How to Draw a Dia de Los Muertos Skull: Easy 9-Step Guide

Celebrate culture and creativity with this fun sugar skull drawing project, perfect for artists ages 6 and up. You will only need a pencil, an eraser, and your favorite markers or colored pencils to bring this design to life. Follow along to master symmetrical patterns and bold, festive shapes.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A vibrant, finished Dia de Los Muertos skull drawing, showcasing intricate floral patterns and bright colors.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Head and Eye Sockets

Pencil sketch showing the top arch of a skull, two large eye circles, and an inverted heart-shaped nose.

Draw a large, rounded arch for the top of the skull. Add two big circles for the eyes and an upside-down heart for the nasal cavity. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil lines light so you can easily refine the shape later if needed.

Step 2: Defining the Jaw and Teeth

Skull outline showing the addition of cheekbones, a jawline, and four rounded teeth shapes.

Use curved lines to connect the cheekbones down to the jaw. Sketch four overlapping, rounded teardrop shapes for the teeth. Teacher's Tip: Focus on keeping the teeth uniform in size to maintain a balanced look.

Step 3: Completing the Teeth

Detailed view of the skull jaw showing a full row of overlapping teeth shapes.

Add more teeth using overlapping teardrop and triangle shapes along the jawline. Teacher's Tip: Don't worry if they aren't perfect; sugar skulls are known for their whimsical, hand-drawn character.

Step 4: Adding Eye Details

Skull drawing showing the addition of mouth lines and a flower petal pattern inside one eye socket.

Draw curved lines extending from the mouth corners. Add a small circle in the center of each eye, then surround one with five petals to create a flower. Teacher's Tip: Use a steady hand to keep the flower petals symmetrical.

Step 5: Decorating the Eye Sockets

Skull drawing with both eye sockets decorated with flower petals and scalloped borders.

Repeat the petal design for the second eye. Then, add a scalloped border around both eye sockets. Teacher's Tip: Scalloped lines are just a series of connected 'U' shapes—practice them on a scrap piece of paper first!

Step 6: Adding Cheek and Nose Accents

Skull drawing with decorative triangles by the nose and flame-like patterns on the cheekbones.

Add small triangles next to the nose and flame-like patterns on the cheeks. Teacher's Tip: These patterns represent the traditional 'papel picado' style, so feel free to make them as jagged or smooth as you like.

Step 7: Adding Forehead and Jaw Flowers

Skull drawing featuring a heart on the forehead, a large flower on top, and small flowers on the jaw.

Draw a heart on the forehead and a large flower on top of the skull. Add two smaller daisy-like flowers on the jaw. Teacher's Tip: Use a circular motion to build the flower centers for a natural look.

Step 8: Refining the Details

Skull drawing with detailed heart-within-a-heart and teardrop accents on the forehead.

Add a smaller heart inside the forehead heart and scatter teardrop shapes around it. Teacher's Tip: Varying the size of the teardrops adds visual interest and depth to your design.

Step 9: Final Touches

Completed line art of a Dia de Los Muertos skull with all decorative patterns finished.

Add small circles on the forehead and chin to finish the pattern. Your outline is now ready for color! Teacher's Tip: Use bright, bold colors like magenta, turquoise, and marigold to capture the festive spirit of the holiday.

Step 10: Bring It to Life with Color

A fully colored and decorated Dia de Los Muertos skull with bright, festive colors.

Time to color! Keep the base of the skull white or cream, and use vibrant markers to fill in the flowers and patterns. Teacher's Tip: Don't be afraid to mix colors—sugar skulls are all about joyful, bold expression.