Download Article
Download Article
Drawing a cartoon is easy and fun since you get to really draw without many limits compared to realistic and other types of drawings. Here’s the basic steps used in almost all types of cartoons. Enjoy!
Steps
-
Collect the proper materials such as pencil, pen, and coloring materials. Before you can start drawing, drawing materials are the things you need to have. Coloring materials you can use in cartooning can be crayons, color pencils, watercolors, and many more.
-
Sketch the draft lines. The first thing to do in cartooning is to make the draft illustration of the character using a pencil, preferably an HB pencil. The draft consists of the main shapes of the cartoon character’s body and clothes, the position, the expression, and the hair.Advertisement
-
Draw the cartoon character using a pen. A drawing pen is the preferred pen to use in papers since it provides you a variety of choices of width. Moreover, drawing pens are easy to use and produces cleaner drawing.
-
Erase the pencil marks using an eraser.
-
Color as you like. You can use any medium you like and you can color it the way you want.
Advertisement
-
Draw the basic background draft. Use simple shapes and lines.
-
Add more details to the background that will make it more appealing.
-
Draw the background using a pen.
-
Erase the pencil marks.
-
Add more details and shadowing. Shadowing can be done using a pen by drawing lines like what is shown below.
-
Color as you like.
-
You can also combine the character with the background. It can be done using a combined method of both.
Advertisement
-
Before you get started, you'll need to get everything set up. For all the materials that you'll need, check the things you'll need. (below)
-
Secondly, get an idea of what it is going to be about, such as crocodile hunting, politics, your view of new items, ducks, endangered species, etc. This will help you get a good idea of what you'll need to draw in the background and in the foreground.
-
Thirdly, you'll need some characters, so practice drawing a character on a spare sheet of paper. Start by drawing a random shape. It can be anything. A circle, square, ETC. Also, you'll need to brainstorm how the character is going to feel. Try making expressions into the mirror and then copying them down. You can also act out what your cartoon character is going to do. Try picturing how he/she/it looks like. *If you need too, you can look at drawings you find in magazines, books, posters, and the internet, but DO NOT copy them! You'll get into a copywriting mess!
-
Fourthly, you'll need to practice drawing props, scenery, etc. All you need to do to practice this is to draw scenes without characters. draw objects that you'll need or don't need.
-
Fifthly, you'll have to draw a practice cartoon strip or just a cartoon. To do this draw a couple panels with a straightedge. (at best try a ruler)
-
Start drawing a finished cartoon! Just remember, draw outlines first, THEN color with colored pencils, markers, crayons, paint, glitter, etc. You might want to draw how big you're making the cartoon; such as " 11' 4', 3' 5', etc.
-
If your cartoon doesn't cover the whole piece of paper, then cut it out! You can tape it, glue it, staple it, ETC. anywhere you want!
-
After you are completely done with your cartoon, you can show it to family and friends!
-
Finished.
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionHow do I do a cartoon of the big bang?Community AnswerYou can start out by researching pictures of galaxies and space on the internet. Read some descriptions of the event, too. After that, you can start out with some sketches and see where the drawing takes you.
-
QuestionWhat kind of paint should I use?Community AnswerIt is best to use acrylic paint, as it will not bleed through your paper or your drawn lines.
-
QuestionWhat if I don't have a pen?Community AnswerYou could also darken and make it more bold by pressing the pencil harder.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
- Get a good idea before drawing. If you don't know what you're drawing you might end up ruining your cartoon!Thanks
- Draw outlines in pencil first. That way if you don't like it you can always go back and change it.Thanks
- Always keep a little notebook and writing utensil with you at all times. That way if you have a good idea for a cartoon then you can write it down! Or... you can buy a tape recorder. Unfortunately, this costs a lot so I would just go with the notebook.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Draw outlines first. If you don't you'll waste a TON of paper.Thanks
- Do not pay attention to people that insult you about your drawing skills.Thanks
Advertisement
Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Colored Pencils
- Hands
- Anything else to add to your cartoon
- Paper
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To draw a cartoon person, make the head bigger than you would if you were drawing a realistic person since cartoons usually have exaggerated proportions. Also, choose a couple facial features to exaggerate, like the eyes, the nose, or the lips. When you're drawing the body, use soft, rounded lines so your drawing looks more like a cartoon. You can also avoid shading in your drawing since most cartoons aren't shaded. To learn how to draw cartoon backgrounds, scroll down!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 81,825 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "Thank you! I have been practising cartooning for a while now, but I'm not great. This really helped!"
Advertisement
85%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"Thank you! I have been practising cartooning for a while now, but I'm not great. This really helped!"
"I liked how this article said to come up with characters, and to use a pen for the final product."
"I love this it made me popular in school."
