Horror Drawing for Beginners: 7 Easy Ideas & Guide

Published on 11 July 2023 7 min read

1. Get Acquainted with the Horror Genre

2. Pick the Right Art Supplies

7. Ink and Shade Your Creations

If you're a budding artist with a flair for all things spooky, or perhaps you simply want to add a chilling touch to your sketchbook, you've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through seven easy horror drawings that'll inject some fright into your artistic repertoire. No matter your skill level, these beginner-friendly ideas will help you create spine-tingling masterpieces in no time. So grab your sketchbook, and let's dive into the eerie world of horror art.

1. Get Acquainted with the Horror Genre

Before you start your journey into the realm of easy horror drawings, it's important to familiarize yourself with the genre. Horror art, like horror movies, is designed to instill a sense of fear, unease, or shock in its audience. It often features dark themes and scary creatures—from zombies and vampires to ghosts and skeletons. Here's how you can get started:

Watch horror movies: Classic horror films like "Psycho," "The Shining," or "Night of the Living Dead" are great sources of inspiration. Pay attention to the characters, settings, and mood. Notice the use of shadows and contrasts to create suspense and fear.
Read horror books: Authors like Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, and Mary Shelley masterfully weave terrifying tales. Their descriptions can paint vivid mental images that can serve as a base for your drawings.
Explore horror comics: Comics like "Tales from the Crypt," "Hellboy," or "The Walking Dead" combine stunning visuals with chilling narratives. Look at how the artists use lines, textures, and shades to depict horror.
Study famous horror artworks: Artworks by the likes of Francisco Goya or H.R. Giger can provide powerful insights into the genre. Observe their use of color, composition, and symbolism.

By exploring these resources, you can develop a keen understanding of the horror genre's key elements. This knowledge will prove invaluable as you start sketching your own easy horror drawings.

2. Pick the Right Art Supplies

Now that you're familiar with the horror genre, it's time to gather your art supplies. Don't worry, you don't need anything fancy. For these easy horror drawings, here are the must-haves:

Pencil: A standard HB pencil is perfect for sketching out your initial drawing. It's neither too dark nor too light, making it ideal for outlining.
Eraser: Everyone makes mistakes, even seasoned artists. An eraser helps you correct them and perfect your art.
Paper: A simple sketchbook or drawing pad will do. Choose one with a bit of texture to help your pencil grip better.
Fineliner pens: These are excellent for defining your lines and adding details. They come in various sizes, so pick a set that gives you a range of options.
Shading tools: To add depth and shadow to your work, you can use a range of tools such as a blending stump, a soft cloth, or even your finger.

Remember, the quality of your tools can affect the outcome of your easy horror drawings. But at the end of the day, the real magic comes from your creativity and skill. So don't stress too much about having the best supplies. As long as you have the basics, you're good to go!

3. Draw a Basic Ghost

Let's start our journey into easy horror drawings with a classic—the ghost. Ghosts are a staple of the horror genre and, lucky for us, they are also one of the simplest to draw. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Shape: Start by drawing a simple oval shape. This will be the head of your ghost.
Body: Next, draw a larger, irregular shape beneath the head, giving it a wavy bottom edge to represent the ghost's flowing form.
Eyes: Two dark circles will work great for a traditional spooky look. If you want to add a bit more character, try different shapes or sizes.
Mouth: A simple line can make your ghost look solemn. Or, you can draw an open oval for a surprised expression. Want it to look scarier? How about a wicked grin?

There you have it—an easy, basic ghost. Remember, the beauty of a ghost drawing lies in its simplicity. Don't over-complicate things. Keep it straightforward and let your imagination run wild. After all, who's to say what a ghost really looks like?

You've now taken your first step into the world of easy horror drawings. Ready to tackle something a bit more complex? Let's move on to our next spooky subject.

4. Sketch a Spooky Skeleton

After mastering the ghost, it's time to level up. Let's dive into drawing one of the most iconic figures of horror—the skeleton. Don't worry, while it might seem intricate, we're going to break it down into easy steps. Ready?

Head: Start with a circle for the head. Add two large circles for the eyes, and a smaller one for the nose. For the mouth, draw a horizontal line with vertical lines across it to create the illusion of teeth.
Body: Draw a smaller circle for the neck, and a larger oval for the torso. For the ribs, sketch curved lines on each side of the torso.
Limbs: For the arms and legs, use simple lines to represent the bones. Remember to add small circles for the joints.
Hands and Feet: Keep it simple! A small circle with lines extending out for fingers or toes will do.

And there you have it—a spooky skeleton. This might have seemed tricky, but by breaking it down into easy steps, we've created a skeleton that's both simple and eerie.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Don't be discouraged if your first few attempts don't end up exactly how you want. Each sketch brings you one step closer to mastering easy horror drawings.

Ready for a bigger challenge? Let's move on to the next creature of the night.

5. Create a Chilling Vampire

The vampire, a classic figure in horror, is our next drawing subject. Even though it might sound a bit challenging, I promise you, we're going to make it as easy as pie. So, shall we?

Head: The vampire's head is similar to a human's. Start with a circle, then add details such as the eyes, nose, and mouth. Remember to add pointy ears and fangs to give it an unmistakable vampire look.
Body: Draw the body with a rectangle for the torso and lines for the arms and legs. But don't forget the signature cape. Draw it as a wavy line starting from the neck, going behind the body.
Hands and Feet: Draw the hands and feet in a similar way to the skeleton, but don't forget to add the vampire's iconic sharp nails.

Voila! You've just created a chilling vampire. Remember, the key to easy horror drawings lies in breaking down the process into simple, manageable steps.

It's always okay if it doesn't turn out perfect the first time. The aim is to enjoy the process and keep improving. Now, let's move on to our final drawing—a dreadful zombie. Are you ready?

6. Design a Dreadful Zombie

Nothing says horror quite like a zombie, right? Now, let's make our own easy horror drawing of this gruesome creature. Trust me, it's going to be a lot of fun!

Head: Start with a circle for the head. Add an oval for the mouth, and don't forget to include some missing teeth for that authentic zombie feel. Draw the eyes as hollow circles to add a bit of creepiness.
Body: Just like our vampire, you can begin with a rectangle for the torso and lines for the arms and legs. However, make sure to add some ragged clothing and maybe even a few exposed bones to show that our zombie has seen better days.
Hands and Feet: Draw the hands and feet with some missing fingers or toes. Remember, a zombie is a creature of decay, so the more imperfections, the better!

And there you have it—your very own dreadful zombie. As we've seen, easy horror drawings don't have to be complicated. Just take it step by step and, most importantly, have fun with it.

Before we finish, let's talk about how to make your drawings really pop with some inking and shading. Ready to give it a shot?

7. Ink and Shade Your Creations

Now that we've got our horror drawings, let's take them to the next level. It's time for some inking and shading. This is where your drawings start looking less like sketches and more like polished pieces of art. And don't worry, it's not as hard as it sounds!

Inking: This is the process where you trace over your pencil lines with a black pen or marker. It makes your drawings stand out and gives them a professional look. Brands like Sakura Pigma Micron pens are great for this, but any black pen will do the trick. Remember, don't rush this step. Take your time to ink carefully around your easy horror drawings.
Shading: Shading adds depth and dimension to your artwork. You can use the side of your pencil or a charcoal stick for this. Experiment with different techniques—cross-hatching, stippling, or simply varying the pressure on your pencil for lighter and darker shades. Shading is all about playing with lights and shadows to make your characters pop.

And guess what? You've just completed your first set of easy horror drawings. From ghosts and skeletons to vampires and zombies, you've got quite the collection now. Remember, practice is key in art. So why not draw these characters again? Or maybe invent some horror creatures of your own? The sky's the limit.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to create more easy horror drawings? I hope you've enjoyed this guide as much as I enjoyed writing it. Happy drawing!

If you enjoyed our blog on "Horror Drawing for Beginners: 7 Easy Ideas & Guide," don't miss the opportunity to further develop your drawing skills with Trey Zimmerman's workshop, "How to Draw Beautiful Character Designs from Scratch." This workshop will provide you with the techniques and inspiration to create captivating and unique character designs that stand out in the world of horror and beyond.