Easy Steps to Draw a Horse Head: A Beginner's Guide

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 10 July 2023 5 min read

Artistic endeavors can be as exciting as they are challenging. Learning to draw, in particular, can offer a unique sense of accomplishment. If you've ever wanted to sketch a majestic horse head, but felt a bit overwhelmed, fret not! This guide, "Easy Steps to Draw a Horse Head: A Beginner's Guide," will take you through the process in a simple, understandable manner. By the end, drawing a horse head will seem as easy as pie!

1. Gather Your Materials

Before we jump into drawing that easy to draw horse head, it's important to have the right tools at hand. The quality of your art materials can significantly influence your drawing experience, so it's worth taking a moment to gather the essentials.

Selecting the Right Pencil

When it comes to pencils for drawing, not all are created equal. Choose a pencil that feels comfortable in your hand. A softer pencil, such as a B or 2B, is perfect for rough sketching and shading, while a harder pencil, like an H, is great for fine lines and details. Keep a few of each on hand for different stages of your horse head drawing.

Choosing a Good Eraser

Believe it or not, the humble eraser is more than just a tool for correcting mistakes—it's a key part of the drawing process. A white plastic eraser is ideal as it erases cleanly without leaving behind smudges or damaging your paper. A kneaded eraser, which can be molded into different shapes, is excellent for lightening areas or creating highlights in your easy to draw horse head.

Finding the Perfect Paper

Lastly, you'll need paper. For beginners, a simple sketch pad with medium-weight paper is a good choice. This type of paper can handle erasing and heavy pencil work without tearing. Remember to keep a few extra sheets around—you never know when you'll want to start a new sketch of your horse head!

2. Start With Basic Shapes

Now that you've gathered your materials, it's time to put pencil to paper. The trick to making your horse head easy to draw is to start with basic shapes. Think of these shapes as the building blocks of your drawing—they'll form the foundation of your horse head.

Drawing the Head Outline

Start by drawing a large circle for the cheek and a smaller circle for the snout of the horse. Connect these circles with smooth lines to create the basic shape of the horse's head. Don't worry about getting it perfect—this is just a rough sketch. The goal is to get the general shape and proportions right. Remember, it's okay to make mistakes—that's what your eraser is for!

Sketching the Ear Shape

Next, let's give our horse some ears. Draw two triangles on top of the head, keeping in mind that horse ears are positioned more towards the back of the head. Try to make the ears symmetrical and proportional to the head. Congratulations, you've made the first steps towards your easy to draw horse head!

3. Add Details to Your Drawing

With the basic shapes in place, we can now start adding some details to your horse head drawing. This involves giving life to the eyes, drawing the mane and forelock, and creating the muzzle and nostrils.

Giving Life to the Eyes

First, let's add eyes to our horse head. They are typically almond-shaped and positioned on the side of the head. Draw a gentle curve for the top of the eye and a straight line for the bottom. Add a circle inside for the eyeball, and a smaller one for the pupil. Remember to leave a small white dot for the reflection to make the eyes look lively!

Drawing the Mane and Forelock

Next, we move on to the mane and forelock. The forelock is the part of the horse's mane that hangs down between the ears. Draw a few wavy lines down from the top of the head for the forelock. To create the mane, draw a series of longer wavy lines down the back of the neck. Try to vary the length and curve of the lines to make the mane look natural and flowing.

Creating the Muzzle and Nostrils

Finally, let's add the muzzle and nostrils. The muzzle is the part of the horse's face that includes the mouth and nostrils. To draw it, add a pair of curved lines at the bottom of the snout circle. For the nostrils, add two small ovals on each side of the muzzle. And there you have it! Your easy to draw horse head is starting to come to life.

4. Shading and Texturing

Now that you've added the details to your horse head, let's move on to the next step: shading and texturing. This process involves creating depth with shading and adding texture to the mane. Both techniques will give your drawing a realistic, three-dimensional appearance.

Creating Depth with Shading

First, let's focus on shading. Shading adds depth and volume to your drawing, making your easy to draw horse head look more realistic. Start by identifying your light source. The areas on your horse head that are directly facing the light will be lighter, while those in shadow will be darker. Use your pencil to lightly shade in these darker areas, gradually building up the darkness.

Adding Texture to the Mane

Next, we'll add texture to the mane. The mane of a horse isn't smooth - it's full of individual hairs. To depict this, use your pencil to draw in lots of short, fine lines. Vary the direction and length of these lines to make the mane look more natural. Don't forget to leave some areas lighter than others to represent the light reflecting off the mane. And voila! Your easy to draw horse head now has depth and texture.

Phew! You've done a great job so far with your easy to draw horse head. We're not quite finished yet though. The last phase involves refining your drawing and smoothing out the lines. This step can truly transform your work from a sketch to a portrait. Ready? Let's get started!

Smoothing Out the Lines

The first task is to smooth out your lines. Did you know that horses are known for their sleek and smooth curves? That's right! So, take your eraser and gently rub out any hard or sharp lines. Instead of straight lines, aim for elegant, sweeping curves. Remember, practice makes perfect and nobody gets it right the first time. So, keep trying until you're satisfied with your work.

Refining the Features

Once you're happy with your lines, it's time to refine the features. Pay close attention to the eyes, the mane, and the muzzle. Are they proportionate? Do they reflect the grace and strength of a horse? If not, don't worry. With your trusty eraser and a bit of patience, you can adjust these features until they're just right.

And there you have it: your own easy to draw horse head! Remember, every artist has their own unique style, so your horse head doesn't have to look exactly like anyone else's, it just needs to look like a horse to you. Happy drawing!

If you enjoyed this beginner's guide to drawing a horse head and want to further enhance your drawing skills, don't miss out on Yazmin Moktan's workshop, "Drawing with Ease and Accuracy." This workshop will provide you with valuable tips and techniques to improve your drawing abilities and create stunning artworks with confidence.