Look at her. Hornet is easily one of the most recognizable characters in modern indie gaming. She’s sharp. She’s fast. She is basically the "git gud" gatekeeper of Hallownest. But when you actually sit down with a pencil to figure out how to draw Hornet, you realize her design is deceptively simple. It’s a trap. If your proportions are off by even a few millimeters, she goes from looking like a deadly protector to looking like a weird, floppy strawberry.
I’ve spent way too many hours sketching the cast of Hollow Knight, and Hornet is always the one people struggle with most because of those long, elegant limbs and that massive, sweeping cloak. You aren’t just drawing a bug. You’re drawing a series of sharp angles and needle-like precision.
Start With the Head (It Isn’t a Circle)
Most tutorials tell you to start every character with a perfect circle. For Hornet, that’s a mistake. Her head is more of a wide, curved crescent or a flattened oval that tapers toward the top into two distinct horns. Think of it like a very stylish boomerang.
First, sketch a light horizontal oval. It needs to be wider than it is tall. From the top edges of that oval, pull two long, slightly curved horns upward. They shouldn't be straight spikes; they need a bit of organic "sway" to them. The gap between the horns at the top is crucial. If you make it too narrow, she looks cramped. Too wide, and she looks like a different species entirely.
Now, the eyes. This is where most people mess up. Hornet’s eyes are large, black, almond-shaped voids. They aren't perfectly symmetrical circles. They sit low on the "face" part of the head, and they lean inward. Boldly mark these in. If you look at Team Cherry’s original concept art, the eyes are positioned to give her a sense of focus. They shouldn't be "cute." They should be intense.
The Cloak defines the Silhouette
The cloak is Hornet’s body. You don't really see her torso or "chest" in the traditional sense because the silk-red fabric covers almost everything. To get the how to draw Hornet process right, you have to treat the cloak like a heavy piece of stationery. It hangs from her neck area and flares out wide at the bottom.
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Draw a small "neck" point just below the center of the head. From there, two long lines should sweep down and out. One side usually overlaps the other—Hornet often has her cloak wrapped tight or fluttering in the wind. The bottom of the cloak isn't flat. It’s a series of sharp, jagged points. Think of them like teeth or the bottom of a flame.
Mastering the Needle and Thread
You can't have Hornet without her Needle. It’s her namesake. It’s also a nightmare to draw if you don't plan the perspective. The Needle is essentially a giant, elongated diamond shape with a circular handle at the end.
- Draw a long, straight line to establish the "spine" of the weapon.
- Add a very thin, sharp triangle at the tip.
- The "eye" of the needle—the hole where the thread goes—is at the base, right before the handle.
- The handle itself is a simple short rod with a ball (pommel) at the end.
When she's in a combat stance, the Needle is often held behind her or lunging forward. If you want to make the drawing pop, add the silk thread. It shouldn't be a straight line. It should loop and swirl around her like a ribbon. This adds "flow" to the piece. It makes it feel like a frame from the actual game.
The Legs: Long, Thin, and Deadly
Underneath that heavy cloak, Hornet has incredibly spindly legs. If you draw them too thick, she loses her grace. They are basically sticks. But they have specific joints. There’s a slight bend where the "knee" would be, and they taper down to very fine points. No feet. Just points.
If she’s standing still, her legs are usually hidden or just barely peeking out. But if you’re drawing her Gossamer Storm attack or a mid-air dash, those legs need to be extended. One leg straight, one leg bent. It creates a "V" shape that mirrors the angles of her horns.
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Common Mistakes Beginners Make
Honestly, the biggest issue is the scale of the head compared to the body. In Hollow Knight, the characters have a "chibi-adjacent" style, but Hornet is taller and more "leggy" than the Knight. Her head should be about 1/3 of her total height.
Another thing? The color. If you're using colored pencils or digital brushes, don't just grab a flat red. Hornet’s cloak is a deep, desaturated crimson. It has shadows that lean toward purple or dark brown. The highlights shouldn't be white; they should be a pale, dusty pink. This gives the fabric a "felt" or "silk" texture rather than looking like plastic.
Refining the Line Work
Once you have your basic shapes, go over it with a darker pen or a heavier pencil stroke. Hollow Knight art is famous for its thick, consistent outlines. Don't use sketchy, hairy lines. Use long, confident strokes. If you’re working digitally, turn your "stabilization" up. You want those horns to look like they could actually stab something.
- Keep the horns symmetrical but not robotic.
- Ensure the eyes are positioned low enough on the head.
- Make the cloak flare out enough to give her a sense of weight.
- The Needle must be longer than her entire body.
Adding the Hallownest Atmosphere
To really sell the drawing, you need the environment. You don't have to draw the whole Greenpath backdrop, but a few floating "leaves" or some dust particles go a long way. Maybe a few strands of spider silk hanging from the top of the frame.
I’ve seen some incredible fan art where people focus on the lighting. Since Hornet is often found in dark, moody areas, try adding a rim light—a thin line of bright light—along one side of her silhouette. It makes her stand out from the background and highlights the sharpness of her design.
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Actionable Steps for Your Next Sketch
Stop thinking about it and just start. Seriously. Grab a piece of paper right now and follow these specific moves to get your first draft down in under five minutes.
First, draw a wide, flat "V" for the horns. Connect them at the bottom with a gentle curve to finish the head. Don't worry about the eyes yet. Just get that shape right. Next, drop a large, heavy triangle down from the "chin" area. This is your cloak. It should be at least twice as tall as the head.
Now, add the eyes. Remember: almond shapes, leaning in. If she looks worried, you've angled them wrong. They should look neutral or slightly aggressive. Sketch a long, thin line crossing behind the cloak for the Needle. Add the circle pommel at the end.
Finally, add two tiny, thin toothpicks for legs at the very bottom. You’ve just finished the basic layout. From here, it’s all about thickening the lines and adding that deep red color. If you mess up the horns, don't erase the whole thing—just widen the other horn to match. Character design is about balance, not perfection. Keep the lines sharp, keep the colors moody, and you'll have a Hornet that looks like she stepped right out of the Kingdom's Edge.