How to draw high heels

Do you find it challenging to draw high heel shoes? Many artists do. But don’t worry, in this tutorial you will learn how to draw high heels step-by-step following really simple instructions. The tutorial is suitable for beginners and before you know you will draw shoes with the confidence that the result will be perfect every time.  This tutorial is focused on how to draw heels from the side, but if you are looking for more variations check out the  “How to draw high heels from the front” tutorial and my other amazing Shoe drawing tutorials

6/10

6 min

drawing paper
pencil
eraser

Step 1: Measure the size of the foot

Start with drawing the leg of your model. Leave some empty space to draw the foot and mark the floor level.
From the ground up, draw a Centerline that’s a half-head long. If you are not drawing a whole figure, but just the foot it should be 4x the width of the leg just over the ankle. Use a small point to mark the middle of the line.

Step 2: The “2:35” rule

One of the biggest questions, when you draw high heels, is how to find the current angle of the foot?

There is a very simple way. Think of the clock. If the Centerline was the clock’s arms the time would be 12:30. Right?
Now draw a second guideline with the same length as the first one, but let is show 2:35. Close it within an ellipse as shown in the illustration.

This tutorial is shows my technique to draw high heels that are quite dramatic and extreme. If you want to draw heels that are more comfortable, simply move the “clock arms” to 3:40

Step 3: Heel and Toes

In the upper corner of the ellipse draw a circle. Use the ellipse’s size as a reference.
In the lower corner draw an ellipse that touches the Centerline. The 2:35 o‘clock line should pass through the middle of the ellipse. This is for the toes.

Step 4: Draw the high heels sole

Connecting the circle and the ellipse draw the foot arch. Note that under the heel the curve is straight.
Mark the place of the ankle. It’s situated closer to the Centerline than to the leg outline.

Step 5: Draw the Ankle

Draw the ankle and join the heel with the leg. Draw a triangle under the heel. We will use it as a guideline for the shoe heel.
Pull a horizontal line from the heel circle’s midway and mark the middle of the toes ellipse.

See also

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How to draw a baseball hat in 8 Easy Steps

Step 6: Draw the shoe heel

Draw the heel. Use the little triangle to help you with the arch and make sure the heel is perpendicular to the ground surface.
Use the lines from step 5 to build the instep curve. The line pulled from the circle should mark the most bulging out section of the instep.

Step 7: Additional guidelines

Finish the toe box and draw new “clock arms” pointing 1:35 this time.

Step 8: Shoe contours

Refine the shoe contour. There is one thing that you need to remember when you draw high heels on feet and this is to make sure you always wrap the shoe around the foot.

I hope that my technique to draw high heels worked for you and you enjoyed the tutorial. I know it helps me every time for my fashion drawings. If the results weren’t perfect the first time, be patient and give it a couple more tries.

Happy drawing!