How to Draw an Elf

In this post, we will tackle an exercise that is more difficult than it seems, the study of a mythical creature, the elf. At first glance, you might think it’s simple; a small mischievous character, wearing a pointed hat, sometimes part of Santa's team when he's not frolicking with squirrels in the forest! But in reality, this is where the major difficulty with this kind of subject lies: knowing the conventions but also how to adopt and play with them!

A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO THE ELF FOR DRAWING

So don't worry, I won't embark on an eight-chapter study on the origins of the elf and its evolution throughout history...

Let's say that traditionally, the elf is a small-sized humanoid creature. Moreover, be aware that the "elf" has not always been mandated to be small... It’s customary for it to be cheerful and mischievous, even teasing or sometimes downright annoying.

The term elf covers various characters from different backgrounds, including the korrigans of Brittany, the German kobolds, the Irish leprechauns, the farfadets, to name just the most well-known.

Along the way, due to the quirks of languages and mythologies, elves have also been confused (or assimilated) with dwarves and goblins.

Depending on its origin, the elf may be associated with the home (by that I mean "the house"), water, night, the forest... All this leads me to conclude that the elf is ultimately not as smooth and uniform as it appears.

Let's not forget that you have every right to have fun with this character of legends. Do you want elves with big noses and very long beards? Perfect. Or do you see them as dark and gaunt? It's up to you! Or perhaps plump and greedy? Okay, noted! You have free rein, but to guide you, to give you a starting point, I'll suggest some "models".

DRAWING DIFFERENT ELF FACES

So an elf is essentially a small creature (its size can vary actually, depending on your personal preference). So first you will need to choose its size and silhouette. You may prefer a lively and slender elf (like on the right) or a more robust elf (on the left), more fond of cooking...

Note that the proportions of my elves do not quite follow those of a typical human body. The legs will tend to be shorter, the head a bit larger, this is to make the character appear "smaller" and differentiate it from a standard human character.

Next you will need to make choices for its face.

Here is a very interesting exercise, I start from a common base and develop different elements of the face differently, the eyes, nose, ears...

In [A] a rather gentle elf. The ears are a bit pointy and developed. (So I might as well tell you right away, I like elves with pointy ears; it's a personal choice that you are entirely free not to share). The nose is quite small and a few freckles add a playful touch to the face.

In [B] we are more on an elf akin to a "kobold". I've exaggerated the features a bit, and it's almost verging on a goblin. The ears are very long and thin, and the nose slightly hooked. We'll need to be careful with the body and clothes to avoid making it look exactly like a goblin.

In [C] the ears are partway between [A] and [B], the nose is slightly trumpet-like, and the chin is pronounced. With their hair, you could easily imagine dealing with a leprechaun.

In [D] an elf with a beard, looking older. Classic ears and a rounder nose. All he's missing is a pipe and a bit of shade under a tree...

And here are quickly, from the identical base, 4 quite different elves, just from their faces.

But in addition, there is an essential accessory for the elf that will allow you to further develop the personality of your drawing, the hat!

We use the face of a lady elf as a base (yes, she has pointed ears, what can you do, one cannot change one's nature!)

In [1] and [2] she has a quite classic, pointy and rather long hat. See how a pattern on the hat [2] immediately gives a different effect.

In [3] the character wears a softer hat, like a big woolen bonnet. It's a bit more of a "Smurf" style!

For clothing, you are still quite free here. However, favor natural fabrics and loose-fitting clothes.

THE CHRISTMAS ELF

As mentioned above, some elves work for Santa Claus. These elves tend to adhere to a more specific dress code. Would you like to learn how to draw Santa Claus? We have everything you need on the blog, feel free to check out this article!

Here I suggest 2 variations of outfits for Christmas elves.

Traditionally, you can opt for 2 dominant colors: green (neither too light nor too dark), or red (or even both). Green or red, either will be a good base. Note that the Christmas elf wears a rather pointy hat. As for the tunic and trousers, it will be a matter of taste.

Regarding accessories, you can opt for a pompom (as on the right); a scarf (in case your elf is chilly), gloves, or not! Generally, the elf wears comfortable leather stockings. For a Christmas elf, a large leather belt is a timeless classic!

Here again the base is common for both characters. The main changes are on the clothes and ears.

DRAWING AN ELF STEP BY STEP

We are going to draw a female elf picking mushrooms. Since the elf is a small humanoid, it is preferable that you are already somewhat comfortable with character drawing.

Do take advantage of the free courses"The right proportions of characters" and "Infallible Rules for Successful Faces"

We will opt for a profile view character, just in case you are not very comfortable with constructing the face.

 

Step 1:

I position the "mass" of the head, already creating a small nose, with the neck. Be careful to properly place the nape in continuation of the back of the head.

Step 2:

I'm drawing the arm in front of us, bent, with the mushroom basket resting in the crook of the arm.

Step 3:

From the nape, I draw the back, straight, and in front I form the chest. Notice that the torso is quite small proportionally to the head. I do not define the chest to maintain a "juvenile/innocent" look for the character. I define the nose a bit more, small and curved, place the eyes, lips, and ears which I deliberately make quite large.

Step 4:

I add the legs, like the torso, they are rather "short".

Step 5:

I put a pointy hat on the character's head. Make sure your hat is wide enough in relation to the circumference of the skull and deep enough on the head not to fall off. If you draw your hat just resting on the hair, it won't stay on and it will not look good. Here, I place the hat just above the ears. The round of the skull is well enclosed in it. I sketch the hair, the basket and the skirt.

Step 6:

I draw more carefully over my construction lines and add some decorative elements. I add a bow to the basket, some texture (I suggest knitting) to a small vest, to the wicker, and draw a petticoat under the dress.

APPLYING COLOR TO THE DRAWING

For the color, I choose fairly soft shades.

Here is the drawing with flat colors.

And here is the version with a bit of material effect, shadows and light.

We have created a version of the elf that is both classic and modern. Classic because it's a small humanoid with a cap, and modern... modern because we drew a female elf! We could have chosen a male elf, with a long beard, holding a pipe, and that would have been quite appropriate too!

The ideal is to have a basic mastery of creating a classic human character, because at that point you can have a bit more fun with variations in physique and poses. Like many characters in fantasy, the elf lends itself well to reinterpretation. Plus, it's a cunning and mischievous character, so use that to your advantage! Have fun!

Writer and Illustrator: Elo Illus