What makes a person famous? Some of the famous people below are singers, athletes, writers, scientists, politicians, or other historical figures who made a difference.
Some current superstars, while others have been dead for centuries. Even so, they are so well-known that you want to draw famous people.
Most of these pictures are in portrait style, showing the head and shoulders. Most of the portraits are drawn in 3/4 perspective, with the person's head facing slightly away from the artist. A few are facing straight forward or in profile. A few show the person's entire body.
Most of these famous people are from North America, but a few are from other places like Europe or South America. They have all become globally famous.
As you draw, can you identify clothing or hairstyles that indicate when and where the person was from? You might see antiquated clothing that no one wears anymore, or contemporary styles that push the boundaries of modern fashion.
Did you know? In most cases, these drawings were based on photographs of the people, but a few lived and died before the camera was invented. In that case, they are based on paintings that were made during their lifetime or on how popular culture remembers them.
11 Easy Famous People Drawing Ideas
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish is famous for singing. She has embraced a lot of different clothing styles, but in this picture, she is in a punk or grunge phase.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande is a singer and actress. In this portrait, she is looking cute in her cat ears headband.
Easy Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is one of the best football or soccer players in the world. In this picture, he's wearing his soccer jersey.
Pocahontas
This drawing depicts Disney's version of Pocahontas, but she's not just a cartoon character; she was a real person. But in the only portrait made during her lifetime, she was dressed more like Shakespeare, below.
William Shakespeare
You may think the puffy sleeves and ruff collar look strange, but they were average attire in Shakespeare's day. He never sat for a painting to be made of him during his lifetime, but the one on which this drawing is based was said to be a decent likeness.
George Washington
We're familiar with George Washington's portrait because of the quarter and the dollar bill. He wears a powdered wig and a type of necktie called a cravat.
Thomas Jefferson
Create a presidential portrait gallery! Pair this picture with George Washington, above, and Abraham Lincoln below.
Abraham Lincoln
In this portrait, Honest Abe is wearing his signature stovepipe hat. This, along with his beard, makes him one of the most recognizable presidents.
Martin Luther King Jr
In this portrait, King casts his eyes heavenward as if he is contemplating his great dream.
Isaac Newton
Here, Newton wears the wig and clothing customary in his day. He also holds an apple, which, according to legend, helped him understand gravity.
Harriet Tubman
Tubman was a freedom fighter about a century before King, above. This drawing is based off a photograph of her.
