How to Draw Barbie
Learn how to draw Barbie, one of the world’s most famous toys, with this easy-to-follow tutorial consisting of clear and interesting instructions.
How to Draw Barbie: Introduction
Barbie is one of the most famous toys created on planet Earth. Throughout the world, there exists an enormous variety of Barbie toys, each featuring a unique look and distinctive clothing. Barbie dolls have been produced for many decades, continually evolving in appearance and style. This tutorial, however, will help you learn how to draw Barbie in any style or variation.
Using my simple instructions, you’ll be able to portray this beloved toy in her original designs as well as her modern incarnations. All you need to do is adjust certain details such as her hairstyle, facial features, and clothing, giving these elements the appearance you desire. Drawing Barbie is undoubtedly similar to drawing a girl, yet there are notable differences.
Specifically, when drawing Barbie, you must convey her toy-like qualities. It is important to make Barbie look as a toy, yet easily recognizable. You should focus on creating simplified shapes and smooth outlines to achieve this effect clearly and distinctly.
In this lesson on how to draw Barbie, I will demonstrate precisely how to create her characteristic look. While drawing, remember that I’m providing only a basic example. This means you can freely change any part or detail of your illustration, including hair color, clothing, and skin tone, to give your Barbie drawing a more unique appearance.
Barbie Drawing Tutorial
Materials
- Pencil
- Paper
- Eraser
- Coloring supplies
Time needed: 40 minutes
How to Draw Barbie
- Draw the head and torso of Barbie.
First, draw an oval shape to represent Barbie’s head. Keep the oval slightly elongated vertically. Below it, sketch a figure shaped somewhat like an hourglass, narrowing at the waist and expanding slightly at the hips and shoulders. Keep the lines smooth and even, avoiding sharp angles.
- Draw Barbie’s facial features.
Now, draw the eyes of Barbie, placing them at the central line of the head shape. Inside each eye, add small circles for the irises, and place tiny dots for the pupils. Draw gentle, curved lines above the eyes for the eyebrows. Then, sketch a small nose below the eyes. Complete the face by drawing the lips.
- Outline the upper part of the dress.
Now, connect the head and neck of Barbie with a couple of slightly curved line to define the neck. After that, draw a curved line at the top of the chest to illustrate the upper edge of the dress. Next, add another line around her waist, clearly marking the narrowest point of Barbie’s figure.
- Add the arms and hands.
Sketch smooth shapes extending downward from the shoulders of Barbie. Extend the lines further, drawing the forearms as slightly narrower, following a graceful curve toward the wrists. Draw the hands using a few simple, subtle lines to create fingers without extensive detail.
- Add the doll’s skirt.
To continue drawing Barbie’s dress, sketch a voluminous skirt. Starting from the waistline you drew earlier, sketch curved lines outward and downward, creating a gentle bell shape. The length of the skirt should reach about knee level. Next, add smooth lines within the skirt to illustrate folds and create volume.
- Sketch the hairstyle.
Now, sketch long, smooth waves extending from the top of the head down past the shoulders. The hair should appear voluminous, with multiple sections. To achieve a natural look, vary the length and direction of individual waves. Keep your pencil strokes soft and simple.
- Draw the legs of Barbie.
Sketch two smooth, graceful shapes for each leg, narrowing gently as they reach the ankles. Maintain a natural, slender proportion typical for Barbie dolls. At the bottom, add feet in simple shapes, indicating Barbie’s shoes with small, subtle curves.
- Erase unnecessary lines.
Carefully remove the construction lines used earlier to sketch Barbie’s figure. These may include outlines from the torso, skirt, and other guiding marks that no longer contribute to the final appearance. Take special care not to erase any important details like Barbie’s facial features, hair, dress, or limbs.
- Color the Barbie drawing.
Color her hair in a light blonde shade, typical of her classic appearance. Next, color her skin using a soft peach or beige tone. Apply a pastel shade, like soft pink, for the dress. Color Barbie’s shoes in a complementary tone. But of course, you can use any other shades to color your Barbie drawing.
Alternative Barbie Drawing Tutorial
The most noticeable features of this barbie drawing tutorial include simplified proportions, clear lines, and a different step-by-step structure. Also, you can see simplified facial details, the distinct hairstyle, and a simplified body posture.
To learn how to draw Barbie with this technique, first sketch a simple oval head shape and below it a torso outline slightly narrower at the waist. Draw Barbie’s neck and shoulders using short, smooth lines. Continue by sketching the arms, clearly defining elbows and hands. Next, draw Barbie’s wavy hair. After that, draw a simple dress by connecting straight and slightly curved lines, following the shape of the torso.
Add Barbie’s legs, keeping them slender and simple. Then carefully draw facial features, using gentle lines for the eyes, nose, and lips. Include small details to the dress, such as folds. Finally, apply color to your drawing of Barbie by choosing classic shades like pink for her dress and blonde for her hair.
I also want to remind you that for your convenience, I have prepared for you a short version of this drawing lesson in PDF format. You can download this file and return to the lesson at any time, even if you are not connected to the Internet.
Conclusion
Another drawing tutorial has come to an end, and with a relatively small amount of effort, you’ve learned how to draw Barbie in a simplified yet highly recognizable style. Now, let’s continue practicing our Barbie drawing skills by illustrating this character in a different setting. You can also try drawing Ken alongside Barbie, as well as other characters from the world of toys.
Additionally, feel free to explore other sections of my website to learn how to draw various other equally iconic characters. With my simple but highly effective drawing tutorials, you can easily master drawing comics, cartoons, and characters from games, books, and movies.
To make sure you don’t miss any lessons from these categories, be sure to follow me on social media.
