How to Draw a Ghost

Ghosts can be creepy, funny or downright horrifying, and they make a great illustration for Halloween. A ghost is so simple to draw you will want to create dozens of them all over your sketchbooks. You can draw a ghost in a mere minute or two if you follow some easy steps to create the spooky or humorous haunting of your dreams.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pen or other drawing instrument

1. 

   Create two circles. These will serve as the ghost’s eyes. Feel free to make the circles uneven, comical, slanted at the top to create an angry effect, or of any shape and size you choose. He’s your ghost.

2. 

   Make a mouth. His mouth can be a simple “O” shape, or a lined curved up or downwards indicating a smile or frown. He can also have a rectangular-shaped mouth or a zigzag. Use your imagination to make his mouth however you please.

3. 

   Draw a curved bell shape for his body. Draw a line that starts well below his eyes, curves upward into an arc above his eyes and mouth, and curves back down below his eyes. Think of a very tall rainbow or archway.

4. 

   Give him a hem. A gently wavy line works well to connect the two bottom points of your bell shape to give the ghost his hem. You can also use a jagged, harsh line or even a straight line. Perhaps if your ghost was in a hurry getting dressed in the morning, he has an uneven, lopsided line. The only requirement is that it connect the two end points of the bell shape.

5. 

   Add your details. Furnish your ghost with some eyeballs, teeth, arms and any details you wish to finish him off. You can even write the word “boo” beside him to show that he is supposed to scare people.

Tips & Warnings

• Ghosts have no specific shape they must adhere to. The traditional ghost looks like a kid in a sheet, but you can be more precise with a body shape if you want him to appear more human.

• If you are into pastels or charcoals, ghosts work exceptionally well drawn with light, filmy edges that fade off into the distance whence they came.

• Ghosts are often depicted as white, but have fun with color if you so desire.