How to Draw Unicorns
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Drawing Unicorns - Learn How to Draw a Unicorn in Pencil
Learn how to draw unicorns in this helpful guide, which includes step-by-step tutorials, videos and beautiful unicorn images to help inspire you!
Do you want to learn how to draw mythical creatures such as unicorns? Then read on!
This guide shows you how to study the anatomy of a horse, draw the unicorn in different poses, and focuses on different elements of the unicorn, including hooves, horns and tails.
It also provides both a horse version of a unicorn, and the mythical version of a horned horse with the body of a deer and the tail of a lion.
So arm yourself with a quality HB pencil, and get sketching with How to Draw Unicorns!
This work is the copyright of the author (2011). Please DO NOT copy this elsewhere either in print or online. Unicorn sketches are copyright of the author and may not be used without permission.
How to Draw a Unicorn: Your Complete Guide!
Unicorn Lovers
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How to Draw a Unicorn
The unicorn is one of the most beloved and beautiful creatures of myth and legend. To draw one is to capture more than simply a horse with a horn - a unicorn is graceful, ethereal, a creature of beauty and enchantment.
Learn to draw unicorns by first studying the horse, but then adding in the magical elements that make a unicorn so special.
Unicorn and Foal
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Drawing the Horse
Studying Horse Anatomy
However you choose to draw your unicorn, the basic form begins with the horse. To create a realistic horse, you need to study the anatomy of the horse and take particular note of where muscles show (capture this in your shading) and how the legs work.
When you first begin drawing horses and unicorns, you will most likely create sketchy designs or animation styles. To draw truly realistic horses and unicorns takes a lot of practice and patience!
Once you have mastered the art of drawing horses, you should adapt your creations to better suit the shape of a unicorn. The unicorn is more slender, more graceful, and more ethereal in appearance than a horse.
Anatomy of the Horse - Image in the public domain, sourced from Wikimedia Commons
Useful Links on How to Draw Horses
- How to Draw Horses the Easy Way
- Go from a blank page to a realistic image of any breed of horse you like in just four easy steps!
- How to Draw a Horse
- Comprehensive tutorial that includes line drawing, value map, grayscale and frame tool.
- Learn to Draw a Horse Step by Step
- Step by Step tutorial with illustrations and full nstructions
Horse Anatomy for Artists
The book "Horse Anatomy: A Handbook for Artists" by Lewis Brown is sadly generally unavailable now, but the author did edit this book, which covers horses along with dogs, cows and lions.
An Atlas of Animal Anatomy for Artists (Dover Anatomy for Artists)
Amazon Price: $7.35 (as of 05/31/2012)
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Detailed drawings showing the external anatomy, the musculature and the skeleton forms of lions, cows, dogs, and horses.
How to Draw Unicorns - Art, Imagery & Inspiration
Click Images for Larger View
"She did not look anything like a horned horse, as unicorns are often pictured, being smaller and cloven-hoofed, and possessing that oldest, wisest grace that horses have never had, that deer have only in a shy, thin imitation and goats in dancing mockery."
- The Last Unicorn, Peter S Beagle
The Unicorn Form
If you want to draw a true unicorn, however, then we need to look beyond the horse.
For although the unicorn is often depicted simply as a horse with a spiraling horn, according to mythology the unicorn actually consists of several different creatures.
Traditionally, the unicorn has:
* The head of a horse
* The beard of a goat
* The body of a deer
* The tail of a lion
* A single, spiraling horn
You can draw a unicorn of legend by studying the appropriate parts of these animals and putting them all together in proportion, to create a true unicorn!
Lady and the Unicorn: Sense of Sight
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Of course, it is up to you whether you opt for a horse unicorn or a "hybrid" unicorn. I myself like to create a variety of both. Here are some examples of how to draw the unicorn in different styles:
UNICORN HOOVES
The first sketch depicts a basic horse hoof and fetlock, while the second features a cloven hoof with feathered fetlock. The third is based more on the cloven hoof of a goat, with slight feathering. You can of course combine any of these elements!
UNICORN HORNS
You can experiment with everything from a standard horn with narrow or wide striping, to an elegant spiral.
UNICORN TAILS
The horse's tail can be straight and plain, or wild and flowing (above). Alternatively, you may wish to give your unicorn the lion's tail, in keeping with legend (below).
The Orphans and the Unicorn
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How to Draw and Paint Unicorns
The Best Book on Creating Unicorn Art
If you want to draw and paint unicorns in a variety of styles and palettes, then this beautiful book comes highly recommended - I have a well-thumbed copy! It teaches you the basics of horse-style unicorns as well as variations on horns, fetlocks etc, and gives tutorials on backgrounds, different poses and types/ages of horse, and how to paint two different unicorn scenes.
Painting Unicorns in Watercolour (Fantasy Art)
Amazon Price: $19.90 (as of 05/31/2012)
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In this book, Rebecca Balchin shows how to use simple watercolour techniques to create wonderful unicorn paintings. Beginning with basic watercolour techniques, she goes on to show how to draw horses, starting from basic shapes. These are developed into unicorns by the addition of particular hooves, manes, and of course horns. Next, fantasy backgrounds are added to complete the picture. There are two beautiful demonstrations, shown through step-by-step photographs and clear instructions. Lovers of fantasy art will be completely inspired by this beautiful and informative book.
More Great Books on How to Draw and Paint Unicorns
How to Draw Unicorns: Movement
Capturing the movement of horses is the next step in drawing realistic unicorns. Ideal poses include galloping, rearing, cantering and any pose in which the horse appears poised to take flight.
I will be adding three step-by-step guides to different movements and poses shortly!
A Gift for the Unicorn King
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Buy Unicorn on Water Art Poster Print on Amazon
Unicorn - Horse VS Hybrid!
Which unicorn form do you prefer?
A horse with a horn
Tugee says:
I've always loved the horse with a horn form. Looks more natural to me.
DelightfulDanielle says:
Love the horn!
LazyEasyFun says:
A horse with a horn looks better :)
naheedahsan says:
liked the horse with the horn
Sarah says:
How many forms are there?
The traditional head of a horse, body of a deer, tail of a lion
xisniel says:
well, there are horses, and then there are mythological creatures..
nightcats says:
I had not known that there is more than one form for the unicorn. Now that it is explained, I would definitely go with the traditional version.
Joy says:
I would much prefer to emphasize the difference between a horse with a horn and a REAL Unicorn...
RenaissanceWoman2010 says:
To magically blend many features makes the unicorn so visually stimulating.
SeanAndLauren says:
All unicorns are magical & awesome! When they have even more fancy aspects like beard & lion's tail I find myself extra interested.
How to Draw Unicorns in Different Scenes
Poses, Backgrounds and Other Ideas
Buy Unicorn Garden Wall Mural on Amazon
Once you have mastered your unicorns, you will want to place them into magical scenes! Here are some ideas for backgrounds and settings:
* Coast - wild seas, rugged coastlines, rocks, islands
* Forests - tall trees, secret glades, surrounded by forest animals
* Water - drinking by a pool, rearing up from the edge of a lake, standing by a waterfall
* Clouds, skies, sunsets/rises
* Grass - enchanted glade, wildflower meadow
* Companions - place with a maiden, fairies or mermaids, pixies, angels, wizards, humans, a lion (as per the rhyme)
If I Were a Mermaid and You Were a Unicorn
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The Mermaid and Unicorn
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Video Tutorials on How to Draw Unicorns
How to Draw Unicorns in Pencil & on the Computer
If you're a visual learner and benefit from watching others work, here are some great tutorials from YouTube! These also show you how to draw unicorns using graphics software on your computer too.
Could YOU Draw a Unicorn?
Inspired? Intimidated? Share your thoughts!
Last Unicorns
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More Resources on How to Draw Unicorns
- How to Draw a Cartoon Unicorn
- Learn how to draw a cute cartoon unicorn step by step.
- How to Draw a Sky Unicorn
- Step by step tutorial on another cartoon-style unicorn, useful for learning how to draw a walking horse viewed from an angle
- How to Draw Unicorns
- Learn to draw unicorn tutorial sheets and videos
Be Inspired by Beautiful Unicorn Art
Fantasy Artists and their Unicorns
The Lady and the Unicorn
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I always think that one of the best ways to improve your art is to study and admire the work of other artists! I don't for one minute mean copy what they do - what would be the point of that? - but by looking at different art styles and themes, you can develop your own style more easily, and also learn tips and techniques from other artists too.
Buy Unicorns Art Poster Print on Amazon
Here is a selection of beautiful fantasy art books that include unicorns.
Did you Learn How to Draw Unicorns?
Please leave your Comments and Feedback here!
I hope that this tutorial was both enjoyable and useful!
Please leave your comments here.
Created unicorn art after reading this tutorial?
Contact me if you'd like it featured right here on this page!
Unicorn
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A person who wants to draw a unicorn for a Genre poster
May 3, 2012 @ 3:04 am | delete
- This is a very good explanation of how to draw unicorns. But I think it's better if I draw from scratch (of a unicorn) from someone's drawing. I don't mean plagiarism, I just try to draw it myself while looking at the unicorn. In the end, I drew a unicorn that hardly looks the same as from scratch, but it still looks pretty good.
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JoshK47
Apr 20, 2012 @ 8:52 am | delete
- I may have to experiment a bit - I'm pretty terrible, but there's no harm trying! Blessed by a SquidAngel!
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Tugee
Mar 24, 2012 @ 8:41 pm | delete
- I'm a horrible artist but it's always worth a try. Unicorns rule.
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castlequeen51
Mar 24, 2012 @ 12:59 pm | delete
- Well done !
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Rewards4life Mar 14, 2012 @ 4:25 am | delete
- Marvelous tutorial and lens. Thank you for sharing!
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About the Author of "How to Draw Unicorns"
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MissMerFaery is a published author, magazine columnist and freelance writer.
She writes about everything from tasty recipes, craft tutorials, kids activities and UK travel guides, to topics such as spirituality, parenting, environmental issues, and writing. For easy browsing of all her articles by category, check out her full Lensography or visit her latest work via 10 Newest Lenses.
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Let me teach you how to draw unicorns! I have loved unicorns since childhood as well as art, and my early unicorn doodles eventually turned into sketches... more »
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How to Draw Unicorns
Step by Step Guide for Kindle!
How To Draw A Unicorn In Six Easy Steps
Amazon Price: (as of 05/31/2012)
Get drawing unicorns right away by downloading this step-by-step guide for your e-book reader!
Helpful instructions aimed at teenagers and adults, for drawing with pencil or with computer software.
Draw Unicorns into your Garden!
Unicorn Forest
Amazon Price: $39.95 (as of 05/31/2012)
Gorgeous self-adhesive and removable vinyl wall sticker - so realistic it looks like it is painted on the wall! Use alone or create a mural of stickers. This gorgeous scene will have you believing there is a fantasy garden outside your room, with a unicorn in the distance.
How to Draw Unicorns, Elves, Trolls & other Fantasy Creatures!
Draw 50 Magical Creatures: The Step-by-Step Way to Draw Unicorns, Elves, Cherubs, Trolls, and Many More
Amazon Price: $4.24 (as of 06/01/2012)
Easy step-by-step instructions for aspiring artists, from an acclaimed author and illustrator. From mermaids, fairies and unicorns, to centaurs, cyclops and trolls, there is plenty to practice on in this helpful book.
