Arts & Crafts

How to Draw a Compass Rose

On a sheet of sturdy art paper, draw a cross in the center., Draw a large circle using your drafting compass., Using a protractor, mark the outer circle at 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°, and with your pencil, lightly draw connecting lines from the 45°...

22 Steps 3 min read Advanced

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: On a sheet of sturdy art paper

    Make two marks equidistant from the top of the paper, and with a pencil, lightly draw a horizontal line from left to right between them.

    Mark the center point of the paper a couple inches above and below the horizontal line, then lightly draw a vertical line from top to bottom.

    It should look like this:

  2. Step 2: draw a cross in the center.

    For this example, we’ll assume a circle with a 3” radius.

    This circle will mark the outer edge of your finished compass rose. ,,,,,, Start at the 0° point (N) on the outer circle, and draw to the intersection of the 45° mark and the innermost circle.

    Do the same from the 0° mark to the intersection of the 315° mark and the innermost circle. ]Repeat this process at the 90° point (E), drawing lines to intersect the innermost circle and the 45° and 135° points; at the 180° point (S), drawing lines to intersect the innermost circle and the 135° and 225° points; and from the 270° point (W), drawing lines to intersect the innermost circle and the 225° and 315° points.

    Your compass rose should look something like this: , Start at the 45° point (NE) on the outer circle, and draw to the intersection of the
    22.5° mark and the right side of the N cardinal point.

    Do the same from the 45° mark to the intersection of the
    67.5° mark and the top side of the E cardinal point.

    Repeat this process at the 135° point (SE), drawing lines to intersect the bottom of the E cardinal point and right of the S cardinal point; at the 225° point (SW), drawing lines to intersect the left side of the S cardinal point and the bottom of the W cardinal point; and from the 315° point (NW), drawing lines to intersect the top of the W cardinal point and the left side of the N cardinal point.

    Your compass rose should now look something like this: , Start at the intersection of the outer circle and the
    22.5° mark, and draw a line from the outer circle to the intersection of the middle circle and the right side of the N cardinal point.

    Do the same from the
    22.5° mark to the intersection of the middle circle and the top side of the NE cardinal point.

    Repeat this process at the
    67.5° point (ENE), drawing connecting lines to intersect the middle circle and the bottom of the NE cardinal point and top of the E cardinal point.

    From the
    112.5° point (ESE) to the bottom of the E cardinal point and the top of the SE cardinal point.

    From the
    157.5° point (SSE) to the bottom of the SE cardinal point and the right side of the S cardinal point.

    From the
    202.5° point (SSW) to the left side of the S cardinal point and the bottom of the SW cardinal point From the
    247.5° point (WSW) to the top of the SW cardinal point and the bottom of the W cardinal point From the
    292.5° point (WNW) to the top of the W cardinal point and the bottom of the NW cardinal point And from the
    337.5° point (NNW) to the top of the NW cardinal point and the left side of the N cardinal point;.

    Your compass rose should now look something like this: ,,

  3. Step 3: Draw a large circle using your drafting compass.

  4. Step 4: Using a protractor

  5. Step 5: mark the outer circle at 45°

  6. Step 6: and 315°

  7. Step 7: and with your pencil

  8. Step 8: lightly draw connecting lines from the 45° mark to the 225° mark

  9. Step 9: and from the 315° mark to the 135° mark.

  10. Step 10: Using a protractor again

  11. Step 11: make marks around the outer circle at the following points: 22.5° 67.5° 112.5° 157.5° 202.5° 247.5° 292.5° 337.5°

  12. Step 12: Connect the following points: 22.5° and 202.5° 67.5° and 247.5° 112.5° and 292.5° 157.5° and 337.5°

  13. Step 13: Draw a second circle with a 2” radius.

  14. Step 14: Adjust your compass for 1” radius

  15. Step 15: and lightly draw a third circle in the center.

  16. Step 16: Lightly draw the arrows for the main cardinal points.

  17. Step 17: Lightly draw the secondary points.

  18. Step 18: Add in the final points

  19. Step 19: starting with the NNE point.

  20. Step 20: Add the names of the compass points as shown:

  21. Step 21: Add color to suit your final environment

  22. Step 22: and happy navigating!

Detailed Guide

Make two marks equidistant from the top of the paper, and with a pencil, lightly draw a horizontal line from left to right between them.

Mark the center point of the paper a couple inches above and below the horizontal line, then lightly draw a vertical line from top to bottom.

It should look like this:

For this example, we’ll assume a circle with a 3” radius.

This circle will mark the outer edge of your finished compass rose. ,,,,,, Start at the 0° point (N) on the outer circle, and draw to the intersection of the 45° mark and the innermost circle.

Do the same from the 0° mark to the intersection of the 315° mark and the innermost circle. ]Repeat this process at the 90° point (E), drawing lines to intersect the innermost circle and the 45° and 135° points; at the 180° point (S), drawing lines to intersect the innermost circle and the 135° and 225° points; and from the 270° point (W), drawing lines to intersect the innermost circle and the 225° and 315° points.

Your compass rose should look something like this: , Start at the 45° point (NE) on the outer circle, and draw to the intersection of the
22.5° mark and the right side of the N cardinal point.

Do the same from the 45° mark to the intersection of the
67.5° mark and the top side of the E cardinal point.

Repeat this process at the 135° point (SE), drawing lines to intersect the bottom of the E cardinal point and right of the S cardinal point; at the 225° point (SW), drawing lines to intersect the left side of the S cardinal point and the bottom of the W cardinal point; and from the 315° point (NW), drawing lines to intersect the top of the W cardinal point and the left side of the N cardinal point.

Your compass rose should now look something like this: , Start at the intersection of the outer circle and the
22.5° mark, and draw a line from the outer circle to the intersection of the middle circle and the right side of the N cardinal point.

Do the same from the
22.5° mark to the intersection of the middle circle and the top side of the NE cardinal point.

Repeat this process at the
67.5° point (ENE), drawing connecting lines to intersect the middle circle and the bottom of the NE cardinal point and top of the E cardinal point.

From the
112.5° point (ESE) to the bottom of the E cardinal point and the top of the SE cardinal point.

From the
157.5° point (SSE) to the bottom of the SE cardinal point and the right side of the S cardinal point.

From the
202.5° point (SSW) to the left side of the S cardinal point and the bottom of the SW cardinal point From the
247.5° point (WSW) to the top of the SW cardinal point and the bottom of the W cardinal point From the
292.5° point (WNW) to the top of the W cardinal point and the bottom of the NW cardinal point And from the
337.5° point (NNW) to the top of the NW cardinal point and the left side of the N cardinal point;.

Your compass rose should now look something like this: ,,

About the Author

S

Stephen Jordan

Creates helpful guides on creative arts to inspire and educate readers.

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