How to Draw Skulls

Learn how to draw seven different skulls
How to Draw a Skull Animation


Learn how to draw skulls in this fun, easy drawing lesson!

All you need is a pencil and paper. You can also use a pen, marker, crayons, or any other drawing materials you may have.

In this drawing lesson, you'll learn how to draw the basic features of 7 different funky skulls. If you choose, you can then color and decorate your skull drawings for the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos)!

These were all done in pencil and are the basic outline for the fancy, intensely-decorated skulls that I create for Día de Muertos. Check out my Day of the Dead art to see how I decorate these skulls with patterns and colors to create skull drawings that are fun and lively! Now, let's draw some skulls!

If you're interested in learning to draw, check out my review of the Let's Draw Course! It'll teach you the foundations of drawing and sketching from the comfort of your own home!

Skull Drawing Lesson 1

Draw the upper half of a half-circle.

Draw the upper half of a half-circle.

Continue drawing the lines, as if you were about to draw a circle. Leave an opening at the bottom.

Continue drawing the lines, as if you were about to draw a circle. Leave an opening at the bottom.

Connect the 2 ends by drawing a wide u-shaped line.

Connect the 2 ends by drawing a wide u-shaped line.

Draw 2 nostrils in the middle, lower half of the skull.

Draw 2 nostrils in the middle, lower half of the skull.

Draw 2 wide circles for the eyes.

Draw 2 wide circles for the eyes.

Add a line for the mouth and several smaller lines for teeth.

Add a line for the mouth and several smaller lines for teeth.


Skull Drawing Lesson 2

Step 1

Draw the upper half of a half-circle.

Draw the upper half of a half-circle.

Step 2

Add 2 lines, 1 inside each side of the circle. Start the lines inside the circle and gently curve them outside the circle.

Add 2 lines, 1 inside each side of the circle. Start the lines inside the circle and gently curve them outside the circle.

Step 3

Continuing on these 2 lines, draw 2 lines (1 on each side) bringing the angle of the lines down and slightly inwards. These lines will form the cheekbones of the skull.

Continuing on these 2 lines, draw 2 lines (1 on each side) bringing the angle of the lines down and slightly inwards. These lines will form the cheekbones of the skull.

Step 4

Finish rounding out the cheekbones by bringing the lines back in towards the center and then down.

Finish rounding out the cheekbones by bringing the lines back in towards the center and then down.

Step 5

Connect the two sides with one gently sweeping straight line. This will be the bottom of the teeth!

Connect the two sides with one gently sweeping straight line. This will be the bottom of the teeth!

Step 6

Underneath the cheekbones, draw a broad u-shaped line that connects one cheekbone to the other, crossing over the lines you drew in Step 4. This will form the top of the teeth.

Underneath the cheekbones, draw a broad u-shaped line that connects one cheekbone to the other, crossing over the lines you drew in Step 4. This will form the top of the teeth.

Step 7

In between the lines you drew in Steps 6 and 7, draw another parallel line. This line will be the middle of the teeth.

In between the lines you drew in Steps 6 and 7, draw another parallel line. This line will be the middle of the teeth.

Step 8

Draw several lines that go up and down to form the teeth. Now your skull is smiling!

Draw several lines that go up and down to form the teeth. Now your skull is smiling!

Step 9

Under the cheekbones, next to the lines you drew in Step 6, draw 2 lines (1 on each side) going downwards and slanting inwards.

Under the cheekbones, next to the lines you drew in Step 6, draw 2 lines (1 on each side) going downwards and slanting inwards.

Step 10

Connect these 2 lines with a gently curved u-shaped line. Now your skull has a jaw! Almost done!

Connect these 2 lines with a gently curved u-shaped line. Now your skull has a jaw! Almost done!

Step 11

Above the teeth, draw 2 nostrils in between the cheekbones.

Above the teeth, draw 2 nostrils in between the cheekbones.

Step 12

Above the nostrils, draw 2 eyes. Now you have completed your skull drawing!

Above the nostrils, draw 2 eyes. Now you have completed your skull drawing!


Skull Drawing Lesson 3

Step 1

Draw a circle that is rather flat along the bottom - almost looking "squashed".

Draw a circle that is rather flat along the bottom - almost looking "squashed".

Step 2

At the bottom of the circle, start inside of the circle on one side and draw a graceful u-shape that dips down and comes back up inside the circle on the other side. This will be the outline for the teeth.

At the bottom of the circle, start inside of the circle on one side and draw a graceful u-shape that dips down and comes back up inside the circle on the other side. This will be the outline for the teeth.

Step 3

In between the bottom of the circle and the line you just drew in Step 2, draw a parallel line. This will be the middle of the teeth.

In between the bottom of the circle and the line you just drew in Step 2, draw a parallel line. This will be the middle of the teeth.

Step 4

Draw lines up and down for the teeth.

Draw lines up and down for the teeth.

Step 5

Next to the mouth, draw 2 lines (1 on each side) that run parallel to the mouth.

Next to the mouth, draw 2 lines (1 on each side) that run parallel to the mouth.

Step 6

Draw a line connecting the 2 lines you just drew in Step 5. This line should run parallel to the mouth to form the jaw.

Draw a line connecting the 2 lines you just drew in Step 5. This line should run parallel to the mouth to form the jaw.

Step 7

Above the teeth, draw 2 raindrop shapes for nostrils.

Above the teeth, draw 2 raindrop shapes for nostrils.

Step 8

Draw 2 eyes. Now you're done!

Draw 2 eyes. Now you're done!

Animation

Check out this animation to see all the steps to create this cute smiling skull.

Check out this animation to see all the steps to create this cute smiling skull.


Skull Drawing Lesson 4

Step 1

Draw a circle. It can be a perfectly round circle, or a slightly squashed circle, like the one above.

Draw a circle. It can be a perfectly round circle, or a slightly squashed circle, like the one above.

Step 2

Attached to the bottom of the circle, add 2 short lines (1 on each side).

Attached to the bottom of the circle, add 2 short lines (1 on each side).

Step 3

Connect the 2 lines you drew in Step 2 with a gently curving line that runs parallel to the bottom of the circle. This is the skull's jaw!

Connect the 2 lines you drew in Step 2 with a gently curving line that runs parallel to the bottom of the circle. This is the skull's jaw!

Step 4

Inside the area you just drew, draw a broad u-shape. This will be the mouth!

Inside the area you just drew, draw a broad u-shape. This will be the mouth!

Step 5

Inside the mouth, draw a horizontal line in the middle for the teeth.

Inside the mouth, draw a horizontal line in the middle for the teeth.

Step 6

Draw vertical lines to make teeth!

Draw vertical lines to make teeth!

Step 7

Above the teeth, draw 2 raindrop shapes for nostrils.

Above the teeth, draw 2 raindrop shapes for nostrils.

Step 8

Draw two large eyes. Voila, you've drawn a skull!

Draw two large eyes. Voila, you've drawn a skull!

Animation

Watch this animation if you get stuck along the way.

Watch this animation if you get stuck along the way.


Skull Drawing Lesson 5

Step 1

Start drawing a circle, but leave a wide opening at the bottom.

Start drawing a circle, but leave a wide opening at the bottom.

Step 2

On both sides of the open circle, draw a line that slopes gently downwards.

On both sides of the open circle, draw a line that slopes gently downwards.

Step 3

Connect the 2 lines that you drew in Step 2. This forms the jawline of the skull.

Connect the 2 lines that you drew in Step 2. This forms the jawline of the skull.

Step 4

Above the line you drew in Step 3, draw a parallel line above it. This will be the middle of the teeth.

Above the line you drew in Step 3, draw a parallel line above it. This will be the middle of the teeth.

Step 5

On top of the line you drew in Step 4, draw a series of upside-down u-shapes to form the top row of teeth.

On top of the line you drew in Step 4, draw a series of upside-down u-shapes to form the top row of teeth.

Step 6

On the other side of that line, draw a series of u-shapes to form the bottom row of teeth.

On the other side of that line, draw a series of u-shapes to form the bottom row of teeth.

Step 7

Above the row of teeth, draw 2 raindrop shapes for nostrils.

Above the row of teeth, draw 2 raindrop shapes for nostrils.

Step 8

Draw 2 large eyes. You're done! Easy, eh?

Draw 2 large eyes. You're done! Easy, eh?

Animation

Here is a helpful animation that shows the order of all the step to create this skull.

Here is a helpful animation that shows the order of all the step to create this skull.


Skull Drawing Lesson 6

Skull Drawing Lesson 6

Step 1

Draw the arc of a circle, but leave a wide opening at the bottom.

Draw the arc of a circle, but leave a wide opening at the bottom.

Step 2

Add 2 short vertical lines, 1 on either end of the line you drew in Step 1.

Add 2 short vertical lines, 1 on either end of the line you drew in Step 1.

Step 3

Connect these 2 lines with a single horizontal line.

Connect these 2 lines with a single horizontal line.

Step 4

Underneath the line you drew in Step 3, draw a wide u-shape. This is the jaw of the skull.

Underneath the line you drew in Step 3, draw a wide u-shape. This is the jaw of the skull.

Step 5

Draw a smaller wide u-shape that intersects the line you drew in Step 3. This is the bottom of the mouth.

Draw a smaller wide u-shape that intersects the line you drew in Step 3. This is the bottom of the mouth.

Step 6

Draw a horizontal line that connects both ends of the u-shape that you drew in Step 5. This is the outline of the mouth!

Draw a horizontal line that connects both ends of the u-shape that you drew in Step 5. This is the outline of the mouth!

Step 7

Inside the mouth, draw a bunch of short vertical lines to make teeth.

Inside the mouth, draw a bunch of short vertical lines to make teeth.

Step 8

Above the teeth, draw 2 raindrop shapes for nostrils.

Above the teeth, draw 2 raindrop shapes for nostrils.

Step 9

Draw 2 large circular shapes for eyes. Congrats, you just drew a skull!

Draw 2 large circular shapes for eyes. Congrats, you just drew a skull!


Skull Drawing Lesson 7

Step 1

Draw an upside-down u-shape.

Draw an upside-down u-shape.

Step 2

On each side, draw a line from each edge that slants downwards and connects in the middle.

On each side, draw a line from each edge that slants downwards and connects in the middle.

Step 3

Beneath the line you drew in Step 2, draw a u-shape. This will be the jaw of the skull.

Beneath the line you drew in Step 2, draw a u-shape. This will be the jaw of the skull.

 

Step 4

Inside the line you drew in Step 3, draw a similar line that runs parallel to it. This forms the outline of the mouth.

Inside the line you drew in Step 3, draw a similar line that runs parallel to it. This forms the outline of the mouth.

Step 5

Above the line you drew in Step 4, draw a parallel line to form the middle of the teeth.

Above the line you drew in Step 4, draw a parallel line to form the middle of the teeth.

Step 6

Draw a bunch of vertical lines to create the skull's teeth. Now it's smiling!

Draw a bunch of vertical lines to create the skull's teeth. Now it's smiling!

 

Step 7

Above the teeth, draw 2 nostrils.

Above the teeth, draw 2 nostrils.

Step 8

Draw 2 large circular shapes for eyes. Now you've drawn an evil skull!

Draw 2 large circular shapes for eyes. Now you've drawn an evil skull!

Animation

Watch this animation so that you understand how each step adds up to create this evil skull drawing!

Watch this animation so that you understand how each step adds up to create this evil skull drawing!


Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls

If you like drawing skulls, and you want to get more advanced, check out my gallery of Day of the Dead skulls. They are colorful, detailed and fun! 

Day of the Dead Coloring Books

All three books are unique, so you won't find any overlapping art amongst them! My Sugar Skull Coloring Pages are digital, which means they can be downloaded instantly and printed from home! My Sugar Skulls Coloring Book and Day of the Dead Coloring Book are published books available online (via the links below) and in brick-and-mortar stores.

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Sugar Skull Coloring Pages

Sugar Skulls Coloring Book

Day of the Dead Coloring Book

Make your own sugar skulls

Learn how to make your own real-life sugar skulls, like the sugar skulls I made below!

How to make small sugar skulls

How to make large sugar skulls

How to decorate sugar skulls

Keep learning!

Drawing Tutorials

Coloring Tutorials

Painting Tutorials

Guide to Buying Art Supplies

Coloring

If you’re a fan of coloring, be sure to check out my coloring books and printables, which are full of whimsical designs begging to be filled with color!