How to Draw a Sugar Skull
Draw and decorate a sugar skull using pencil outlines, patterned shapes, and colored markers. Practice symmetry, patterning, and color choices while following step-by-step instructions.
About this tutorial
Draw and decorate a sugar skull using pencil outlines, patterned shapes, and colored markers. Practice symmetry, patterning, and color choices while following step-by-step instructions.
What you need
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Gather your materials and place the paper on a flat surface so you have lots of room to draw.
- 2
Step 2
Lightly draw a vertical center line down the middle of the paper to help keep both sides even.
- 3
Step 3
Draw a large oval shape for the skull centered on the center line.
- 4
Step 4
Draw two curved jaw lines from the bottom sides of the oval to form the cheeks and chin.
- 5
Step 5
On each side of the center line draw a matching large circle or flower shape for the eye sockets.
- 6
Step 6
Draw an upside-down heart or small triangle on the center line for the nose.
- 7
Step 7
Draw a curved horizontal line for the mouth and add small vertical dashes along it to make the teeth.
- 8
Step 8
Add patterns to the left side of the skull using shapes like petals circles stars swirls or dots.
- 9
Step 9
Copy those same patterns onto the right side, matching size and placement to practice symmetry.
- 10
Step 10
Add extra small decorations around the eyes nose and forehead such as petals lines or dots to fill empty spaces.
- 11
Step 11
Trace all your pencil lines with the black marker to make the design bold.
- 12
Step 12
Color the skull and decorations with bright contrasting marker colors to make it pop.
- 13
Step 13
Take a photo and share your finished sugar skull creation on DIY.org.
Get inspired
Fun facts
How do I teach my child to draw a sugar skull step by step?
Start with a light pencil skull outline: a rounded forehead and jaw. Draw a vertical centerline for symmetry, then add eye sockets, a nose cavity, and a tooth line. Sketch mirrored patterns—flowers, hearts, swirls—on each side. Erase extra guide lines, retrace with fine-tip black marker, and color with markers, working from light to dark. Add highlights and dots last. Encourage copying a mirror image to practice symmetry.
What materials do I need to draw and decorate a sugar skull with my child?
You'll need drawing paper or sketchbook, a sharp pencil, eraser, and a ruler or vertical fold to mark symmetry. Fine-tip black markers for outlining and colored markers for filling are essential. Optional supplies include colored pencils for shading, white gel pen for highlights, compass or circular lid for eye sockets, and stickers or sequins for extra decoration. Use non-toxic, washable markers and a protective sheet under the paper.
What ages is drawing a sugar skull suitable for?
This activity suits children aged about six and up, with adjustments. Younger kids (4–6) can do simplified versions using big shapes and stickers with close supervision. Ages 7–10 can practice symmetry and basic patterns, while 11+ can handle detailed line work and color blending. Always consider fine motor skills—offer thicker markers for beginners and let older children attempt more complex patterns or replicate traditional motifs with guidance.
What are the benefits, safety tips, and variations for drawing sugar skulls with kids?
Drawing sugar skulls encourages symmetry, fine motor development, pattern recognition, and color theory practice. It also supports cultural learning—explain DĂa de los Muertos respectfully and focus on art appreciation. For safety, use non-toxic, washable markers and supervise small children to avoid marker ingestion. Variations include painting on rocks, creating paper cutouts, using watercolor instead of markers, or making a collaborative family mural. Encourage personal motifs to make designs
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have markers or a black marker?
If you don't have markers use colored pencils, crayons, or watercolor paints for the coloring step, and if you lack a black marker to trace, use a fine-tip black pen or a thin brush with black paint to darken your pencil lines.
My left and right patterns don't match—how can we fix symmetry while copying shapes onto the right side?
Keep the vertical center line and work lightly in pencil, then either fold the paper along that center line to transfer shapes or measure distances with a ruler and check placements before tracing with the black marker.
How can I adapt this sugar skull activity for younger or older children?
For younger kids pre-draw the large oval, eye sockets, and jaw lines and let them add simple petals or dots, while older kids can add intricate symmetrical patterns, shading, and mixed-media details before tracing and coloring.
How can we enhance or personalize the finished sugar skull drawing?
Personalize it by adding glitter glue, sequins, or metallic markers to the eye and forehead decorations, create a colorful patterned background, or cut the colored skull out to make a decorated card and then take a photo to share on DIY.org.