How to Draw an Abandoned Car
Basically, on the pages of our site, we show you how to sketch new vehicles, but now we want to show you how to draw an abandoned car.
In fact, the process of sketching new and old cars is practically the same. The main differences are that parts on an old or abandoned car should be more dilapidated, and the lines of the sketch are not so straight and smooth.
In addition, removing some parts from the car and sketching deflated wheels, you will add a more neglected look to the car.
You can also add corrosion and scuffs to the body, which will visually make your drawn car even more old.
How to draw an abandoned car: step-by-step tutorial
Step 1 – Roughly sketch the abandoned car outline
Mark the basic outline of the abandoned vehicle. In this case, it is a pickup truck with a cab in the front and a cargo section in the back. Use loose, uneven lines to show that the car is old and neglected. Do not try to make the silhouette too precise, as imperfections give it realism.
Step 2 – Add the uneven front and rear arches
Draw the front and rear wheel arches of the abandoned car, but avoid making them perfectly smooth. The lines should look slightly bent, as if the metal has rusted and lost its shape over time. This unevenness is what gives the car its aged appearance. Try to make the arches different from each other, as damage rarely looks symmetrical. You may also add small breaks in the outline to imitate corrosion.
Step 3 – Draw bulky fenders above the car arches
Sketch large fenders above both arches, giving them a rounded and convex look. Connect the fenders with a horizontal step line along the side of the truck. At the same time, depict the rear edge of the cargo bed and the top side of the body. The fenders should appear slightly heavier than usual, as if they are weighed down by age. You can also add dents or irregularities to show wear.
Step 4 – Illustrate the worn cab windows
Refine the cab by smoothing the roof slightly and adding rounded windows in front and on the side. Draw the line that separates the hood from the cab, making it irregular. The windows should look dirty or cracked, so avoid sharp and perfect edges. Leaving the glass uneven will help create the abandoned look. You can also hint at missing seals or gaps around the windows.
Step 5 – Draw the abandoned car’s crooked door
Sketch the door so its outline follows the shape of the side window. Place the handle diagonally, as if it is broken or loose. Add some basic details to the hood, keeping the lines slightly shaky. The door should not look perfectly aligned with the body, since abandoned cars often sag with time. You can also add small gaps between the door and frame to convey poor fit.
Step 6 – Illustrate the warped wheels
Unlike regular car drawings where wheels must be round, here they should look deformed. Draw the upper part of the tires wider and the lower part thinner, showing they are deflated. The rims can also look bent or incomplete. This asymmetry will make the car appear neglected. You can add cracks or missing sections of rubber to complete the effect.
Step 7 – Darken key contours and add rough shading
Remove all unnecessary construction lines and strengthen the main outlines of the abandoned vehicle. Shade the body with uneven strokes, concentrating on the lower areas and around the arches. Add darker shadows where rust and dirt would naturally collect. The shading should not be smooth – rough, patchy tones help the car look more worn. If desired, you can add random lines and spots to convey corrosion and peeling paint.
Further practice in drawing abandoned cars
An abandoned car is simply a term used to describe any vehicle left behind by its owner and gradually taking on a damaged or neglected appearance.
In this tutorial, we showed how to outline an abandoned vehicle using the example of a mid-20th century truck.
The tires are deflated, the body panels are bent, and there are many other smaller issues across the frame.
To enhance the effect, you can add extra scratches, dents, and minor broken details, which will make the abandoned car drawing look even more authentic and visually interesting.
Of course, drawing an abandoned car is not the only option available. Once you have learned the basics, try illustrating other body types in a neglected state.
For instance, you can start with our tutorial on how to draw an old car, where we worked with a 1960s muscle car.
Another option is our lesson on drawing an antique car, based on a full-sized American model from the 1950s.
Be sure to also check out our tutorial on drawing an abandoned truck, where we focus more specifically on the details of a pickup in a neglected condition.
In fact, any vehicle can be depicted as abandoned by applying the same principles explained here, whether it is an older classic, a more modern car, or even a showroom model presented in a deteriorated condition.
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