Big Shapes, Simple Joy
This one is about the mustache.
Everything in this character leads back to that bold, sweeping shape. It stretches wide across the face, curving outward with a sense of motion that feels both playful and confident. When a single feature takes center stage like this, the rest of the drawing doesn’t compete—it supports.
The eyes sit just above, large and full of light. Reflections in the pupils give them a sense of life and attention, as if the character is quietly taking everything in. There’s a softness here that balances the boldness below.
Right at the center, the purple nose acts like an anchor. It’s simple, rounded, and strong enough to hold the composition together without pulling focus away from the mustache.
Even the smaller details play their part.
Eyelashes peek over the top of the mustache, adding a layer of personality and a bit of surprise. It’s a small choice, but it changes how you read the character—suddenly there’s curiosity, maybe even a sense of play hiding behind that oversized feature.
Color does a lot of work here.
The bright yellow background creates immediate energy and contrast, pushing the greens forward so the mustache feels even more vibrant. Purple accents in the nose and surrounding shapes tie everything together, creating a simple but effective palette.
Watercolor keeps the whole piece feeling light. The edges soften, colors settle naturally, and nothing feels overly rigid. Even with bold outlines and strong shapes, there’s still a sense of ease in how everything sits on the page.
This is the kind of drawing that reminds you something important.
You don’t need a lot of complexity to make something interesting.
Sometimes one strong idea—pushed just far enough—is more than enough.
Draw With Me
I teach live online drawing classes where kids build confidence by creating bold, expressive characters like this one.
Parents can explore classes and get started here (includes a first-time student coupon):
https://outschool.com/teachers/Dustin-Carlton?signup=true&usid=qA1G7fA1
For students who want consistent creative practice, the Draw Every Day Daily Drawing Club offers a calm, supportive space to keep drawing and improving:
https://outschool.com/classes/draw-every-day-a-calm-daily-drawing-club-to-build-confidence-prNDyUXM

