ends. Another mistake is to let the horizontal bar sit too low, which makes the cross look top-heavy. Adjust the crossing point before darkening the outline. When the outline is clean, erase the construction guides gently so they do not distract from the final shape.

1. Mark half the bar width on both sides of each guide.
2. Connect the marks to form the outer outline.
3. Compare left and right arm widths and correct any difference.
4. Erase construction guides lightly before shading.

Add simple shading with one light direction

Decide on a single light direction, for example from the upper left. Shade the lower right edges of both bars and the inner corners where the bars meet. Use light pressure and short strokes, building tone gradually. Leave the upper left edges lighter to suggest the light source. Avoid shading the entire cross evenly; contrast between light and dark edges is what makes the form read as solid.

Keep the shading simple. A common mistake is to shade every edge equally, which flattens the cross. Another is to use heavy pressure immediately, which makes corrections difficult. Build tone in two or three passes, checking that the darkest areas are consistently on the side away from the light. If you use a pencil, keep the point sharp enough for controlled strokes but not so sharp that it tears the paper.

1. Choose one light direction and state it before shading.
2. Shade the edges away from the light and the inner corners.
3. Build tone in two or three light passes.
4. Check that the darkest areas are consistent with the chosen light direction.

Check proportion and shading before finishing

Before finalizing, measure the vertical height and horizontal width with a ruler. Confirm that the horizontal bar crosses above the midpoint and that both arms are equal. Check that the bar width is consistent at the top, bottom, left, and right ends. For shading, look at the cross from a short distance and confirm that one side reads as lighter and the opposite side as darker.

If the cross looks unbalanced, adjust the crossing point or arm lengths rather than redrawing everything. Small corrections are easier and preserve the clean outline. Remember that handwriting and letter styles vary, so a slightly different ratio can still be valid if the cross is symmetrical and the shading is consistent. The goal is a readable small cross with deliberate proportion and simple, controlled shading.

1. Measure height and width and compare with your chosen ratio.
2. Confirm the crossing point is above the midpoint.
3. Check bar width consistency at all four ends.
4. View from a short distance to confirm the light and dark sides read clearly.

Worked example

Draw a small cross with a total vertical height of 8 cm, a crossing point 3 cm from the top, arm lengths of 2 cm each, and a bar width of 1 cm. Shade with light from the upper left.

Four practice exercises

Common mistakes

• Making the horizontal bar cross at the midpoint, so the cross looks like a plus sign. Move the crossing point above the midpoint, for example one third from the top, and keep the lower arm longer.
• Using unequal left and right arm lengths. Measure both arms from the crossing point with the same value and compare the end marks before drawing the outline.
• Letting the bar width change from one end to another. Mark half the bar width on both sides of each guide and connect the marks with straight lines.
• Shading every edge equally so the cross looks flat. Choose one light direction and shade only the edges away from the light and the inner corners.
• Pressing hard on the first shading pass. Build tone in two or three light passes so you can correct the shading without smudging or tearing the paper.

Self-check rubric

• Vertical height and horizontal width match the chosen ratio within a small tolerance.
• The horizontal bar crosses above the midpoint, keeping the lower arm longer.
• Left and right arm lengths are equal.
• Bar width is consistent at the top, bottom, left, and right ends.
• The outline is clean and construction guides are lightly erased.
• Shading uses one stated light direction and is darker on the side away from the light.
• Shading is built in light passes rather than one heavy pass.
• The cross is symmetrical and readable at a small size; valid alternative ratios are accepted if symmetry and consistency are maintained.

Questions and answers