The heart is undoubtedly one of the most powerful symbols in the world. If you’ve ever been frustrated that your hand-drawn hearts don’t look as beautiful as you’d like, you’ve come to the right place. In this easy step-by-step tutorial, we’ll explore different ways to draw hearts. Whether you want to incorporate hearts into your bullet journal, sketchnotes, or simple doodles, this tutorial will give you a wide range of possibilities.
So, grab your pencils and let’s get started!
Constructing the Heart Shape
Before we dive into drawing hearts, it’s helpful to break down the heart shape into simpler basic shapes. By mastering the “neutral” heart, you’ll become more successful in drawing the heart without any pre-drawing.
Here’s how you draw a simple, uniform heart:
- Begin with a simple “T” shape. The horizontal stroke can be slightly longer than usual.
- Draw a circle around the left side of the crossbar.
- Repeat the same on the right side.
- Connect the outer point of each circle to the bottom of the “T” with a line.
- You’ll do the same on the other side.
- Trace the heart using the basic shape, using a fineliner or a similar tool. Then, erase the initial sketch.
Now you have a simple, uniform heart shape. By adjusting various parameters, such as the outer connecting lines, you can create different variations of the heart shape.
Drawing Hearts with One Stroke
Let’s face it: who wants to draw a pre-drawn outline every time they want to create a simple heart? Eventually, you’ll want to learn how to draw hearts with just one (or two) strokes.
There’s no strict rule on where to start the stroke or whether you should pause in between. It’s purely a matter of personal preference. Personally, I usually start at the bottom of the tip and draw the lines clockwise without stopping. However, feel free to experiment with different variations to find what feels best for you.
Heart Variants
Now it’s time to see a variety of heart designs. By changing proportions, symmetry, and adding extra details, you can create completely different variations of the heart.
Hearts can also be beautifully combined with letters. For example, you can create your own lettering alphabet called “Lovely Letters” by incorporating hearts.
Different Pens for Different Looks
Did you know that using different pens can give your hearts a unique appearance? Experiment with felt-tip pens, large markers, and pens with different tips to achieve different styles.
Don’t be afraid to combine different pens to add depth and shadows to your heart drawings. Bright brush pens, in particular, can create stunning effects.
Hearts as Part of Other Drawings
The heart symbol carries strong emotions, making it a popular choice for incorporating into drawings and illustrations. By adding a heart, you can instantly convey deep emotions.
When used positively, the heart represents affection, friendship, love, and passion. On the flip side, it can also symbolize sadness, heartbreak, suffering, and longing. That’s why hearts are frequently used in sketchnotes—they offer endless possibilities for expression.
So, how do you prefer to draw hearts? Which variation resonates with you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments!
