Draw the Inside of a Character’s Mind
Draw the inside of a character’s mind by illustrating thoughts, memories, feelings, and symbols using colors, labels, and simple scenes to show personality.
About this tutorial
Draw the inside of a character’s mind by illustrating thoughts, memories, feelings, and symbols using colors, labels, and simple scenes to show personality.
What you need
Instructions
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Step 1
Pick one character to explore like a fictional friend a family member or a pet.
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Step 2
Write the character’s name at the top of your paper.
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Step 3
Draw a large head shape in the middle of the paper to show the character’s mind.
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Step 4
Lightly divide the head into sections with pencil lines to make separate thought areas.
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Step 5
Write one label in each section such as Thoughts Memories Feelings Dreams and Favorite Things.
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Step 6
In the Thoughts section draw a small scene or symbol that shows what the character often thinks about.
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Step 7
In the Memories section draw a picture of an important memory the character has.
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Step 8
In the Feelings section draw colors shapes or faces that show how the character feels most days.
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Step 9
In the Dreams or Future section draw what the character hopes for or wants to become.
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Step 10
Color each section using hues that match the label you wrote for that part.
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Step 11
Add small labels arrows or short captions to explain two or three key drawings.
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Step 12
Cut out one or two pictures or words from magazines that match the character and set them aside.
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Step 13
Glue the cutouts into the sections that fit best to make a mixed media collage.
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Step 14
Use a black marker to outline the head and important drawings so they stand out.
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Step 15
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do you draw the inside of a character’s mind step by step?
Start by choosing a character and sketching a simple head outline. Divide the interior into sections—bubbles, boxes, or small scenes—for thoughts, memories, feelings, and symbols. Use color to represent emotions, small drawings for memories, and labels or short words to clarify ideas. Add arrows or paths to show how thoughts connect. Encourage kids to explain their choices aloud to build storytelling and reflection. Keep it playful and nonjudgmental.
What materials do I need to draw the inside of a character’s mind?
You’ll need paper or a sketchbook, pencils and erasers, and a set of colored pencils, markers, or crayons. Optional extras: stickers, magazine clippings for collage, glue, scissors, and sticky notes for movable ideas. A ruler helps make neat sections, and a washable mat protects surfaces. For digital versions, a tablet and stylus work well. Choose non-toxic, age-appropriate supplies and a comfortable workspace.
What ages is this "inside a character’s mind" activity suitable for?
This activity suits a wide range: preschoolers (4–6) can draw simple symbols and color-coded feelings with adult prompts; elementary kids (7–11) can create mini-scenes and labels; tweens and teens (12+) can explore complex emotions, metaphors, and narrative links. Adjust complexity, provide sentence starters for younger children, and invite deeper reflection or character backstories for older kids.
What are the benefits of drawing a character’s mind and are there safety tips or variations?
This exercise boosts empathy, emotional vocabulary, visual storytelling, and perspective-taking while improving fine motor skills. It helps children express feelings indirectly, which can reduce stress. Safety tips: use non-toxic art supplies, supervise cutting or small pieces, and respect privacy if sensitive topics arise. Variations include partner shares, comic-strip formats, collage versions, or making a digital moodboard to expand creative options.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have magazines, a glue stick, or a black marker?
If you don't have magazines for cutouts, print images from the internet or use stickers, fabric scraps, or colored construction paper, swap a glue stick for white school glue applied thinly, and outline drawings with a dark colored pencil if you lack a black marker.
My pencil lines, sections, or collage look messy or the cutouts won't stay — how can I fix that?
Practice dividing the head lightly on scrap paper to get even pencil lines, press cutouts with a clean sheet while glue dries and use a thin layer of glue to avoid rippling, and wait until the glue is fully dry before outlining with the black marker to prevent smudging.
How can I adapt the activity for different ages or abilities?
For preschoolers, pre-draw the large head and write simple labels like 'Feelings' for them to color and paste big cutouts; for elementary kids have them write labels, draw small scenes and add two or three captions; for tweens and teens encourage detailed scenes, mixed-media collage with magazine cutouts, arrows between sections, and a bold black outline as in the instructions.
How can we extend, improve, or personalize the character mind collage?
Personalize and extend the project by adding textured materials (fabric, ribbon) into sections, creating a hinged flap for a 'hidden memory', writing two-sentence captions for key drawings, and photographing the finished mixed-media collage to share on DIY.org.