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How to Draw a Kokeshi
Draw a kokeshi in 12 easy steps, about 9 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.
Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: the head.
Step 1: The head
Near the top of your paper draw a big round head, almost a circle.
Step 2: The body
Start under the left cheek. Go straight down to the ground, across, and back up to the right cheek.
Tip A kokeshi has no arms or legs, just a head and a smooth body.
Step 3: Two big eyes
Below the middle of the head, draw 2 big oval eyes, each with a black dot and a shine.
Step 4: Smile and cheeks
Under the eyes, draw a small U smile in the middle. Add a round cheek on each side.
Step 5: Bob of hair
Draw the hair over the top of the head, side to side. Add a curved fringe and 2 side locks.
Step 6: Kimono collar
Start under the left cheek. Go down to a point, then up to the right cheek. Add a smaller V.
Step 7: The sash
Across the middle of the body draw a wide band from side to side. Add a small oval knot.
Step 8: Flowers
On the kimono draw 3 little flowers, each with 5 round petals. Put 2 below the sash and 1 above.
Step 9: The ground
Draw a straight ground line under the doll. Start a hand-width left of it and stop a hand-width right.
Step 10: Cream face, pink cheeks
Colour the face cream around the eyes and cheeks, then colour the cheeks pink. Leave the eyes white.
Step 11: Yellow sash, pink flowers
Colour the sash, its knot and a dot in each flower yellow, then the petals pink around the dots.
Step 12: Red kimono, black hair
Colour the kimono red around the sash and flowers, then the hair black. Your kokeshi is finished!
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a kokeshi, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
