M in Bubble Letters

Outline version to colour or trace

How to draw a bubble capital M

1. 1Draw two vertical stems, far enough apart that the letter is wider than it is tall, and sketch the middle V between them.
2. 2Make the V a shallow dip that stops about halfway down, instead of reaching the baseline.
3. 3Inflate the stems and both diagonals into tubes, and round the top of each stem into a dome.
4. 4Smooth the junction at the V, so the two diagonals merge into one rounded dip pointing down.
5. 5Erase the skeleton, keep both triangular counters visible, and shade the underside of the middle dip.

Tip: Draw M wider than you expect, close to a square. Narrow Ms lose both counters, whereas a wide M looks airy and clearly inflated.

How to draw a bubble lowercase m

1. 1Draw a stem at the left, then two arches to its right, each starting at x-height and ending in a short leg on the baseline.
2. 2Make both arches equal in width, and give the first arch a light overlap onto the stem.
3. 3Inflate the stem, arches and legs as one connected tube, rounding the stem's top and each leg's foot.
4. 4Keep the two tunnels under the arches open and about as wide as the stroke.
5. 5Erase the guides and shade the outer curve of each arch, with a highlight on the left shoulder.

Tip: Count the humps by sketching them as two rainbows in a row. If one is smaller, the letter looks like a lopsided n with a bump.

What makes M awkward or easy

The capital M has the most strokes of any letter in this set, and the middle V runs at an angle that crowds both counters. The lowercase m has three vertical sections in the space of two, and the tunnels under its arches shrink fast. For both forms, width is the main control. The outlines add thickness to every stroke, so the letter must be drawn wider than the plain version.

Variations

A graffiti M often drops the middle V all the way to the baseline for a sharper look. A rounded M turns the V into a gentle wave. Sticker versions draw the lowercase m as two bumps with eyes. An outline M is a good colouring page because each counter becomes a separate patch. In 3D, extrude to the lower right and darken the dip.

Common mistakes with bubble M

• The middle V reaches the baseline and splits the letter into two Ns.

  Stop the V halfway down and round its bottom so it reads as a dip, not a cut.

• The two counters of the capital M shrink into slits.

  Widen the whole letter and keep the angles of the diagonals steep enough to leave triangles of paper.

• The arches of the lowercase m are different sizes.

  Draw both arches as identical rainbows under a ruler line at x-height.

• The tunnels under the arches fill with outline.

  Space the legs wider apart in the skeleton, and check each tunnel is at least a stroke wide.

Ideas for bubble M

M starts names such as Maya, Mateo and Mina, and spells MOM and MUSIC on banners and cards. A wide bubble M on a Mother's Day card can hold a heart in each counter. In a monogram, the lowercase m gives the most graceful curves, with the arches serving as a design feature.

Bubble M: questions