• Hand-Drawn Banner Tutorial

    You know you’ve always wondered how to create hand-drawn banners beautifully and efficiently. Well, today is the day your wondering comes to an end. Feast your eyes on how to make four different styles of banners!

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    I’d like to state as a matter of fact that hand-drawn banners are the chic design element right now, and their applications are limitless. One stroll around Whole Foods will tell you they look great on chalkboards. Many hip blogs {though … come to think of it, not mine} feature them to draw your attention to this, that, or the other. And then there’s the illustration aspect! I love drawing banners on my outgoing letters and using them in doodles.

    The truth of the matter is hand-drawn banners are very easy to create. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to quickly draw four different styles of banners. All you need to get started is a pen and paper!

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    The Arch Banner:

    To create an arch banner, start with a curved line.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Extend a line down from the right side, about 0.5″ long.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    From the bottom of that line, draw a curved bottom line that’s parallel to your top line.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    “Seal it”!

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Now, draw a short horizontal line that starts about 1/4th of the way down on the side of your banner.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Draw a line straight down from the end of that line. Try to make this line as long as the two vertical lines you have already drawn. It should extend down a bit.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Finish up this shape by drawing another horizontal line over, and a vertical line up.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    For the ribbon tail, draw a small, curved line that starts about 1/4th of the way down on the horizontal line that is furthest left.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Make a small vertical line down.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    And add the first half of a V-cut.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Then complete the V-cut like so:

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Repeat on the other side.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    To give some dimension to the banner, add lines for shading:

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    And voilà!

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Art Deco Hand-Drawn Banner

    For an art deco banner, start with a straight horizontal line.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Draw a line parallel to your top line.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Make it into a rectangle with two vertical lines.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    You’ll now follow the same ribbon fold process that is required when making the arc banner; except your lines will be completely geometric. You’re basically drawing small rectangles at the sides of this banner.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    And, hey, why not add more folds?

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    The V-cut on the art deco ribbon is easier.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    At this point, draw a dot to signify where the lowest point of your V-cut should be.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Then draw your lines so they meet at that dot.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    I want to add some bold accents to my banner.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Pretty cool, huh?

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Easy Doves Hand-Drawn Banner

    Like the bluebirds in the Simple Tree Art Tutorial, these doves are pretty easy to draw. Start with a wing, which is basically a right angle triangle with a squiggly base and a missing side.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Add the bird’s little body and tail:

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    And the other wing.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Finish it up with a head and a beak.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Now, draw a curved downward line from the beak. You can end it in a little loop, if you like.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Give some volume to the end of the banner, and finish up by swooping the top line up to the bird’s beak.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Don’t be afraid to add some lines to denote folds!

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Now, repeat the process to draw another dove; then draw a line that slightly dips down in the middle to connect one bird’s beak to the other birds’ beak.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Do the same with your bottom line, but have it dip down even more.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Add some wrinkle lines at the sides of your main banner, where the hold the fabric.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    And repeat the hanging fabric process with the bird on the right. Ta daa!

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Long Folded Hand-Drawn Banner

    Start with a curved line …

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    … and continue drawing until you have a rectangle with a bit of squiggle to it.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Follow the process outlined in the arc banner steps to create the side fold.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    And add your V-cut.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Now, add a small, slightly curved line to the top right of your banner to denote a change in direction of the ribbon.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Draw a larger squiggly rectangle under the small rectangle you just created.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    And draw an angled line down.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    See where I’m going with this?

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Repeat the process again.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Now, finish up this banner just like we finished the arc banner.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    And this time, add some vertical lines for shading!

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Love it.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    Though this is a post that’s packed full of images, you will find that creating a hand-drawn banner takes about two minutes. It really is a wonderful way to enhance any piece of art; just today, I used the art deco hand-drawn banner on an envelope.

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    {I used Kaitlin style calligraphy; but I made the letters a little smaller and the joining lines a little longer.}

    I hope you welcome your weekend by drawing a lot of banners … because some text just deserves to stand out from the rest!

    How to Draw a Banner | The Postman's Knock

    P.S. — Want to learn how to create calligraphy to complement your banner? Click the photo below.

    Learn Calligraphy for a Latté | The Postman's Knock

    Until next time!

    XO,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock