Let's be real for a second. Most of us have tried to sketch something "simple" for a kid, or maybe just to decorate a bullet journal, only to end up with a creature that looks more like a mutated goat than a majestic mythical beast. It’s frustrating. You want that clean, whimsical look you see on Pinterest, but your hand decides to do its own thing. Drawing is hard.
But honestly, learning how to draw a simple unicorn doesn't require a degree from CalArts or a set of $200 markers. It’s mostly about breaking down complex shapes into stuff you already know how to draw, like beans and sausages. If you can draw a circle and a triangle, you're basically halfway to a masterpiece.
The biggest mistake people make is starting with the horn. Don't do that. It throws off the entire balance of the head. We’re going to look at why starting with the "bean method" changes everything and how you can actually make a unicorn look like it’s galloping rather than just standing there looking stiff.
Why Your Unicorns Usually Look Like Donkeys
The anatomy of a horse—which is the foundation here—is deceptively tricky. Most beginners draw the neck too thin or the legs like straight sticks. If you look at actual equine anatomy, the legs have distinct joints that bend in specific ways. Even when we are going for a "simple" style, ignoring those joints is what makes the drawing feel "off."
Think about the "S" curve. A unicorn's neck shouldn't just be two straight lines. It needs a bit of a graceful arch. Professional illustrators often talk about the "line of action." This is an invisible line that dictates the movement of the character. For a simple unicorn, that line should be a gentle curve from the tip of the nose down to the tail.
The Essential Toolkit
You don't need much. Grab a standard HB pencil—the kind you used in grade school. It’s better than those fancy soft 6B pencils because it doesn’t smudge as easily when you’re erasing your "oops" moments. A good polymer eraser is a lifesaver. Avoid the pink ones on the back of pencils; they usually just smear the graphite and tear the paper.
If you want to go pro, get a fine-liner like a Sakura Pigma Micron. But honestly? A Sharpie or even a gel pen works fine for that final "pop."
Step-by-Step: Building the Unicorn Foundation
First, draw a bean. No, seriously. An oval that is slightly pinched in the middle serves as the perfect torso. This represents the ribcage and the hindquarters. If the bean is tilted upward, your unicorn is jumping. If it’s horizontal, it’s standing.
Next comes the head. Draw a smaller circle above the "bean," but leave enough space for a neck. Connect them with two curving lines. Now, here is the secret: the muzzle. Instead of a perfect circle for the face, draw a small U-shape sticking out.
Adding the Magic: The Horn and Mane
Now you can add the horn. It goes right between the ears. Pro tip: don't just draw a triangle. Draw a tall, skinny cone and then add diagonal lines wrapping around it to give it that classic spiral texture.
The mane is where you can really let loose. Instead of individual hairs—which look messy—draw "clumps." Think of them like long, flowing teardrop shapes. Overlap them. It creates volume without the headache of drawing every single strand.
Dealing With the Legs (The Hard Part)
Legs are the bane of every artist's existence. To keep it simple, think of the front legs as having "knees" (which are actually more like wrists, biologically speaking) and the back legs as having "hocks" that bend backward.
- For the front legs, draw two straight-ish lines that taper down to a small square (the hoof).
- For the back legs, draw a shape like a lightning bolt. A curve out, a sharp angle in, and then straight down.
- Keep the hooves small. Big hooves make the unicorn look heavy; small hooves make it look dainty and magical.
The Eyes and Expression
Want a "kawaii" or cute look? Place the eyes lower on the head and further apart. Huge pupils with a tiny white "highlight" dot make anything look instantly adorable. If you want a more traditional, "The Last Unicorn" style, make the eyes almond-shaped and place them higher up.
Common Pitfalls and How to Fix Them
I see this all the time: people draw the horn pointing straight up like an antenna. It looks weird. The horn should follow the angle of the forehead. If the face is pointing down, the horn should point forward.
Another big one? The tail. A unicorn's tail isn't a horse tail. Traditionally, in medieval lore, unicorns had tails more like lions—thin with a tuft at the end. But since we’re doing a simple unicorn, the "fluffy cloud" tail is usually the go-to. Just make sure it starts at the very end of the spine, not halfway down the leg.
Using Color to Hide Mistakes
If your lines are a bit shaky, don't sweat it. Watercolor or colored pencils can distract the eye. When you're coloring, use "analogous" colors. These are colors next to each other on the color wheel, like purple, blue, and pink. They always look good together.
- Pastels: Great for that "dreamy" look.
- Gold Ink: Use this for the horn to make it stand out.
- Negative Space: Leave some white spots in the mane to act as "shine."
Taking It Further
Once you've mastered the basic profile, try changing the perspective. Drawing a unicorn from the front is significantly harder because of foreshortening, but it's a great way to level up your skills. You'll need to focus on how the nose overlaps the chest.
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According to drawing instructors at places like the ArtStudentsLeague, the best way to improve is "iterative drawing." This means drawing the same thing 10 times in a row, very quickly. Don't worry about being perfect. Just get the muscle memory down. By the tenth unicorn, your hand will instinctively know where the curves go.
Real-World Inspiration
Look at the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries from the Middle Ages. Notice how the unicorns there are actually quite goat-like, with cloven hooves and beards. If you're bored with the "sparkly pony" look, try adding some of those traditional elements. It adds a layer of sophistication to a simple drawing.
Finalizing Your Artwork
Before you call it done, take a black pen and thicken the outermost lines. This is called "line weight." Thicker lines on the outside and thinner lines for the details inside (like the hair or the eye lashes) make the drawing look "finished" and professional. It gives it a graphic quality that pops off the page.
If you’re sharing this online, lighting is everything. Take the photo near a window in the morning for soft, even light. Shadows from a desk lamp can make even a great drawing look dingy.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Drawing Session
Start by sketching three "beans" on a single piece of paper. Don't commit to a full drawing yet. Just practice those body shapes. Once you have three different poses—standing, sitting, and maybe a little hop—pick the best one to flesh out.
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Avoid the temptation to use a ruler for the horn. Hand-drawn lines have more "soul" and fit the whimsical nature of a unicorn better than a perfectly straight geometric triangle.
Focus on the flow of the mane. Let it overlap the neck and part of the face. This creates depth and makes the unicorn feel like it's part of an environment rather than just a sticker pasted on a page.
Check your proportions. The head should be roughly one-third the size of the body. If the head is too big, it looks like a baby unicorn (which is also fine, if that's what you're going for). If it's too small, it looks like a dinosaur.
Finally, sign your work. Even if it's just a doodle in the corner of a notebook, owning your art is the first step toward becoming a better artist. Every "bad" drawing is just a prerequisite for the good ones that are coming next. Keep your early sketches to look back on in six months; you'll be shocked at how much your "simple" unicorns evolve once the muscle memory kicks in.