Ghost Drawing: Step-by-Step Tutorial & Easy Ideas
Learning how to draw a ghost is easier than it looks — the whole thing starts with a bell curve with a wavy hem. This guide walks you through a ghost drawing in six clear steps, then hands you a set of ghost drawing ideas to keep going: easy versions for beginners, cute and cartoon takes, and variations worth sketching when you want more.
- Difficulty Easy
- Time ~6 min
- Tools Pencil, eraser, paper
- Starts with a bell curve with a wavy hem
How to Draw a Ghost Step by Step
Step 1 of 9
Ghost body guide
Draw a tall light bell shape in the middle of the page for the ghost's body.
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Ghost body guide
Draw a tall light bell shape in the middle of the page for the ghost's body.
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Dome outline
Trace the bell curve for a rounded top with sides flowing down and slightly outward.
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Wavy hem
Close the bottom of the ghost with three or four soft flowing scallops.
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Face features
Add two tall oval eyes low on the face and a small round mouth below them.
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Lifted arms
Add a stubby arm bump on each side, one drooping down and one raised up in a wave.
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Fabric folds
Add one or two short curved lines near the hem and below the raised arm to hint at cloth folds.
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Shadow and wisps
Add a soft shadow puddle below the ghost with a visible gap, plus two wisp lines trailing from the hem.
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Ink the lines
Go over every kept line with dark ink, then erase the light body guide.
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Color the ghost
Fill the body pale white-gray, keep the eyes and mouth black, and shade the shadow puddle soft gray.
Ghost Drawing Ideas to Try Next
Once the basic ghost clicks, run it through these variations — each one practices a different skill while staying on a subject you already know.
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A ghost with a party hat
The birthday boo: cone hat, one balloon string in its stubby hand.
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Ghosts playing peek-a-boo behind a door
Two ghosts, one door frame — overlap practice that writes its own story.
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A ghost reading in bed
Sheet ghost with glasses, holding a book, bedside candle — cozy horror is the best horror.
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A tiny ghost familiar on a shoulder
Pocket-sized companion version perched on a simple shoulder line.
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A ghost guarding treasure
Add a small pile of coins and one glowing gem — the scene writes itself.
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Skeletal or spectral ghost
Draw the ghost/bone version with wispy trailing edges — halloween-ready and forgiving of anatomy.
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Ghost tattoo flash design
Bold outline, limited shading, designed to fit a shoulder — flash style suits fantasy subjects perfectly.
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A baby ghost
Shrink it, enlarge the eyes and head, add one stubby feature — cuteness transforms any fearsome subject.
Ghost Drawing Styles: Easy, Cute & More
Cute Ghost Drawing
Try the kawaii treatment: rounder shapes, bigger eyes, tiny proportions and soft colors. Same nine steps as above — simply simplify or stylize the final pass.
Easy Ghost Drawing
Try a simplified version built from basic shapes — perfect for beginners and kids. Same nine steps as above — simply simplify or stylize the final pass.
Tips for Better Ghost Drawings
- The floating gap is the trick everyone misses: a shadow directly attached makes a standing ghost (which is just a kid in a sheet). Leave visible air between hem and shadow and it levitates.
- Ground the fantasy in real anatomy — borrow joints, weight, and balance from real animals, then exaggerate. Believability comes from the real bones underneath.
Not feeling the ghost today?
Let the generator pick your next subject — filtered by mood and difficulty.
🎲 Random Drawing GeneratorGhost Drawing FAQ
What is the easiest way to draw a ghost?
Start with a bell curve with a wavy hem, keeping your lines light. Refine the outline, add the defining details, then erase the construction shapes. The nine-step method above breaks this down — most people get a recognizable ghost on their very first try with it.
How long should it take to draw a ghost?
A simple ghost drawing takes about 6 minutes following this tutorial. A quick doodle version can be done in two or three minutes, while a detailed, fully-shaded study might take an hour. Speed comes with repetition — the second attempt is always faster than the first.
What supplies do I need for ghost drawings?
Just a pencil, an eraser, and any paper. An HB pencil for construction lines and a 2B for final outlines is a nice upgrade, and colored pencils or markers finish it off — but nothing on this page requires special supplies.
Is a ghost easy to draw for beginners?
Yes — the ghost is one of the friendlier subjects for beginners, and this method was written for first-timers. Kids can follow the same steps; just expect wobblier lines and more charm.
