Scissors Drawing: Step-by-Step Tutorial & Easy Ideas
Scissors drawings are one of the most-loved sketching subjects, and for good reason — the basic version comes together from a few basic boxes and cylinders in just a few minutes. Follow the nine steps below to get the foundations right, then browse the ideas list for your next scissors sketch.
- Difficulty Easy
- Time ~12 min
- Tools Pencil, eraser, paper
- Starts with a few basic boxes and cylinders
How to Draw Scissors Step by Step
Step 1 of 9
Two loop guides
Draw two light circles side by side near the bottom of the page, spaced apart, for the finger loops.
-
Two loop guides
Draw two light circles side by side near the bottom of the page, spaced apart, for the finger loops.
-
Finger loops
Trace a thick ring on each guide circle so both finger loops show an open hole in the middle.
-
Handles crossing
Draw a short straight bar rising from the top of each loop, crossing above the middle of the page.
-
Pivot point
Add a small circle where the two handle bars cross, marking the screw joint.
-
Two blades
From the pivot draw two long slim triangular blades opening upward, one leaning left and one leaning right.
-
Sharpened edges
Draw a thin inner line along the facing side of each blade to show where the metal is sharpened.
-
Screw and grips
Mark a tiny cross inside the pivot for the screw, then add short grip lines across each handle bar.
-
Ink the lines
Go over every kept line with dark ink, then erase the two light loop guide circles.
-
Color the scissors
Fill the blades silver, the handles and loops red, and the pivot screw dark gray.
Scissors Drawing Ideas to Try Next
Once the basic scissors clicks, run it through these variations — each one practices a different skill while staying on a subject you already know.
-
An exploded view of scissors
Separate the parts in mid-air like an instruction manual — deeply satisfying to draw and read.
-
A worn, well-loved scissors
Add scratches, patches, and history — aged objects have stories new ones don't.
-
Cross-hatched vintage scissors
Render it in old-encyclopedia pen style: outlines plus patient parallel hatching.
-
A scissors as a tiny house
Add a door and windows to scissors as if someone tiny lives inside it.
-
A tiny scissors on a big empty page
Miniature drawing with deliberate negative space — composition as the artwork.
-
A scissors pattern sheet
Fill a page with scissors at different angles and sizes — sticker-sheet style.
Tips for Better Scissors Drawings
- A contact shadow grounds everything: a soft dark pool where the object meets the surface is the difference between sitting and floating.
- Find the object’s basic solids first (box, cylinder, sphere) and get their proportions right before any detail — detail on wrong proportions is wasted work.
Not feeling scissors today?
Let the generator pick your next subject — filtered by mood and difficulty.
🎲 Random Drawing GeneratorScissors Drawing FAQ
How do you draw scissors easily?
Start with a few basic boxes and cylinders, keeping your lines light. Refine the outline, add the defining details, then erase the construction shapes. The nine-step method above breaks this down — most people get a recognizable scissors on their very first try with it.
How long does scissors drawing take?
A simple scissors drawing takes about 12 minutes following this tutorial. A quick doodle version can be done in two or three minutes, while a detailed, fully-shaded study might take an hour. Speed comes with repetition — the second attempt is always faster than the first.
What do I need to draw scissors?
Just a pencil, an eraser, and any paper. An HB pencil for construction lines and a 2B for final outlines is a nice upgrade, and colored pencils or markers finish it off — but nothing on this page requires special supplies.
Are scissors easy to draw for beginners?
Yes — scissors are one of the friendlier subjects for beginners, and this method was written for first-timers. Kids can follow the same steps; just expect wobblier lines and more charm.
