You can then create rows of bricks within the rest of the bridge shape.
How to Draw a Bridge – An Easy-to-Follow Bridge Drawing Tutorial
In today’s drawing tutorial, we are going to show you how to draw a bridge over a sweet bubbling stream. Hopefully, this is not a bridge over troubled water, but a path on a new artistic journey. As with all of our easy-to-follow drawing tutorials, we break down the bridge drawing process into simple steps for artists of any level. We begin by constructing the basic shape of the bridge sketch, before adding detail and color. With that being said, let us begin learning how to draw a bridge over water!
Table of Contents
- 1 How to Draw a Bridge Over Water
- 1.1 Step 1: Shape the Overall Bridge Arch
- 1.2 Step 2: Add the Tunnel and Rail Details
- 1.3 Step 3: Add Brick Details
- 1.4 Step 4: Draw the Scenery Detail
- 1.5 Step 5: Begin Coloring Your Bridge Drawing
- 1.6 Step 6: Color the Trees and Detail the Bridge
- 1.7 Step 7: Color the Landscape
- 1.8 Step 8: Add Color to the River Water
- 1.9 Step 9: Begin Shading the Bridge
- 1.10 Step 10: Highlight the Bridge Stones
- 1.11 Step 11: Create Texture in the Bridge
- 1.12 Step 12: Continue Texturing the Trees
- 1.13 Step 13: Add Painted Details to the Tree Branches
- 1.14 Step 14: Create Texture in the Landscape
- 1.15 Step 15: Paint Some Grass Texture
- 1.16 Step 16: Continue Painting Smaller Plants
- 1.17 Step 17: Detail the River Water
- 1.18 Step 18: Paint the Sky
- 1.19 Step 19: Finishing Your Bridge Drawing
- 2.1 How do You Create Realistic Water Under Your Bridge Drawing?
- 2.2 What Style Is this Bridge Sketch?
How to Draw a Bridge Over Water
In order to make our bridge drawing tutorial as simple as possible, we break the drawing down into several easy steps. We begin with some basic construction shapes, gradually building up the final picture. We then add some sketched details before adding color to flesh out our realistic bridge drawing. You can see an outline of all the steps in the collage below.
When it comes to choosing a medium for this bridge drawing, there are really no limitations. You are welcome to use any medium that you feel most comfortable and confident with, whether that be paint or a digital drawing tablet. Regardless of the medium that you choose, you want to ensure that the basic outline is easy to erase later. For physical mediums, we suggest using a light and easily erasable pencil. For digital mediums, it would be best to create the basic outline on a separate layer that can be removed towards the end.
Once you have all of your drawing supplies ready, find somewhere comfortable to sit, and let us begin learning how to draw a bridge.
Step 1: Shape the Overall Bridge Arch
We are going to begin by creating the main shape of the bridge arch. Find the center of your drawing area, and begin with a large, slightly shallow upwards curve. The right side of the curve should end slightly higher than the left, creating the dimensions we are looking for. Above this first curve, create another that is parallel to it. Next, slightly higher, draw another curve and then add a dotted curve just below it.
Step 2: Add the Tunnel and Rail Details
There are two parts to this step. Let us begin by creating the tunnels below the bottom arch. Draw two half circles, and to the left of them, draw a secondary partially visible tunnel arch. This will create a three-dimensional appearance.
Next, use the gaps within the dotted arch to create the side rail by creating vertical lines.
Step 3: Add Brick Details
Now that we have the basic shape of the bridge completed, we are going to begin adding some detail. Within the framework of the tunnel arches, you can now draw some brick and stone detail. Begin around the tunnel arches, creating an outline of small, unevenly shaped stones.
You can then create rows of bricks within the rest of the bridge shape.
Step 4: Draw the Scenery Detail
Now that we have the bridge in place, we are going to add some background scenery. Begin at either end of the bridge, drawing gently sloping hills. You can then draw a single tree on each side. Each tree can be different, and as this is a sketch, there is no need to stress about too much realism at this stage. Next, beneath the bridge and trees, you can draw some rocks lining the river bank. You can then add the effect of water below the bridge, with lines around the tunnel and the edge of the river.
Finally, around the base of the trees and the edge of the river bank, you can add some grass patches.
Step 5: Begin Coloring Your Bridge Drawing
Now that we have the basic bridge sketch completed, we can begin adding color. We will start with the stones of the bridge. Use a shade of fossil grey paint and a regular paintbrush to paint an even coat of color over the stones.
Step 6: Color the Trees and Detail the Bridge
In this step, we are going to add a few more details with color. Let us begin with the bridge, using a smaller paintbrush and some dark grey paint to fill the small stones around the tunnel arches. You can use the same color to fill the stones along the bank of your river. Next, with a small paintbrush and some dark brown paint, carefully color the side rails of the bridge.
Finally, with a small brush and some light brown paint, carefully color the trees, including the trunk and the branches.
Step 7: Color the Landscape
We are now going to add some color to the landscape. Find a bright green color and use a regular paintbrush to fill the grassy hills with color.
Step 8: Add Color to the River Water
We are now going to color the river. For this, you will need a light shade of stone blue paint and a regular paintbrush.
Apply an even coat of color to the water, bringing it out as far as you would like.
Step 9: Begin Shading the Bridge
In this step, we are now going to begin adding some realistic dimension to the bridge using shadows and highlights. Begin with a small blending brush and some black paint, adding some soft shading around the edges of the bricks in the bridge. Next, using the same tools, shade the top of the inner area of the tunnels.
You can then use a clean small blending brush and some tan paint to add highlights to the bottom of the tunnel arches and blend this up into the shadow.
Step 10: Highlight the Bridge Stones
In the last step, we added shadows to the bridge stones. In order to complement this, we are now going to add some highlights to make these stones pop. With a small fine brush and some white paint, create fine hairline brush strokes within each block of stone.
Follow this with a small blending brush and some tan paint, gently softening the highlight on the face of some of the stone blocks.
Step 11: Create Texture in the Bridge
Let us now create some texture in the bridge. Begin with a small rough brush and a combination of dark brown and black paint. Use these to create a rough splatter stone texture within the stone blocks of the bridge. Repeat this process using a lighter shade of brown to enhance the combination of texture layers. Next, add shading on the side railing using a small soft brush and a combination of black and dark brown paint. Softly create strokes within the railing, leaving some areas of the undercoat still visible.
Finally, repeat this step on both of the trees, using fine brush strokes to enhance the structure.
Step 12: Continue Texturing the Trees
Using a combination of tan and white paint with a fine sharp brush apply fine hairline brush strokes within the trees to add fine texture lines, this will also act as the highlights. Repeat once more using a small soft brush. Next, use a small soft brush or blending brush to smooth these colors together. Continue using a fine sharp brush and a combination of tan and white paint to apply fine hairline brush strokes within the bridge side railings.
To complete the step, use a small soft brush and black paint to apply soft shading to the laying rocks on the river bank and the bridge-tunnel arches. Repeat this process with a rough brush and a combination of black, brown, and tan paint.
Finally, add some soft spots of highlight on the rocks by the river with some white and grey paint.
Step 13: Add Painted Details to the Tree Branches
Let us now add some detail to the tree branches. Begin with a fine sharp brush and some dark olive paint, and create fine hairline brush strokes in layers on the branches of the left tree. Gradually build up the impression of small leaves with these short little strokes.
To complete this step, add some ground shading around the base of the tree trunk.
Step 14: Create Texture in the Landscape
Using a small blending brush and a combination of black, fossil grey, and bright green paint to create a rough texture in the landscape. Begin with the bright green paint, and follow it with black and grey. You can then use a clean blending brush to smooth these colors together, bringing life to your bridge drawing.
Tip: only paint the texture of the landscape horizontally.
Step 15: Paint Some Grass Texture
We are now going to add some fine grass texture around the edge of the river bank and the base of the tree trunks. Use a fine sharp brush and some bright green paint to create fine hairline strokes.
Step 16: Continue Painting Smaller Plants
Make use of a fine sharp brush and a combination of both bright and dark green paints to paint fine hairline brush strokes to represent the smaller patches of grass and plants along the landscape area around the bridge sketch.
Step 17: Detail the River Water
Begin by using a small soft brush and light blue paint to coat the first layer of the water. Repeat this process with the colors of the bridge, creating a soft reflection in the water. Next, to create some flowing texture, use a fine brush and some white paint to sharply paint flowing dots and line patterns along the water under your bridge drawing.
Complete this step by making use of a small soft brush or blending brush to soften and smooth the area with a fade of color to both ends and only in a horizontal direction.
Step 18: Paint the Sky
Make use of a small soft brush using yellow, orange, and a lighter shade of navy blue to add soft patches of color in the sky background. Use a clean soft brush to gently blend these colors together.
Step 19: Finishing Your Bridge Drawing
To complete your tutorial on how to draw a bridge over water, we are going to remove any construction lines that may still be visible. This will create a seamless finished result.
You can either trace over the lines with the corresponding color or you can delete the layer if you are working digitally.
We hope that you have enjoyed learning how to draw a bridge over water! This easy-to-follow tutorial was designed for anyone with a passion for art and landscape. From constructing the shape of your bridge sketch, to adding realistic color and contours, you can now apply these skills to other landscape paintings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do You Create Realistic Water Under Your Bridge Drawing?
Creating realistic water to flow under your bridge sketch, we create a reflection of the bridge and use highlights to create a ripple texture. You will need the colors of the bridge for the reflection, and white to create a fine ripple texture.
What Style Is this Bridge Sketch?
While we cannot say that this bridge sketch is hyperrealistic, it definitely has some elements of realism. Some of the texture is a little more obvious than we see with hyper-realism, but the water is certainly very realistic.
Matthew Matthysen ( Drawing and Painting Artist )
Matthew Matthysen is an educated multidisciplinary artist and illustrator. He successfully completed his art degree at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, majoring in art history and contemporary drawing. The focus of his thesis was to explore the philosophical implications of the macro and micro-universe on the human experience. Matthew uses diverse media, such as written and hands-on components, to explore various approaches that are on the border between philosophy and science.
Matthew organized various exhibitions before and during his years as a student and is still passionate about doing so today. He currently works as a freelance artist and writer in various fields. He also has a permanent position at a renowned online gallery (ArtGazette) where he produces various works on commission. As a freelance artist, he creates several series and successfully sells them to galleries and collectors. He loves to use his work and skills in various fields of interest.
Matthew has been creating drawing and painting tutorials since the relaunch in 2020. Through his involvement with artincontext.org, he has been able to deepen his knowledge of various painting mediums. For example, watercolor techniques, calligraphy and lately digital drawing, which is becoming more and more popular.
Learn more about Matthew Matthysen and the Art in Context Team.
How to Draw a Bridge
Learn how to draw a great looking Bridge with easy, step-by-step drawing instructions, and video tutorial.
By following the simple steps, you too can easily draw a perfect Bridge.
Complete Bridge drawing
“London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.”
– “London Bridge,” traditional English nursery rhyme, 1600sA bridge ” is a structure built to span a physical obstacle, such as a body of water, valley, or road, without closing the way underneath.”
The type of bridge in our drawing guide is an arch bridge spanning a river. The curved platform helps it to carry the weight that travels across it.
Bridges have a very long history. The first bridges were likely stepping stones, or trees that fell across an opening or body of water.
The oldest arch bridge still in existence is located in Greece, and dates from the thirteenth century B.C. Six hundred year old bridges still exist in England.
Not surprisingly, bridges also feature in nursery rhymes and fairy tales such as Three Billy Goats Gruff, in which the animals must outsmart a troll in order to cross the bridge.
Scroll down for a downloadable PDF of this tutorial.
Today, modern materials and engineering allow for the creation of massive bridges. China’s Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, for example, is 114 kilometers (70.8 miles) long.
Some bridges, such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge, are recognizable landmarks.
Others – such as glass-bottomed bridges across the Grand Canyon or between mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee – are meant to entertain tourists.
Would you like to draw a fanciful cartoon bridge? This easy, step-by-step cartoon drawing tutorial is here to show you how.
All you will need is a pencil, an eraser, and a sheet of paper. You may also wish to color your finished picture.
If you liked this tutorial, see also the following drawing guides: River, Camping Scene, and Impossible Stairs.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing a Bridge
How to Draw a Great Looking Bridge for Kids, Beginners, and Adults – Step 1
1. Begin by drawing a curved rectangle using four curved lines. This gives the bridge a three-dimensional appearance.
Easy Bridge Drawing – Step 2
2. Draw the first post for the bridge’s railing, erasing as necessary. Draw two straight, parallel lines at the near corner of the bridge. Connect them at the bottom with a “V” shaped line. Then, draw a curved line parallel to the side of the bridge. Attach it to the post using a short curved line.
Easy Bridge Drawing – Step 3
3. Draw the post on the opposite end of the bridge. Again, draw two straight, parallel lines. Connect them at the bottom with a “V” shaped line. Then, enclose the top of each post with a circle.
Easy Bridge Drawing – Step 4
4. Draw two parallel curved lines between the two posts, forming the top of the handrail. Then, draw two sets of straight, parallel lines from the bottom of the bridge to the handrail. Connect each set using a short straight line. Erase as necessary.
MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:
How to Draw a Log Cabin
How to Draw a Canoe
How to Draw a Kayak
Easy Bridge Drawing – Step 5
5. Draw the posts on the remaining corners of the bridge. Outline the posts using straight, parallel lines, and connect them at the top by drawing a circle.
Easy Bridge Drawing – Step 6
6. Draw a set of curved parallel lines between the posts, forming the handrail. Draw two sets of straight parallel lines between the top of the bridge and the handrail. Then, begin drawing the river or stream usings a curved line.
Easy Bridge Drawing – Step 7
7. Continue to draw the river using curved lines. In the distance, the lines should converge at a point to indicate the riverbend disappearing behind a hill.
MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:
How to Draw a Surfboard
How to Draw a Fishing Pole
How to Draw a Viking Ship
Add More Details to Your Bridge Picture – Step 8
8. Draw overlapping curved lines on the horizon to form rolling hills. Use a series of curved lines to draw low-hanging clouds.
Complete the Outline of Your Bridge Drawing – Step 9
9. Draw additional clouds on the horizon using a series of curved lines.
Color Your Bridge Drawing
Color your cartoon bridge. A wooden bridge like this one might be brown, or painted any color you may choose.
Where does this bridge lead? To a castle or a cottage? The choice is yours.
For more great Landscape drawing tutorials, see the 31 Best Landscape Drawing Tutorials post.
Easy, step by step Bridge drawing tutorial
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Bridge Drawing Tutorial – Easy & Fun Printable Pages
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Drawing of Bridge
You can mix some mechanical drawing practice with your art lessons when you show students how to draw a bridge. This one is actually the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia, but there might be a more like it with this basic structure.
For a drawing that creates the maximum impact, try using black permanent markers for the bridge and city silhouette, and then layered crayons for the sunset. The colors will stay true without mixing together, and your janitor will thank you for not breaking out the super messy oil pastels. (Even if that janitor is you!)
Save me to your Pinterest Board!
- Drawing Paper. This is the good stuff you can buy in bulk for a good price.
- Pencils. I like how this brand always makes nice dark lines.
- Black Marker. A permanent marker will give you a dark black color.
- Crayons. The larger packs are nice for more color choices.
- Note: All of the above are Amazon affiliate links.
Time needed: 45 minutes
- Draw two matching towers.
- Add the base line and start the top curve.
- Finish the top curve.
- Start the curve underneath.
- Finish the curve underneath.
- Draw evenly spaced vertical lines.
- Add diagonal lines as shown.
- Draw the distant skyline and waves.
- Trace with a marker and color.
