So, you’re sitting there with a pencil and a blank tablet screen, and you want to pull a Link from Zelda drawing out of your brain. It sounds easy until you actually try to sketch that iconic green tunic or the wild, gravity-defying hair from Breath of the Wild. Honestly, Link is one of those characters who looks simple but is secretly a nightmare for artists because his design has changed so much over the last forty years.
If you draw him with the wrong nose or mess up the line of his jaw, he doesn’t look like the Hero of Time anymore. He just looks like a generic fantasy kid in a floppy hat.
Whether you’re a professional illustrator or someone who just picked up a stylus for the first time since high school, getting the "feel" of Link is about more than just copying a reference photo. It’s about understanding the geometry of Shigeru Miyamoto’s original vision and how artists like Yusuke Nakano or Satoru Takizawa evolved that look into the modern, painterly style we see in Tears of the Kingdom.
The Evolution of the Hero's Silhouette
Most people don't realize that Link’s design is a game of shapes.
In the early days of the NES and SNES, Link was basically a triangle. His hat formed the top point, and his tunic flared out at the bottom. This was a technical necessity. Pixels were limited. You had to know who the character was from a distance. If you look at the official art for A Link to the Past, Link has pink hair. Why? Because it helped him stand out against the green backgrounds of the game world.
Fast forward to Ocarina of Time. Suddenly, Link had knees. He had a 3D presence. This is where the "bishonen" or "beautiful boy" aesthetic started creeping in, thanks to the influence of 90s anime. His face became more angular. His eyes got larger.
Why the BOTW/TOTK Look is Different
When you’re working on a Link from Zelda drawing based on the newer games, you have to throw out the old rules. The modern Link is softer.
The art style for Breath of the Wild was inspired by En plein air painting and Japanese animation. He’s more athletic and less "chunky" than his Twilight Princess counterpart. His ears are longer—almost like a deer’s—and his eyes have a very specific, almond-like tilt. If you draw his eyes too round, he loses that stoic, slightly ethereal Hylian look.
Proportions and the "Silent Hero" Face
The hardest part is the face. Link is famous for being a silent protagonist, which means his personality has to come through his eyes and his posture.
If you're sketching, start with a circle for the head, but don't make it a perfect sphere. Hylians have slightly pointed chins. The eyes are usually placed lower on the face than you’d think. This makes him look younger and more relatable.
- The Hair: Link’s hair isn't just a clump. It’s a series of layered "fins." In Skyward Sword, it’s very structured. In Tears of the Kingdom, it’s messier, especially when he’s in his "Ancient Hero" form with the hair down.
- The Ears: Don't just stick triangles on the side of his head. Hylian ears have a slight curve to the top edge. They point backward, not just straight up.
- The Nose: It’s usually a very sharp, simple "L" shape in the concept art. Avoid over-shading the nostrils.
Capturing the Gear: More Than Just a Sword
You can’t have a Link from Zelda drawing without the Master Sword. But here is where most artists trip up: the scale.
The Master Sword is a hand-and-a-half sword. It’s not a massive Greatsword, but it’s bigger than a standard shortsword. When it’s on Link’s back, the hilt should be visible over his right shoulder (usually, unless you're drawing the Wii version of Twilight Princess Link, who was right-handed).
The Hylian Shield is another beast entirely. It’s curved. It has depth. The silver rim isn't flat; it catches the light differently depending on the angle. If you’re drawing the Breath of the Wild version, don’t forget the sheer amount of clutter Link carries. He’s got pouches, the Sheikah Slate (or the Purah Pad), and often a bow and a quiver.
It’s messy. It’s functional. It looks like he actually lives in the woods.
Shading and Color Palette
Color is where your drawing either lives or dies. Link’s "Green" isn't just one shade. It’s evolved from a bright forest green to a more muted, olive or teal-tinted hue.
In Tears of the Kingdom, the lighting is often warm, mimicking a sunset or the glow of "Zonai" energy. When you shade your Link from Zelda drawing, try using purple or deep blue for the shadows instead of just black. This gives the skin a more lifelike, translucent quality.
If you look at the work of Takumi Wada, the lead artist for the recent games, his shading is very gestural. You can see the "brushstrokes." He doesn't use smooth, airbrushed gradients. He uses bold blocks of color that define the muscles and the folds in the fabric.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Stiff Poses: Link is an acrobat. He climbs mountains and fights dragons. If your drawing looks like he’s standing at attention, it won't feel right. Lean his torso. Give him a wide stance.
- The "Green Hat" Problem: In the newer games, Link often doesn't even wear the hat. If you do include it, make sure it has weight. It should drape over his shoulder, not stand straight up like a traffic cone.
- Eye Alignment: Because his ears are so long, it’s easy to accidentally misalign the eyes. Draw a horizontal guideline across the face before you start the details.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Sketch
Stop trying to draw a "perfect" Link from memory. Even the pros at Nintendo use reference sheets.
First, decide which "Version" you are drawing. Are you going for the gritty, realistic Twilight Princess vibe or the stylized, "Toon Link" look? They require completely different anatomical approaches.
Second, focus on the hands. Link’s hands are often covered by fingerless gloves or bracers. These add "bulk" to his forearms and make his movements look more powerful.
Third, use a textured brush if you’re working digitally. A bit of "tooth" or grain in the brush helps mimic the official concept art style that makes the Zelda series so visually distinct.
Finally, pay attention to the negative space. The gap between his shield and his cape, or the way his hair breaks the silhouette of his face, is what makes the character recognizable even if you turned the whole drawing into a black shadow.
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Start with the gesture. Nail the proportions of those iconic Hylian ears. Don't be afraid to make the hair a little wilder than you think it should be. That’s where the character really lives.