How to Draw a Broken Heart: Easy 10-Step Guide

This guided drawing activity is perfect for artists ages 5 and up looking to explore emotional expression through art. You will only need a pencil, an eraser, and your favorite coloring tools to complete this project. Follow along to master the shapes that create a stylized, expressive broken heart.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A colorful, finished illustration of a broken heart with a bandage, used as the main tutorial thumbnail.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the First Curve

A single curved line resembling a fishhook, forming the left side of a heart shape.

Draw a long, elegant curved line that looks like a fishhook. Teacher's Tip: Keep your wrist loose and move your whole arm to get a smooth, flowing curve rather than a shaky one.

Step 2: Completing the Heart Shape

A complete heart outline created by mirroring the first curved line.

Draw a mirror image of your first line to complete the heart. Tip: Focus on keeping the two sides balanced; if one side looks a bit off, don't worry—that's what the eraser is for!

Step 3: Creating the First Jagged Edge

A heart with a jagged, lightning-bolt style line drawn through the center.

Erase the top center point. Now, draw a jagged, zigzag line from the top down to the bottom point. Tip: Use short, sharp strokes to make the 'break' look authentic and crisp.

Step 4: Matching the Puzzle Pieces

The heart now appears split in two, with jagged edges that fit together.

Draw a second jagged line on the other side to match the first. Imagine they are puzzle pieces that could snap back together. Tip: Take your time to ensure the angles of the zigzags align well.

Step 5: Adding the Bandage

A bandage shape drawn horizontally across the center of the broken heart.

Draw a narrow, rounded rectangle across the center of the heart to act as a bandage. Tip: Keep the corners rounded to make the bandage look soft and flexible.

Step 6: Cleaning the Lines

The bandage shape with the heart lines erased from its center.

Carefully erase the lines inside the bandage so it looks like it is sitting on top of the heart. Tip: Use a kneaded eraser if you have one; it’s great for picking up small graphite marks without smudging.

Step 7: Detailing the Bandage

The bandage now has texture lines and small circles added for detail.

Add two small vertical lines in the center of the bandage and a few tiny circles to represent the texture of the adhesive. Tip: Keep these details small so they don't distract from the main heart shape.

Step 8: Adding Character Cracks

The heart now features additional small, branching cracks for added detail.

Draw a few extra 'cracks' branching out from the main break using short, angled lines. Tip: Think of how a real glass window cracks—the lines should look sharp and random.

Step 9: Adding Teardrops

Teardrop shapes added to the bottom of the broken heart.

Draw a few teardrop shapes falling from the bottom of the heart. Tip: Vary the sizes of the drops to make your drawing look more dynamic and expressive.

Step 10: Bringing It to Life with Color

The finished, colored drawing of a broken heart with a bandage and teardrops.

Time to color! Use bright reds or pinks for the heart, and perhaps a soft beige for the bandage. Tip: Use a darker shade of red near the cracks to add depth and make them 'pop'.