How to Draw a Stamp Step by Step

This tutorial shows how to draw a postage stamp in a six steps with illustrated examples and quick drawing instructions.

Stamp drawing step by step
Stamp drawing step by step

The main focus of the tutorial is on drawing the shape of the stamp but. You can see the steps for drawing the picture on it in a different tutorial linked in step six.

Start the tutorial in pencil and make light lines that are easy to erase in case you make a mistake. You can darken them later on with a black pen or marker.

For drawing an envelope see:

How to Drawn an Envelope Step by Step

Step 1 – Outline the Shape of the Stamp

Stamp shape drawing
Stamp shape drawing

Begin with a outline of the overall shape of the stamp, in this case a simple (vertical) rectangle.

Step 2 – Draw the First Set of Perforations

Stamp perforations drawing
Stamp perforations drawing

Along one of the sides draw a series of perforations (little holes) that are so characteristic of a postage stamps.

Stamp perforations drawing examples
Stamp perforations drawing examples

You can use the outline from the previous step to help align the perforations as shown in the example above. Draw them as small half-circles running along the side of the stamp (quarter circles on the sides). Once done erase the parts of the outline that have the holes through them so that you have a nice and clean drawing like the previous example.

Step 3 – Draw the Rest of the Perforations

Stamp outline drawing
Stamp outline drawing

Repeat the previous step for each side of the stamp so that you have perforations along it’s entire outline. You should have a drawing similar to the above example once done.

Step 4 – Draw the Frame & Finish the Line Drawing

Stamp line drawing
Stamp line drawing

Draw a smaller rectangle inside the outline of the stamp to create a little frame around it. Once done this this simple step you can trace over your lines with a black pen or marker. If you don’t happen to have one around simply darken them with the pencil.

Step 5 – Add a Shadow

Stamp shadow drawing
Stamp shadow drawing

To make the drawing look a little less flat you can add a shadow to the bottom right of the stamp. An easy way to draw it is using a regular pencil. Give it’s visible parts the same shape as the main outline of the stamp.

After adding the shadow you should have a pretty much finished basic drawing of a blank stamp.

Step 6 – Add a Picture

Stamp drawing
Stamp drawing

A blank stamp can of course look a bit boring so stamps often have some sort of a photo or picture on them. In this case it will have one of a boat from the following tutorial:

How to Draw A Boat Step by Step

You can refer to that if you want to add the boat to your drawing as well.

Conclusion

A postage stamp without a picture looks very plain. However, you can make it look a lot more interesting by adding a picture. In this example it was a boat but you can draw just about anything you like. For some ideas see the following: