Understanding The Basics of Drawing a Unicorn

The Anatomy of A Unicorn

The first step to successfully drawing a unicorn involves understanding its anatomy. A unicorn, though a fantastical creature, borrows its anatomy largely from a horse. It has the body of a horse and a large, twisted horn in the middle of its forehead. Understanding horse anatomy could bring you one step closer to being able to draw an authentic-looking unicorn.

Materials Needed for Drawing

Before setting out to draw your unicorn, you should assemble all the required materials. In its simplest form, drawing a unicorn would require a sheet of paper, a pencil, eraser, and some colours if you want to add the personal touch. However, if you're looking to create a more technical or professional drawing, you might require high-quality sketching pencils, a drawing pad, ruler, and fine-liner pens. Apart from materials, a well-lit and calm environment is conducive to drawing.

Outline Drawing vs Freehand Drawing

There are two primary ways of drawing a unicorn - outline drawing and freehand drawing. Outline drawing is typically easier and better for beginners as it involves breaking down the unicorn into geometric shapes and then connecting them to form the unicorn. Freehand drawing, on the other hand, is a more advanced technique where the artist draws the unicorn in full without any guiding lines or shapes. The choice of either technique depends on your level of expertise and comfort with drawing.

Step-by-Step Guide to Drawing A Unicorn

Start with the Unicorn's Body

The body forms the core upon which other parts of a unicorn are built. As a consequence, perfecting the body shape is key in creating an accurate unicorn drawing. Start with basic shapes to create the body structure. Employ an oval shape for the body, a circle for the head, and lines for the legs and neck.

Draw the Unicorn's Facial Features and Horn

The facial features and horn of a unicorn are what make it distinctive and unique from a horse. Once you have your basic body shape, move onto the facial features. Add the eyes, nose and mouth to your head circle. Then, right above the eyes, draw the characteristic horn of the unicorn. Take time to perfect these features as they add personality to your unicorn drawing.

Add the Tail and Mane

A unicorn isn't complete without its flowing, magical mane and tail. After finishing with the basic body and facial features, shift your focus to the tail and mane. They can be styled and colored based on your creativity. Add a whimsical, wavy look to these for that authentic unicorn finish.

How to Perfect Your Unicorn Drawing

Practice Makes Perfect

Just like with any other skill, improving your unicorn drawing skills requires constant practice. Draw multiple unicorns in different poses and styles. Each new drawing brings with it new lessons and corrections, enhancing your skillset over time.

Take Lessons and Use References

Using references and taking lessons or workshops can provide additional guidance and useful techniques. References could be either actual unicorn drawings or related pictures like horses. Lessons can refine your drawing technique and encourage you to step out of your drawing comfort zone.

Incorporate Colors and Shading

Colors and shading bring our 2D unicorn to life. Experiment with different shades and highlights to provide depth to your drawing. Using colored pencils or paints, add hues to your unicorn, giving it a magical and enchanting appearance.