How to draw a heart

Freehand hearts usually come out lopsided because we draw one side, then try to copy it by eye. Placing two guide circles first gives both halves the same target.

It takes about two minutes, and once you have it, you have the base for cards, doodles, patterns and tattoo-style designs.

Step-by-step: how to draw a heart

1. 

   1Two circles and a V

   Draw two circles side by side, just overlapping. From the outer side of each circle, draw a straight line down to a point in the middle below them — a V.

2. 

   2Draw the left half

   Start at the dip between the circles, follow the top of the left circle round, and curve down to the point at the bottom.

3. 

   3Mirror the right half

   Do the same on the right, matching the curve of the left side. Then erase the guide circles and the V.

4. 

   4Add a shine and sparkles

   A short curved line inside the top-left bump makes the heart look glossy. Little plus-shaped sparkles around it add energy.

5. 

   5Fill with colour

   Fill the heart with red, or pink, or a rainbow. Leave the shine line white or very light.

Tips for a better heart

• Bigger circles = rounder heart. Push the circles apart for a wider heart; overlap them more for a tall one.
• Draw the sides in one stroke each. Fast confident strokes make smoother curves than slow careful ones.
• Undo is free. If the halves don’t match, undo one side and redraw it — it’s quicker than fixing it.

Try a variation

Put a smaller heart inside the first, draw an arrow through it, or turn it into a face with two eyes and a smile. A row of hearts in different colours makes an instant border.

More things to draw

Level up

• Basic shading
• Colour theory for beginners
• Drawing ideas
• Easy things to draw