How to Draw a Unicorn
Draw a unicorn using basic shapes, step by step sketching, inking, shading, and coloring. Practice proportions, mane patterns, tails, and creative details.
About this tutorial
Draw a unicorn using basic shapes, step by step sketching, inking, shading, and coloring. Practice proportions, mane patterns, tails, and creative details.
What you need
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Draw a medium-sized oval near the top third of your paper for the unicorn's head.
- 2
Step 2
Draw a larger oval to the right and slightly below the head for the unicorn's body.
- 3
Step 3
Connect the head and body with two short curved lines to make the neck.
- 4
Step 4
Draw four straight or slightly curved lines down from the body to make the legs.
- 5
Step 5
Add small rounded rectangles or ovals at the bottom of each leg to make hooves.
- 6
Step 6
Draw a long cone shape in the middle of the forehead to make the horn.
- 7
Step 7
Sketch a wavy mane along the top of the head and down the neck using long curved lines.
- 8
Step 8
Draw a flowing wavy tail from the back of the body using several curved lines.
- 9
Step 9
Draw a small oval for the eye on the head.
- 10
Step 10
Draw a short curved line for a smiling mouth.
- 11
Step 11
Draw a tiny dot or short dash for the nostril.
- 12
Step 12
Erase extra pencil guidelines and smooth any rough outlines to clean up your drawing.
- 13
Step 13
Shade the belly and under the neck with light pencil strokes and then color the unicorn using your coloring materials.
- 14
Step 14
Share your finished unicorn on DIY.org
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Fun facts
How do you draw a unicorn step-by-step?
Start with simple shapes: draw a circle for the head and a larger oval for the body. Connect them with two curved lines for the neck. Add four straight or slightly curved rectangles/ovals for legs and small ovals for hooves. Sketch a long triangle for the horn and two small triangles for ears. Draw a flowing mane and tail with wavy lines, add eyes and nostrils, then erase guide lines and shade or color.
What materials do I need to draw a unicorn?
You’ll need plain paper or a sketchbook, a pencil for sketching, and an eraser for corrections. Add fine-tip black marker or pen to outline, plus colored pencils, markers, or crayons for shading and color. Optional supplies: a ruler for straight guide lines, blending stump or cotton swab for shading, and a sharpener. Keep a scrap paper sheet handy for testing colors and pressure.
What ages is drawing a unicorn suitable for?
This step-by-step unicorn drawing is suitable for ages about 4–12, with adjustments. Preschoolers (4–6) can copy simple shapes with help and practice basic coloring. Ages 7–9 can follow step sequences more independently and try simple shading. Older kids (10–12) can add details and realistic shading. Supervise very young children with scissors or markers and tailor complexity to each child’s fine-motor skills.
What are the benefits of drawing a unicorn?
Drawing a unicorn builds fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and the ability to follow sequential steps. It encourages creativity, imagination, and color recognition while boosting confidence when a picture is completed. The activity also practices observation and planning (breaking shapes into parts) and can be calming, helping children focus and relax. Group drawing can foster sharing, communication, and collaborative ideas.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have an eraser or colored pencils?
If you don't have an eraser or colored pencils, use a soft cloth or kneaded eraser to remove pencil guidelines as instructed in 'Erase extra pencil guidelines' and substitute crayons, washable markers, or watercolors for the coloring materials when you 'color the unicorn'.
My unicorn's head and body don't look right—how can I fix the proportions?
If the head and body look off, lightly sketch the medium-sized oval for the head and the larger oval for the body (steps 1–2), adjust their placement before drawing the neck (step 3), and only darken outlines once the proportions look balanced.
How can I adapt the steps for younger or older kids?
For younger children, simplify by tracing large oval templates for the head and body (steps 1–2) and letting them draw simple legs and color with washable markers, while older kids can add a spiraled horn detail (step 6), layered mane strands (step 8), and shading on the belly and under the neck (step 13) for more realism.
What are some ways to personalize or enhance the finished unicorn before sharing?
To personalize the drawing, add patterned mane and tail colors (steps 8–9), glitter glue or stickers on the horn (step 6), a decorated background around the body, and write your unicorn's name before sharing on DIY.org.