How to Draw Sombrero — Free Practice Sheets

A sombrero is easy to recognise because of two shapes working together: a very wide brim and a tall rounded crown. If either shape is off, the drawing stops looking like a sombrero, even when the lines are neat. This guide breaks the hat into a simple order: brim first, crown second, band third, contour and highlights last. Practise the sequence on the free sheets, then draw the hat independently and compare your result with the full reference.

Start with the brim, not the crown

The brim is the largest and most distinctive part of a sombrero, so it should be placed first. Draw a large flattened oval. Flattened means the oval is wider than it is tall, which suggests the brim seen from a slight angle rather than straight above. Keep the oval generous: a narrow brim reads as a different hat.

Add a second oval line just inside the outer edge. This inner line shows the upturned rim, the raised lip that runs around the brim. The gap between the two lines is the visible thickness of that upturn. Keep the gap fairly even all the way around so the rim looks deliberate rather than wobbly.

1. Draw a large flattened oval for the wide brim.
2. Add a second inner oval line to show the upturned rim thickness.
3. Check that the gap between the two lines stays roughly even.

Build the crown from the centre of the brim

Find the centre of the brim oval and draw the crown rising from there. The crown is tall and rounded, not a flat cylinder and not a sharp cone. Give it gently curved sides that narrow slightly as they rise, then close the top with a soft curve.

At the top centre, add a slight dip. This small inward curve is a recognisable feature of many sombrero crowns and stops the top from looking like a plain dome. Keep the dip shallow; a deep notch changes the silhouette into something else.

1. Mark the centre of the brim oval.
2. Draw two gently curved sides rising from the centre.
3. Close the top with a soft curve and add a shallow dip at the top centre.

Add the band, then finish the contour

Draw a thick dark band around the bottom of the crown, where it meets the brim. The band should follow the curve of the crown rather than sit as a straight stripe. Its lower edge can overlap slightly onto the brim, which helps the crown look seated rather than floating.

Finish by outlining the brim edge with a bold contour. A confident outer line separates the hat from the background. Then add a few simple highlight lines on the crown and brim to suggest form. Keep highlights sparse: two or three short curves are enough to show that the surfaces are rounded.

1. Draw a thick band around the base of the crown, following its curve.
2. Outline the brim edge with a bold contour.
3. Add a few simple highlight lines on the crown and brim.

Using the practice sheets

The sheets offer different ways into the same drawing. One asks you to trace the reference outline, then practise the contour independently. Another uses a grid: copy the reference onto the blank grid, matching grid intersections so proportions stay consistent. A third uses a bounding frame and centre guide to place the silhouette before adding details. A fourth gives the full reference and asks you to complete the blank right-hand portion.

Whichever sheet you use, compare your finished drawing with the separate full reference sheet. Look for the wide circular brim, the upturned outer edge, the tall rounded crown with its central dip, and the dark band at the base of the crown. Drawings will differ in small ways, and that is fine. Judge the visible features and their proportions rather than expecting a pixel-perfect match.

1. Choose one sheet and follow its specific instruction.
2. Draw the brim, crown, band, contour and highlights in that order.
3. Compare your drawing with the full reference sheet and note one proportion to adjust next time.

Check your work

• The brim is wide and flattened, and is the largest shape in the drawing.
• A second inner line shows the upturned rim with a fairly even gap.
• The crown rises from the centre of the brim with rounded sides.
• The top of the crown has a shallow central dip.
• A thick band follows the curve at the base of the crown.
• The brim edge has a bold contour and highlights are sparse and simple.

Worked example

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

Common mistakes

• Drawing a small or circular brim instead of a wide flattened oval. Redraw the brim wider than it is tall, and make it clearly the largest shape in the drawing.
• Making the crown a sharp cone or a flat cylinder. Use gently curved sides that narrow slightly as they rise, and close the top with a soft curve.
• Placing the band as a straight stripe across the crown. Curve the band to follow the crown's surface, and let its lower edge meet the brim.

Questions and answers