How to Draw a Skull (Easy Step by Step)
A skull is a fun drawing for Halloween or a pirate party, and it is built from very simple shapes. You only need a big rounded head, two ovals for the eyes, a small heart for the nose, and a row of straight lines for the teeth.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a skull step by step
How to Draw a Skull · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The skull outline
Start with a big rounded dome for the top of the head, wider than it is tall. Curve the sides in, then draw two straight lines down and join them with a rounded box at the bottom for the jaw.
Step 3: The two eyes
Draw two tall ovals side by side in the middle of the head, with the same space on each side. Try to make them the same size.
Step 4: The nose
Between and below the eyes, draw a small upside-down heart. Make a rounded point at the top and two soft bumps at the bottom.
Step 5: The jaw line
Draw one straight line across the jaw box, from the left side to the right side. This marks where the teeth will go.
Step 6: The teeth
Draw four short straight lines from the jaw line down to the bottom of the jaw. Space them evenly so the teeth look like tall little boxes.
Step 7: The crack
Near the top right of the head, start at the top edge and draw a short zigzag line down, like a little lightning bolt.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your skull? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a ghost or how to draw a jack-o'-lantern next.
Tips for drawing a skull
- Draw the dome wider than it is tall, then curve the sides in before the jaw. This is the trickiest part, so go slowly and keep the lines smooth.
- Draw both eye ovals in light pencil first and check that they match. Moving one eye a little is easy to fix before you press hard.
- For the teeth, draw the line across the jaw first, then add the straight lines down. Use a ruler or the edge of a card if your lines wobble.
Free skull coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this skull coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your skull drawing
Soft cream or light gray looks like real bone, with black inside the eyes and nose. For a twist, make a candy skull with bright flowers, swirls, and hearts on the forehead.
Skull fun fact for kids
An adult human skull is made of 22 bones that fit together like puzzle pieces.
Questions about drawing a skull
What shapes do I need to draw a skull?
You need a wide rounded dome for the head, a rounded box for the jaw, two ovals for the eyes, and a small heart shape for the nose. The teeth are just straight lines.
How do I make my skull look friendly instead of scary?
Make the eyes big and keep the teeth lines even. Adding a bow or a party hat makes it silly right away.
How do I draw the teeth evenly?
Draw the line across the jaw first. Then add one line near each side and two lines in between, and the spaces will come out about the same size.
