How to draw a unicorn

The unicorn head is one of the most requested drawings for kids, and it’s an easy win: the mane hides the hardest part of the horse’s neck, and the horn makes it instantly recognisable.

The closed, sleepy eyes are a shortcut — they look cute and they are much easier to draw than open ones.

Step-by-step: how to draw a unicorn

1. 

   1Guide circles

   Draw a big circle for the head and a smaller one lower down and to the left for the muzzle. Add two lines down for the neck.

2. 

   2Head and neck

   Join the circles into one smooth head shape with a rounded nose, then draw the neck lines down from the jaw and the back of the head.

3. 

   3Horn and ear

   Draw a long thin triangle horn rising from the forehead with three short lines across it for the spiral. Add a pointed ear behind it.

4. 

   4Face

   Draw a closed eye as a downward curve with three little lashes, a small curl for the nostril and a short line for the mouth.

5. 

   5The mane

   Draw the mane in big wavy curls from the top of the head down the back of the neck, then a second wavy line inside it. Erase the guides.

6. 

   6Colour it

   Leave the head white, make the horn gold, the mane pink and purple, and add a pink blush on the cheek.

Tips for a better unicorn

• Horn on the forehead. It sits in front of the ear, above the eye — not on top of the head.
• Big curls. A few large waves look better than many small ones.
• Rainbow mane. Each band of the mane can be a different colour — use the marker so the colours blend at the edges.

Try a variation

Add stars and hearts floating around it, or draw the full unicorn using the horse tutorial for the body.

More things to draw

Level up

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