How to Draw a GMC Truck

This tutorial will show you in detail how to draw a GMC truck and share the basics of sketching American pickups.

Pickup truck is a light truck with a closed cab and open cargo area with low sides and rear door. Such trucks are very common in the US because of their practicality and reliability.

This guide is an extension of our main truck drawing tutorial, were we show the main details and explain how to convey the most recognizable pickup truck features on your paper.

In this tutorial, we’ll concentrate on the GMC truck and how to convey the most distinctive details of this specific car.

How to draw a GMC Truck: step-by-step tutorial

Step 1 – Sketch the cabin and cargo area outline

First sketch the cabin of the GMC pickup. Behind it depict a rectangular cargo bed. This vehicle is quite square and massive, and in the first step we need to show this in the draft. Pay attention to the dash-to-axle ratio and the overhangs, since pickups usually have a short front section and a longer rear.

Step 2 – Add the windows, mirrors, headlights, and tires

Now draw the main details of the GMC truck such as the side windows and mirrors. In the front and rear, place the headlight and rear lamp. Next, outline the square arches and round tires. When blocking in these elements, keep the greenhouse-to-body ratio in mind, the windows should appear relatively small compared to the large body sides.

Step 3 – Outline the doors, bumpers, and fenders

Another important part is the doors. In this step, sketch the handles, the front and rear bumper, and the fenders of the pickup. Don’t forget the rims. The door cutlines should be straight and clear. The bumpers must look solid, almost like part of the frame. Fenders should wrap around the wheels naturally.

Step 4 – Draw the GMC truck’s front with clear lines

The framework of the truck is complete, and now we refine it. To make the drawing cleaner, gently trace the entire front, making it darker and sharper. The face of a GMC pickup should communicate brand identity. The headlight should be boxy with straight edges.

Step 5 – Trace the GMC truck’s cabin details

Repeat the same actions with the cabin. Trace the upper part, windows, and the mirror, giving this part a strong and boxy appearance. Erase unwanted construction lines as you go. Draw the GMC truck central pillar with very dark and confident strokes.

Step 6 – Draw the GMC truck’s bed and side walls in detail

The cargo area is a defining part of any pickup. In this model, it is large and straight. Trace all the details of this section, removing unnecessary lines. Show the bed as a dimensional shape. Indicate the top edge of the bed rail, keeping it parallel to the cabin beltline.

Step 7 – Draw the doors, handles, and lower skirt of the GMC Truck

At this stage, finish the body. Trace the doors, add the handles, and draw the straight skirt. Place the handles at a practical height. On pickups they are usually large and rectangular. The lower skirt line should run parallel to the ground.

Step 8 – Clean extra lines and finalize the wheels

Work out the tires and rims, removing all auxiliary lines. Because of the suspension and size of the vehicle, the wheels look relatively smaller than those of a sports car. For realism, draw thicker sidewalls – pickups use high-profile tires for strength and load capacity.

Step 9 – Shade the body considering light direction

Hatching will help your American pickup drawing look more natural and three-dimensional. Consider the light source when adding shadows and highlights. Keep the lower body darker, especially under the sills and wheel arches. Subtle reflections along the beltline and shoulders will give more realism.

GMC Truck Video Tutorial

Context and design insights

The foundation of this tutorial is the GMC Sierra, a full-size light truck produced by General Motors.

This model has long been one of GMC’s core vehicles. The Sierra is considered a more premium and expensive version of the Chevrolet Silverado.

The Silverado is usually chosen for its practicality and lower price, while the Sierra attracts buyers who want better materials, modern technology, and unique styling that make it stand out among utility trucks.

In fact, these two pickups are like twin brothers, sharing many details that are very similar and often interchangeable.

If you enjoyed working on this Sierra sketch, you might also want to explore other guides about heavy-duty and light trucks.

For example, we have a detailed lesson on drawing a Ford pickup, which will help you compare the differences and similarities between these two popular models in practice.

For those interested in body shapes of larger vehicles, don’t miss our step-by-step tutorials on SUVs. These guides allow you to practice proportions of big and powerful machines.

And if you’d prefer something easier, we also recommend starting with our simple truck drawing tutorial. It’s a straightforward guide that demonstrates the core construction and main forms.