How to draw a Kawaii Unicorn?

• September 09 2020 , by Jessica Miller
• 7 min reading time

Why Drawing Unicorns Is So Much Fun

There's something about putting pencil to paper and watching a unicorn come to life. Maybe it's the flowing mane. Maybe it's the spiral horn. Or maybe it's just the fact that you're creating something magical from scratch.

Whether you're a kid just getting started with drawing or an adult who wants to sketch something whimsical, unicorns are one of those satisfying creative exercises that work at any skill level. And the best part? There's no wrong way to draw one.

We've put together a step-by-step tutorial below for a simple unicorn that beginners and kids can follow along with. Plus some tips on leveling up to intermediate and kawaii styles once you've got the basics down. Grab your pencils.

What You'll Need

• A pencil (HB or #2 works great for sketching)
• An eraser
• Paper - any kind, though thicker paper holds up better to erasing
• A black marker or fine-tip pen for outlining (optional)
• Colored pencils, markers, or crayons for coloring

That's it. Nothing fancy required. If your kid wants to draw a unicorn with a crayon on the back of a napkin? That counts too.

Simple Unicorn Drawing: 7 Easy Steps

This tutorial is perfect for younger kids or anyone who wants a quick, fun unicorn drawing. We're keeping the shapes basic and the steps short.

Step 1 - Start with circles for the body

Draw one large circle for the body and two smaller circles, one for the head (slightly above and to the left) and one for the hindquarters. These circles are your guide shapes. They don't need to be perfect.

Step 2 - Add an ear and eye

On the top circle (the head), draw a small pointed ear. Then add a large oval eye with a couple of small circles inside for that sparkly reflection. Feel free to make the eye bigger for a cuter look.

Step 3 - Draw the neck and muzzle

Connect the head circle to the body circle with two curved lines to form the neck. Then extend the bottom of the head circle into a rounded muzzle. Your unicorn is starting to take shape.

Step 4 - Draw the unicorn horn

Now for the most important part. The horn. Draw a curved line from behind the ear to form the base, then add a pointed spiral horn on top. Don't forget a few diagonal lines across the horn to give it that classic twisted look. Extend a line from the back of the head down toward the body for the back.

Step 5 - Add the mane

Draw flowing, wavy lines along the neck to create the mane. Use a few intermediate strokes to give it volume and sections (this will also make coloring easier later). The mane should look like it's flowing in the wind.

Step 6 - Draw the tail

Just like the mane, draw the tail with flowing, wavy lines. Make it long and dramatic. Unicorn tails deserve to be fabulous. Add a few strokes to show sections of hair.

Step 7 - Finish with the legs and hooves

Draw four legs extending down from the body. Keep them simple: two slightly curved lines per leg with small rounded hooves at the bottom. Erase your guide circles, and you've got a unicorn.

Now it's coloring time. Go classic white with a rainbow mane, or get creative: pink body, purple mane, gold horn. Add stars, rainbows, clouds, or hearts around your unicorn to complete the scene.

Ready for More? Intermediate and Kawaii Styles

Once you've got the basic unicorn down, you can level up in two directions.

For a more realistic unicorn: Start with a light "skeleton" sketch (an oval for the torso, stick lines for legs, a smaller circle for the head) to nail the proportions first. Build the body contour around that framework. Add details like individual flowing sections of hair that overlap each other in the mane, subtle muscle definition along the legs and chest, and shading on the underside of the body. The key difference from the simple version is depth. Darker areas where shadows fall, lighter areas where light hits.

For a kawaii unicorn: Go the opposite direction. Giant round head (about two-thirds of the whole unicorn). Oversized eyes with those signature sparkly reflection circles inside. Tiny bean-shaped body with stubby little legs. Cloud-like mane and puffy cotton candy tail. Color everything in soft pastels. The goal isn't realism. It's maximum cuteness.

If you're into the kawaii aesthetic, you might also enjoy browsing our unicorn decoration collection. It's full of pieces that match this vibe perfectly.

Drawing Tips to Level Up Your Unicorn Art

No matter which style you're going for, these tips will help you keep improving.

• Practice basic shapes first. Circles, ovals, and curved lines are the foundation of every unicorn drawing. The more comfortable you are with these, the smoother your sketches will be.
• Draw lightly at first. Use soft pencil strokes for your initial sketch so you can erase easily. Go darker only when you're happy with the shape.
• Study real horses (sort of). Unicorns are mythical, but their body structure is based on horses. Looking at photos of horses helps with leg positions, body proportions, and how manes actually flow. Curious about what makes unicorns different from other mythical horses? Our unicorn vs pegasus comparison breaks down the key differences.
• Vary your line weight. Thicker lines on the outer edges and thinner lines for details inside the body make a drawing look more polished.
• Don't aim for perfection. Especially with kids, the goal is fun, not photorealism. Wobbly lines and unusual color choices make a drawing unique.
• Try different poses. Once you're comfortable drawing a standing unicorn, try a rearing pose, a running pose, or a unicorn lying down. Each pose teaches you something new about the anatomy.
• Use references. There's no shame in looking at other unicorn drawings for inspiration. Every artist uses references.

Creative Ideas for Your Unicorn Drawings

Once you've finished your drawing, here are some fun things to do with it:

• Make greeting cards. A hand-drawn unicorn on a birthday card is way more special than a store-bought one.
• Create a unicorn comic strip. Give your unicorn a name (need ideas? Check out our list of 200+ unicorn names) and draw a short story.
• Design a poster. Draw a large unicorn and add your favorite quote or saying. Frame it for your room.
• Try an origami unicorn next. If you enjoyed drawing, paper folding is another great unicorn craft to try.
• Plan a unicorn party. Your drawings can become decorations, and you could pair them with a magical unicorn cake for the perfect celebration.
• Try unicorn face painting too. If drawing brings unicorns to paper, face paint brings them to life on actual faces.

And if you're looking for some unicorn-themed accessories to wear while you draw, our unicorn headbands collection has some pretty fun options. Just saying.

Going Digital: Drawing Unicorns on a Tablet

Every tutorial above works just as well on a tablet or drawing app. Digital tools make it easier to undo mistakes and experiment with colors without wasting paper. Free apps like Sketchbook or ibisPaint are great for beginners, and the layering features let you sketch the skeleton on one layer and refine on another.

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activities diy how to draw kids unicorn drawing