How to Draw Cartoon Animals & People
Cartoon animals and people have a lot in common such as incorporating shapes in the drawings. As far as the features go, cartoon animals often show human-like characteristics. When creating your drawing, make sure to go over each part separately--doing so will ensure a more finished product. Also, remember that many animals can be drawn from the same general shapes--for example, a horse shape could easily be made into a zebra, a donkey or even a cow.
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Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Piece of drawing paper
- Picture of preferred animal (optional)
- Eraser
- Colored pencils
Instructions
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Cartoon Animals
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1
Draw out the preferred animal's general outline shape, using a picture as a reference if necessary. Make sure to emphasize the animal's texture in the outline--for example, if the animal you are drawing is furry, make little spiky shapes that wisp up from the outline. Make the shape first, then work the texture over it and erase evidence of the line.
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2
Add any characterizing features to the animal, most importantly in the face. Cartoon animals have large, round eyes and also smile, frown or portray any other human emotion. Use eyebrows to help show the emotion in the eyes. Eyebrows with the inner corners pointed downward slightly over the eyes will look angry, while making small arches above and separate from the eyes can show happiness. Larger distinctions, such as a snout or claws, should be emphasized for animation effect as well.
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3
Re-outline the entire cartoon animal in black colored pencil. Color in the rest of the animal, using solid and even color.
Cartoon People
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4
Draw a general human shape on a piece of paper, using a pencil. Make sure the proportions are less realistic and more cartoon-like: a slightly larger head, long limbs and a more compact torso all look great on a cartoon person.
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5
Fill in more details of what the cartoon person is wearing to reflect the identity and attitude of the specific cartoon. Make sure to include equally telling accessories such as a leather jacket, a purse or a boom box.
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6
Fill in the face of the cartoon person. Exaggerate all features; make eyelashes long and separated, eyes larger than usual, and the nose in either a point or rounded swoops.
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7
Create the hairstyle for the cartoon person. Rather than drawing individual strands of hair, draw the entire style as one product before adding a few lines inside to suggest a certain part or flow.
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8
Erase any stray lines with an eraser. Color in the cartoon person with colored pencils, using bright colors throughout and a general matching scheme.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Panda Cartoon image by Infs from Fotolia.com
