How do you draw a Hello Kitty head step by step?

Hello Kitty is one of the most iconic and recognizable cartoon characters in the world. With her simple design featuring a round head, cat ears, and a cute facial expression, Hello Kitty has been charming fans since her creation in 1974. While her design may seem basic, there are some tips and tricks to keep in mind when learning how to draw Hello Kitty’s iconic face.

Gather Your Supplies

Before you start drawing, you’ll want to make sure you have the right art supplies on hand. Here’s what you’ll need:

Paper – Printer paper, sketchbook paper, or drawing paper will all work.
Pencil – You’ll need at least one, but multiple pencils in different grades (such as 2B, 4B, 6B) will allow you to create different effects.
Eraser – Both a regular eraser and a kneaded eraser are useful for making corrections and lightening areas.

Tracing paper (optional) – This can help you recreate the basic head shape multiple times.
Black pen or marker – For outlining and finishing your drawing.
Colored pencils, markers, or crayons (optional) – For adding color after completing your outline.

Start with a Basic Head Shape

Here are the basic steps to draw Hello Kitty’s head:

Draw a large circle near the center of your paper. This will be the basic shape of Hello Kitty’s head.
Add two smaller circles at the top on either side – these will become the ears.

Sketch a vertical oval shape below the main circle, overlapping it slightly. This will form Hello Kitty’s face.
On the face shape, draw two oval eyes, spaced evenly apart. Make sure they are large and circular.
Below the eyes, draw Hello Kitty’s nose – keep this as a very simple small vertical line.

Finally, add a dot for the mouth placed just below the nose.

At this point, you should have a basic outline of Hello Kitty’s main facial features. Don’t worry about perfect circles or smooth lines yet – the key is to map out the general placement of each element.

Refine the Features

Once you have the basic head shape blocked out, you can start refining the individual features:

Ears – Erase and redraw the ears so they are evenly sized and have clean, smooth edges. Make sure they are proportional to the head size.
Face – Reshade the face shape so it is smooth and symmetrical. Erase any uneven lines.
Eyes – Draw over the eyes, making them more oval shaped with soft edges. Add a highlight reflection in each eye.

Nose – Darken the nose line so it is visible but still small and subtle.
Mouth – Make the mouth dot crisp and dark or turn it into a tiny curved line for a smile.

Take your time at this stage to get the features looking clean and proportional. For an even more accurate depiction, use a ruler or tracing paper to check the symmetry and sizes of each element.

Add the Bow

Hello Kitty’s signature bow is essential to her look. Here’s how to draw it:

On the top right side of the head, sketch a long thin oval shape for the bow base.
Draw another smaller oval overlapping the bottom center of the base.

Above that, add a short line for the center knot of the bow.
Draw curved lines from the base around the knot to form the bow loops.
Add angled lines for the bow tails or ribbons.

Erase any uneven lines and darken the key edges of the bow shape.

You can play around with the exact bow style you prefer – some feature bigger loops or longer tails. Place it to the left or right side of the head to switch up the look.

Outline and Shade the Drawing

Once you’re happy with your sketch, it’s time to darken and finish Hello Kitty. Try this:

Trace over all the lines with a black pen or marker to make them bolder and more defined.
Use your pencil to add some light shading. Shade the outer edges of the ears, bow, and face for dimension.
Blend and smooth the shading with a blending tool or tissue.

Erase any remaining pencil lines inside the outlined areas.
Optionally, use colored pencils to color in Hello Kitty’s bow and eyes.

The dark outlines will help your drawing pop. But remember not to shade too heavily, as Hello Kitty’s simple, flat graphic style relies on minimal shading.

Tips for Drawing the Perfect Hello Kitty

Follow these handy tips and tricks to master Hello Kitty’s sweet face:

Use light, smooth strokes when sketching the initial construction lines.
Draw the head and facial features symmetrically so they are even on both sides.

Keep the features simple and round. Avoid adding too much detail.
Make sure the eyes are large, circular, evenly spaced, and angled slightly in towards the nose.
The mouth can be a single centered dot or a short curving line placed just below the nose.

Add a light source highlight to the eyes to make them sparkle.
Use minimal shading only on the outer edges of elements to provide just a hint of dimension.
Outline with dark, confident strokes for crisp, graphic lines.

Maintain clean edges throughout the drawing to keep it smooth and flat-graphic looking.

With a little practice following these tips, you’ll be drawing instantly recognizable Hello Kitty faces in no time!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

It’s easy to make little mistakes that keep your Hello Kitty drawing from looking quite right. Here are some common errors to watch out for:

Making the head shape uneven or egg-shaped rather than perfectly round.
Positioning the features off-center or at uneven angles.
Drawing the eyes too small, narrow, or not circular enough.

Adding too much detail to the simple features.
Not leaving enough space between the eyes and mouth.
Making the bow lopsided or poorly proportioned to the head.

Using heavy, dark shading rather than subtle blending.
Outlining too lightly so the edges look fuzzy.

Check for these issues as you work and erase and redraw any elements that look off. With some mindful practice, you’ll be able to avoid these common mistakes.

Customizing Your Hello Kitty Art

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start customizing your Hello Kitty drawings with unique additions like:

Creative bow styles – Play with bow size, shape, placement, and adornments.
Fun accessories – Add glasses, hats, flowers, jewelry, etc.

Scenes and props – Draw Hello Kitty holding objects or interacting with other characters.
Themed outfits – Dress her up in costume-specific clothes and accessories.
Expressive faces – Try out different eyes, mouths, and facial expressions beyond her standard smile.

Creative mediums – Use colored pencils, markers, paint, collage, and more to individualize your art style.

It’s always a good idea to start by mastering the basics first. But once you’ve got the hang of it, let your creativity shine by making each Hello Kitty drawing unique!

Putting It All Together

Drawing Hello Kitty is fun and easy when you follow this simple step-by-step process:

Sketch the basic head shape – One large circle with two smaller ear circles positioned at the top.
Add the facial features – Ovals for eyes, short line for nose, and dot/line for mouth.
Refine the shapes and sizes – Make everything proportional and symmetrical.

Draw the bow – Long oval base, smaller overlapping oval, center knot, and loops/tails.
Outline and shade – Use dark, smooth lines for outlines. Add minimal shading.
Personalize – Customize with unique bows, accessories, outfits, props, or expressions.

With some deliberate practice of the basic head and facial features, you’ll be able to draw Hello Kitty’s sweet face from memory in your own style. So grab your sketchbook and give it a try!

Sample Step-by-Step

Here is a step-by-step visual guide to illustrate the process of drawing Hello Kitty:

Step 1	Lightly sketch a large circle towards the top of your paper for Hello Kitty’s head shape.
Step 2	On the top left and right sides of the circle, draw two smaller circles which will become the ears.
Step 3	Below the main head, sketch a vertical oval that overlaps the circle slightly – this will be Hello Kitty’s face.
Step 4	Add two large, evenly spaced circles in the face oval for the eyes. Leave space in between for the other features.
Step 5	Under the eyes, draw a short, narrow, vertical line for the nose.
Step 6	Finally, add a tiny circle or curved line under the nose for the mouth.
Step 7	Erase and redraw lines to refine the shapes. Make them smooth, clean, and proportional.
Step 8	On the right side, sketch the outline for Hello Kitty’s bow.
Step 9	Trace over your pencil lines with a black pen or marker to create bold outlines.
Step 10	Add light shading around elements like the ears, bow, and face for dimension. Finish by coloring in details.

Following each step slowly and carefully will result in a clean, accurate Hello Kitty drawing. You can repeat these steps while practicing to continuously improve your skills.

Conclusion

Drawing Hello Kitty’s sweet face is fun and easy to learn. By following basic steps to draw the head, ears, facial features, and signature bow, anyone can master her simple, iconic look. With some deliberate practice of the construction process and proportions, you’ll be able to add your own personal touches and customizations in no time. Hello Kitty has delighted fans for decades, and learning to draw her is a great way to spark your creativity and connection with this beloved character.