How to Design a Cartoon House
Possibilities are infinite when drawing cartoon houses. There really is not a right or wrong way of doing it, although there is a level of difficulty attached to drawing cartoon houses depending on how detailed and three-dimensional you wish them to look. A cartoon house can be as basic as a child's drawing, colored in using wax crayons. Cartoon houses just need to look like an exaggerated and comical version of the real thing.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Sketchbook
- Pencil HB or #2
- Color marker pens or color pencils
- Eraser
- Pencil sharpener
- Fine black marker
- Ruler
Instructions
-
-
1
Draw a rectangle, any size you like. Use a ruler if you want the house to be geometrically accurate. Draw the lines freehand to give it a more rough and exaggerated appearance.
-
2
Draw a vertical line parallel to the rectangle, on the right-hand side. The line should be the same height as the rectangle but should not be level with it. The line needs to be raised approximately 1 cm from the bottom level of the rectangle and a distance of 1 1/2 cm away from the rectangle.
-
-
3
Draw a diagonal line from the lower right-hand point of the rectangle to the lower point of the vertical line. Draw another diagonal line from the top right-hand point of the rectangle to the top of the vertical line. You should now start to see a three-dimensional box shape emerging.
-
4
Rule a horizontal line, approximately 1 to 2 cm, above the rectangle. This roof line should be shorter than the lines contained within the rectangle. Position it centrally to the rectangle, to make it symmetrical.
-
5
Connect the three points at the side of the house, from both points of the rectangle to the end of the roof line. This creates a triangle for the side slope of the roof. On the left-hand side, connect the end point of the roof line to the top point of the rectangle to complete the roof shape. You now have your basic framework to start adding detail to your house design.
-
6
Draw in windows and doors, adding as much detail as you require. Try drawing a chimney or some window boxes filled with flowers. You could add a garage at the side. If you are feeling really adventurous, you could draw in a porch with steps leading down to a path that cuts through a garden area. If this is too complicated, you could use photos of houses as a point of reference.
-
7
Fill your drawing with color of your choice. Cartoon houses do not need to be realistic house colors. However, do not use too many colors in the design of your cartoon house as it will make it look too busy. Keep it bold, simple and contrasting.
-
8
Go over the pencil lines with your fine black marker. You can make the contour lines thick or thin, it's just a matter of preference. Erase any pencil lines, if required.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Be imaginative. Think outside of the box by exaggerating your house's framework. You could elongate a house to make it appear tall and thin with many floors. It could be excessively fat, with walls curving outwards as if the house is about to burst because it is so full of furniture. It could have a thin base but have a wide top so it is like a wedge of cheese or vice-versa.
Practice drawing various cartoon houses as well as other kinds of buildings. By doing this you will increase your confidence, cartoon skills and it will help you develop your own cartoon style. As an exercise, look out of your window and draw a cartoon version of your own street.
References
- Photo Credit drawed house image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com
