Easy Horse Head Drawing: Step-by-Step for Beginners

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 7 min read

Have you ever admired a beautifully detailed horse head drawing and wondered if you could create something similar? Well, you're in luck. This guide will walk you through an easy draw horse head process that even beginners can follow. With a step-by-step approach, you'll soon be sketching a horse head that's sure to impress.

1. Gather Your Materials

Before diving into the drawing, let's ensure you have all the necessary tools at your disposal. The right materials can make a significant difference in your drawing experience and the final outcome. Here is what you will need:

Type of Paper

The type of paper you use can influence your drawing. For this easy draw horse head tutorial, using a medium weight drawing paper is a good idea. It's sturdy enough to hold your pencil strokes without tearing and light enough to erase without leaving marks. Brands like Strathmore and Fabriano have some great options you can find at your local art store.

Pencil Grades

Next up, let's talk about pencils. A range of pencils from 2H to 6B should cover all your needs. Hard pencils (like 2H) are great for initial outlining as they make light, easy-to-erase lines. On the other hand, soft pencils (like 6B) are perfect for shading and adding depth to your drawing. Popular brands such as Derwent and Staedtler offer excellent graphite pencils in a range of grades.

Erasers and Smudging Tools

Last but not least, don't forget your erasers and smudging tools. A good quality eraser can help you correct mistakes and refine your drawing. Smudging tools, also known as tortillons or blending stumps, are great for creating smooth gradients and shadow effects. If you can't find a blending stump, don't worry. A simple Q-tip or a piece of tissue will do the trick.

Now that you have your materials ready, let's get started on how to easily draw a horse head.

2. Start with a Simple Outline

Every brilliant piece of art starts with a simple outline. Think of it as the skeleton that will support all the details you'll add later. So, grab your 2H pencil and let's begin to outline the horse's head. Remember, don't worry about perfection at this stage; loose and light lines are the best.

Drawing the Base Shape

The base shape of a horse's head is somewhat similar to a long, inverted teardrop. Start by drawing this shape, ensuring you're capturing the wider forehead and the slender muzzle. This will serve as the main shape for your easy draw horse head, providing a guideline for the features you'll add soon.

Marking the Features

With the base shape in place, we can now mark where the features - eyes, ears, nose, and mouth - will go. Use light, soft strokes to mark two almond shapes for the eyes, a small triangle for the nose, and a line where the mouth will be. And don't forget those ears - two leaf-like shapes at the top of the head should do the trick. Remember, these are just markers - you'll be adding details to these features in the coming steps.

Great job! You've taken the first steps towards creating your easy draw horse head. Up next, we're going to bring this horse to life by detailing the eyes and nose. Excited? Let's gallop on!

3. Detail the Eyes and Nose

Alright, now that we've got our base, let's start breathing life into our horse head drawing. We'll begin with two of the most expressive features of a horse - the eyes and the nose. These are key to bringing out the character of our horse.

Drawing the Eyes

When it comes to portraying liveliness in your easy draw horse head, the eyes are crucial. Start by filling in the almond shapes you sketched earlier with circles for the eyeballs. Then, add a smaller circle inside each one for the pupils. Don't forget to leave a tiny white spot for the light reflection, which adds a spark of life to your horse's eyes.

Drawing the Nose

Next, let's focus on the nose. Horses have a distinct, soft nose. To capture this, draw two small circles within the triangle you marked earlier. Then, add two curved lines from the base of the triangle to depict the nostrils. And there you have it - a realistic horse nose, simple and easy.

See how your horse head drawing is beginning to take shape? It's fascinating, isn't it? Up next, we'll move on to drawing the mouth and teeth. Ready to continue? I thought so!

4. Draw the Mouth and Teeth

With the eyes and nose in place, let's move on to the next distinguishing features of our horse's face - the mouth and teeth. This can seem a bit tricky at first, but don't worry, we'll break it down into manageable steps.

Drawing the Mouth

Drawing the mouth in an easy draw horse head involves a bit of careful observation. Notice how a horse's mouth line starts from the nostrils and extends to a slight curve? That's what we're going to replicate. Draw a line from the base of each nostril, curving slightly downwards. Make sure the lines curve gently to avoid giving your horse an unnatural grimace.

Drawing the Teeth

Now, let's add some teeth to give our horse a full smile! Draw a straight line down from the middle of the mouth. Then, add some rectangular shapes for teeth. Remember, horse teeth aren't perfect rectangles, so make yours a bit uneven for a more lifelike appearance.

Great job so far! You've just completed another key step in our easy draw horse head tutorial. What do you say we move on to the mane and ears next?

5. Shape the Mane and Ears

Now that our horse has a radiant smile, let's add some style with a flowing mane and attentive ears. These elements not only add to the overall aesthetics but also inject personality into your horse head drawing.

Drawing the Mane

The mane is where you can let your creativity flow. Start by drawing a line from the top of the head, flowing down towards the neck. This line will act as your guide. Now, draw some wavy lines along this guide to create the illusion of hair. Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect. In fact, the more you allow for imperfection in your lines, the more natural your mane will look. Feel free to add more lines for a thicker mane. It's all about how you envision your horse!

Drawing the Ears

Let's not forget the ears. The ears of a horse are alert and pointed. Start by drawing two triangles on top of the head. Make sure they're proportionate to the head and somewhat symmetrical. Now, add a smaller triangle within each ear to represent the inner ear. There you have it—two attentive ears!

With that, we've added personality to our easy draw horse head with a stylish mane and alert ears. Ready to add some depth and realism with shading and texture?

6. Add Shading and Texture

Our horse head drawing is coming alive! Now, let's add some depth and realism. Shading and texture are the secret ingredients that transform a flat sketch into a lifelike drawing. Don't fret if you're new to this; we're keeping it simple and easy.

Shading the Face

Shading is all about creating shadows and highlights. Imagine a light source and consider how it casts shadows on the horse's face. Using your pencil, lightly shade the areas that would naturally be in shadow, such as under the jaw, around the eyes, and within the ears. Remember, less is more; you can always add more shading later.

Adding Texture

Texture brings an extra dimension to your easy draw horse head. For texture, we're focusing on the horse's mane and skin. For the mane, simply add some quick, short strokes along the hair to suggest individual strands. For the skin, you can add a few scattered dots and lines to mimic the look of a horse's coat. This is your masterpiece, so feel free to experiment.

Pretty amazing how shading and texture can add so much life to your drawing, isn't it? Now, let's wrap this up with some final touches and clean up.

7. Final Touches and Clean Up

We're in the home stretch of our easy draw horse head journey! It's time to polish our drawing and make it truly shine. Don't worry, these final steps are as easy as pie, and they'll make all the difference.

Enhancing Details

Now's the time to take a step back and look at your work. Is there anything you want to emphasize more? Maybe the eyes need a bit more depth, or perhaps the mane could use some extra strands. This is your chance to add those final details that will make your horse head drawing unique.

Cleaning Up the Outline

Once you're happy with the details, it's time to tidy up. Using your eraser, gently rub out any unwanted pencil lines or marks that are outside of your final outline. You'll be surprised at how much this simple step can improve the overall look of your drawing.

And there you have it! You've successfully completed an easy draw horse head. It's amazing what you can create with just a few simple steps, isn't it? Remember, practice makes perfect. So, why not draw another horse head? You'll be surprised at how much better you'll get with each attempt. Keep up the good work!

If you enjoyed this step-by-step guide on drawing a horse head and are looking to further develop your drawing skills, we highly recommend checking out the workshop 'Drawing with Ease and Accuracy' by Yazmin Moktan. This workshop will provide you with valuable techniques and tips to enhance your drawing abilities, making it easier for you to tackle any subject with confidence.