How to Draw Kids

Drawing kids is best done by using basic body and head shapes, and then just changing hair and clothes to differentiate one kid from another. You can learn how to draw basic cartoon kids in just a few simple steps.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Eraser
• Pencil
• Paper

Use the Appropriate Proportions

1. Make your cartoon kid's head the same height as his body. When drawing cartoons, the vast majority of your character's expressiveness will come from facial features. For this reason, big heads are a good thing.

2. Measure out your proportions by lightly sketching two circles of the same size, one resting on top of the other. You will erase these later, but doing so ensures that your kid is proportional.

3. Make these first marks light since you'll erase them later.

Draw a Cartoon Kid Head

1. Sketch a very light circle in pencil.

2. Draw very light vertical pencil lines along each side of the circle. You are now just sketching out the head shape, as you'll erase these lines later when you finish your drawing.

3. Draw in orientation lines very lightly. Draw one vertical line directly through the center of the circle. Draw a horizontal line that crosses the vertical line about 3/4 of the way up the circle.

4. Write a large, curved letter M, so that the bottom of the M lies on the horizontal line and the middle of the M lies on the vertical orientation line. This will become your kid's eyes.

5. Draw a circle where the two orientation lines cross for a nose.

6. Draw a free-hand line around the original circle and sidelines to create the actual head shape.

7. Erase the original circle, the lines on the side of the circle and both of the orientation lines. Now you have a bald, but otherwise complete, kid face.

Create the Body

1. Draw a circle under the head to frame the body. Make this circle the same size as the one you used for the head.

2. Sketch a slightly bell-shaped rectangle inside the circle.

3. Make two vertical lines just inside the rectangle for arms.

4. Draw a short vertical line from the bottom of the rectangle to indicate legs.

5. Draw broad horizontal lines across the top half of the body to create a striped shirt.

Add Detail

1. Draw five or six overlapping and filled-in ovals atop the head to create curly haired kids.

2. Make a series of stars atop the head, and then fill them in to give your kid spiky hair.

3. Draw two triangles at the neck, sketching the narrow ends together. This will give your kid a bow tie.

Tips & Warnings

• Erasure marks can detract from the appeal of your drawing. Use soft pencil lead so you can erase easily.