Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Unicorn" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

 

 

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

 

Step 1: Draw two circles as guides for the unicorn's body. The circles don't have to be perfect. They're just guides. The second circle should be placed below the first and to the left. The circles should be about the same size. Don't draw them too far apart, otherwise the unicorn's body will be too long.

 

Step 2: Draw a smaller circle above the first as a guide for the unicorn's head.

Step 3: Draw a U-shaped arc on the lower right side of the head as a guide for the unicorn's muzzle.

 

Step 4: Add a small triangle-like line to the top of the unicorn's head as a guide for the ears.

Step 5: Draw a line in front of the ear as a guide for the unicorn's horn. You can skip this step if you just want a regular horse rearing.

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Step 6: Draw a series of lines that connect the circles as guides for the rest of the unicorn's body. Pay attention to where the lines are placed and how they curve.

 

Step 7: Draw two angled lines on the right side of the top circle as guides for the unicorn's front legs. Pay attention to where the lines bend. This will indicate where the joints will be.

Step 8: Draw more angled lines under the second circle as guides for the unicorn's hind legs.

 

Step 9: Draw a curved line on the left side of the circle at the bottom as a guide for the unicorn's tail.

That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.

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Step 10: Draw the unicorn's eye inside the head on the upper right side. The shape of the eye is similar to a less-than sign (<). Shade the inside of the eye except for a tiny section to represent glare. Add a few lines around the eye for extra detail.

 

Step 11: Draw a small oval and shade it in at the tip of the unicorn's muzzle for the nostril. Add a small line next to it.

Step 12: Use the initial arc shape as a guide to draw the rest of the unicorn's muzzle. Follow the basic path of the guide as you draw a curved line to represent the top part of the muzzle and the mouth. Add another curved line under the mouth while still using the arc as a guide to create the unicorn's bottom lip and chin.

 

Step 13: Use the small triangle on the head as a guide to draw the unicorn's ear. Draw the ear on the other side too.

Step 14: Using a few curved line, draw the front part of the unicorn's mane in between the ears.

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Step 15: Draw the rest of the unicorn's head using the initial shapes and lines as guides. Follow the basic path of the guides as you darken the lines and add a curved line on the bottom for the jaw. Add a few lines within the head for the protruding veins.

 

Step 16: Use the line on the head as a guide to draw the unicorn's horn. Make the horn thick at the base and pointy at the top. Add some lines inside for a spiral effect. You can skip this step for a regular horse.

Step 17: Use the initial lines as guides to draw the legs that are on this side of the unicorn's body first. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg as you follow the basic path of the guide. When you get the structure of the leg right, darken the lines. Pay attention to how the leg bends. Add a thicker square-like shape at the tip for the hoof. Pay attention to how the leg bends. Draw the hind leg on this side of the body the same way. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg first as you follow the path of the guide. Darken the lines when you get the structure of the hind leg right and add the hoof shape at the bottom.

 

Step 18: Use the other lines as guides to draw the unicorn's legs that are on the other side of the body. Remember to sketch lightly at first and only darken the lines when you get the structure right. The shape of this leg is similar to the other front leg but placed a little higher. Now draw the hind leg on the other side using the same technique. The base or top of the legs should be a little thicker than the base of the front legs.

Step 19: Draw the unicorn's mane along the left side of the neck using a series of curved lines. Try not to draw every individual hair strand. Instead, draw the mane as a single shape. The shape of the mane is compost of many curved lines that come to a point, like wavy spikes. You can make the mane longer or shorter if you'd like.

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Step 20: Darken the original guide lines to create the shape of the unicorn's body.

 

Step 21: Use the line on the left side as a guide to draw the unicorn's tail. Draw the tail the same way as the mane. Follow the guide and make the tail into a solid shape instead of individual hairs.

Step 22 (optional): Erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines for a cleaner look. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines that you may have accidentally erased.

 

Final Step (optional): Add some shading to your drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Add the value lightly at first, then gradually build up to the level of darkness that you want. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that it the shadows are consistent with it. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. It's a good idea to use reference from actual horse pictures to get the muscle structure right. Unicorns are mythical creatures, so you can add stripes or spots or even different colors to the body! Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Continue adding the value until the entire body has the appropriate shadows.

Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the unicorn so it doesn't appear to be floating. Don't forget to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.

Thanks for watching! Subscribe to the How2DrawAnimals YouTube Channel for a new tutorial every Tuesday.

To learn how to draw popular cartoon characters, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.

 

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