How to draw wedges

Drawing shoes that go well with your design is essential for every successful fashion sketch. In this step-by-step tutorial, you will learn how to draw wedges. Combined with the knowledge you have from the other  How to Draw Shoes Tutorials you will be able to choose the best type of shoes to compliment your design idea. Unleash your creativity and have fun!

6/10

4 min

drawing paper
pencil
eraser
black ink

Step 1. Start higher up

When drawing wedges start by lifting the ground up to an imaginary line (marked in red). What does this line mean? The wedges’ front part is frequently turned up slightly – this makes the shoes look better. Also, this red line marks how turned up the front part of the platform will be and also from now on it be considered the ground level – where the toes are stepping.

2. Foot guidelines

As you know from the “How to draw front view shoes” tutorial the foot is about the same size as your model’s head counting from the ground up. Draw a tilted ellipse which should be as long as the face of your model. The angle of inclination shows how tall the wedges’ heel is. The more vertical the ellipse– the higher the heel is.

Add a circle to mark the heel to the left of the leg Centerline. Add a horizontal ellipse to mark the toes right on the new ground level. Notice the center points of the two shapes.

3. Draw the foot

Time to add some curves and give the foot a finished look. Connect the guideline shapes and pay special attention to the arch between the heel and the toes.

The arch is not following the same curve as the top part of the foot (the bridge)

4. Clean up

Use and eraser to clean up the unnecessary lines and refine the foot outlines. Add details such as the toes and the ankle. The placement of the ankle is close to the leg Centerline and slightly to the back.

5. Draw the platform

To draw the platform of the wedges pull a straight vertical line from the heel back most point. The line should reach the real ground level.

Now it’s time for the sole. Start from the vertical line you just made and draw a horizontal line until you reach the leg Centerline. Then start curving the line up until you reach the fake ground level you’ve set in Step 1.

6. Draw your shoe design

This is where you can get creative and work on your design. If you are drawing straps make sure they are not perfectly straight but wrapping around the foot in a realistic way.

Feel free to draw anywhere from 1 to 4 straps around the toes area. You can add one or two stripes to secure the heel and one or two around the ankle.

As for the heel of the wedges, notice how the heel vertical line is now gently curving inwards, as leaving it straight would look bulky.

7. Final touches

Clean up your sketch and make some tiny adjustments it may need. If you need help drawing the closing element check the “How to draw a belt” tutorial. It doesn’t need to be a belt buckle, you can use a ribbon or just a sticky band to tighten around the ankle.

Hopefully, this tutorial has helped you gain a better understanding of how to draw wedges and have inspired you to create new clothes and shoe designs as part of your portfolio. For more shoewear ideas check out the tutorials in the “How To Draw Shoes” section and remember that the shoes can make or break an outfit so choose wisely how to pair your designs!

Happy drawing!