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Hearts, roses, candies, and bow-and-arrow-wielding flying babies are common symbols of Valentine's Day. Have you ever wondered where this lovelorn day of romance came from?
According to the book Celebrations: The Complete Book of American Holidays, Valentine's day started as the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia.
The festivities proceeded in this way: "In honor of the goddess Juno Februata, the names of young women were put into a box.
Youths then drew the names and the boys and girls so matched would be considered partners for the year."
Later, "everywhere that the Christians came into power they immediately adopted the holidays and customs of the people to their own creed."
St. Valentine's Day was born when girls' names were replaced with those of saints whom the young people could imitate for that year. But, being matched with girls was more fun, so this tradition soon resumed.
Today, Valentine's Day sees more greeting cards delivered than any other holiday besides Christmas.
Do you need to create a unique Valentine for someone you love? You can pick any of the drawing guides listed below, or combine them to make your own unique picture.
For each fun drawing tutorial, you will see step-by-step illustrations as well as written instructions.
New lines added in each picture are highlighted in blue. Some steps will require an eraser.
Don't forget to color your finished drawings - red and pink are the most common Valentine's Day colors.
Year-round art tip: don't just say "I love you" one day of the year! You can use these drawing tutorials to treat family and friends to a special message at any time.
Now, it's time to draw - and you're sure to fall in love with it!
29 Valentine's Day Drawing Ideas
1
How to Draw a Valentine's Day Card
This drawing pattern includes many hearts and a ribbon banner that reads "HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY." Did you know? No one really knows who St. Valentine was. There are at least three different tales of this mysterious and legendary man.
2
How to Draw a Heart Pixel Art
Does your lover love video games? Wish them extra life and health with this video-game-inspired pixelated heart.
3
How to Draw Holding Hands
Depending on where you live, holding hands may symbolize romantic love or friendship. Holding someone's hand can be calming, relaxing, and reassuring.
4
How to Draw a Rose Flower
Roses are red, violets are blue... we drew a rose, and you can, too! Roses of different colors can be used to express feelings of love or friendship, sympathy or solidarity.
5
How to Draw a Heart
The heart shape has been a symbol of love for several hundred years. Use this guide to learn how to draw a perfectly shaped heart.
6
How to Draw a Teddy Bear with a Heart
Do you want to give your Valentine a stuffed animal or teddy bear? This one is holding a heart-shaped card that reads, "I Love You."
7
How to Draw an Impossible Heart
Just like the infinity symbol or a Mobius strip, this heart appears to flow into itself in an impossible way. You can use it to symbolize your everlasting love.
8
How to Draw a Heart Tree
Money may not grow on trees, but love can! Draw this adorable plant with a heart-shaped canopy and heart-shaped leaves. Can you turn it into a family tree?
9
How to Draw a Simple Rose
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Learn how to sketch this single rose, and give the drawing to someone you love. Did you know? Rose colors have different meanings - for example, red is for love and yellow is for friendship.
10
How to Draw a Carnation
The carnation is a many-petaled flower that represents many types of love, "from a mother's devoted love to a suitor's passion for his bride."
11
How to Draw Cupid
What does a chubby baby angel have to do with love? Cupid was the ancient Roman god of love. Wounds from his bow and arrow "inspired love or passion in his every victim."
12
How to Draw Love Birds
Some birds, like these love birds, mate for life. They express their affection and devotion by grooming each other's feathers.
13
How to Draw an "I Love You" Heart
You can proclaim your love with this heart and flowers. Its ribbon banner proclaims, "I Love You." This tutorial makes a great greeting card.
14
How to Draw a Rose Bud
Your beloved will be able to enjoy this flower to the full, as it has yet to open. You can learn how to draw an open rose above.
15
How to Draw a Jar of Love
Don't use this jar of hearts to run around leaving scars, as the song says... instead, share it like Sweethearts or conversation hearts candy and spread the love!
16
Rose with Stem
A single rose is a great gift for the one you love. Draw the many petals of this rose, its leaves, and its stem, but watch out for the sharp thorns!
17
Lily
Lilies have a tropical vibe and also represent peace and innocence. You can learn how to sketch the large, freckled petals of this flower.
18
How to Draw a Lotus Flower
The lotus or water lily is a beautiful flower. If you want to do something different from the norm for the one you love, try sketching these petals.
19
Kiss Emoji
How do you kiss someone over the telephone? With a kiss emoji, of course! Now you can add this smiley face blowing a kiss to your handwritten notes as well.
20
Hug
A big hug is a great way to show someone that you care. If you can't hug them in person, sending them a "paper hug" like this drawing is the next best thing.
21
Kiss
Seal your next letter with a kiss - draw this one right on your card! Nothing says "I love you" like this intimate gesture.
22
Cartoon Rose
This is no ordinary rose - she has personality! First, you will draw the tightly closed blossom. Then, you will sketch a darling face on the sides of the petals.
23
Heart Locket
You can quite literally give someone the key to your heart with the help of this drawing. The padlock is in the shape of a fancy heart, and it can only be unlocked with the matching old-timey skeleton key.
24
Heart Balloon
If you can't afford to buy a gift of a dozen balloons, you can draw them instead! This one is heart-shaped to represent your love for the recipient.
25
Fancy Heart
This scrollwork heart is made of hearts and floral leaf designs. It is suitable for a pretty card, a Renaissance letter, or even a wedding invitation.
26
Sacred Heart
Anyone can feel love, but this image represents a very special love - that of Jesus for all mankind. The bleeding heart is wrapped in a crown of thorns with a flaming cross on top of it.
27
Heart with Arrow
Does it hurt? Some say that love does. This heart with an arrow is an iconic symbol of love. In this picture, the wound even drips with heartsblood.
28
Candy Heart
You could give your loved one candy that will soon be gone, or you could give them a drawing of candy that will last forever! Try customizing the words on the heart-shaped candies.
29
Heart Carved in Tree
Carving one's initials in a tree has long been a way of marking one's love. But don't harm a tree - complete this drawing instead! It will make a lovely gift for the one you love.