How to Draw a Smiley Face

Introduction

Learning to draw a smiley face is one of the first and most enjoyable drawing exercises for beginners. This simple tutorial will guide you through creating a classic happy face using basic shapes and lines.

By the end of this tutorial, you'll be able to draw a cheerful smiley face that can brighten anyone's day. All you need is paper and a pencil!

Completed smiley face drawing showing a yellow circle with two dot eyes and a curved smile
What your finished smiley face will look like

What You'll Need

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Draw the Circle

Start by drawing a large circle in the center of your paper. Don't worry if it's not perfectly round - a slightly wobbly circle adds character! Make sure to leave enough space around the edges of your paper.

Hand drawing a circle on white paper with a pencil
Step 1: Drawing the basic circle shape

Step 2: Add the Eyes

Draw two small dots for the eyes. Place them in the upper half of the circle, spaced evenly apart. The dots should be roughly the same size and positioned symmetrically.

Circle with two small black dots added as eyes in the upper portion
Step 2: Adding the two eye dots

Step 3: Draw the Smile

Create the smile by drawing a curved line in the lower half of the circle. Start from one side and curve it upward, then back down to create a happy, upward arc. The smile should be centered below the eyes.

Circle with eyes and a curved smile line added in the bottom half
Step 3: Drawing the curved smile

Step 4: Clean Up Your Drawing

Look over your smiley face and make any adjustments needed. You can darken the lines, erase any extra marks, or adjust the size of the features to make them more balanced.

Completed line drawing of smiley face with clean, dark lines
Step 4: Final cleanup of the drawing

Step 5: Add Color (Optional)

If you want to add color, use yellow to fill in the circle. You can also experiment with different colors for a unique look. Leave the eyes and smile as they are, or color them black for more contrast.

Smiley face drawing filled with bright yellow color, showing the final result
Step 5: Adding yellow color to complete the smiley face

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've successfully drawn your first smiley face. This basic drawing technique is perfect for beginners and can be the foundation for more complex facial expressions and cartoon characters.

Practice drawing different variations - try making the smile bigger, adding eyebrows, or experimenting with different eye shapes. The more you practice, the more confident you'll become with your drawing skills!