How to Make Cartoon Faces

Keep cartoon faces simple, like a child's drawing

A cartoon face is easy to draw. You do not need to be an artist to create a funny face. A face is one of the first objects that children learn to draw. A young child's version of a face is always cartoon-like. Children are natural cartoonists because they have only the skills to draw in a simplistic way. For adults, the trick to drawing a cartoon face is to think in basic shapes and lines to keep it simple.

Things You'll Need

• Sketchbook
• Number 2 pencil
• Eraser
• Pencil sharpener
• Black fineline art marker pen
• Colored art marker pens

Instructions

1. Draw a basic head shape. Open your sketchbook and use your pencil to draw the shape of a head -- a round, oval or square. Starting with a round shape at first is easier.

2. Draw a vertical pencil line lightly down the center of the face. It helps to draw a center guldeline to help with placing facial features. Unwanted guidelines can be erased later.

3. Sketch in the facial features. Draw two simple pencil dots for the eyes. Alternatively, draw big round, oval or square eyes. Add droopy eyelids (like shutters) if you wish and make a dot for the pupil. Sketch a short curved line, a pointy L-shape or a bulbous shape for a huge knobby nose. Create a closed mouth with a line or two, or draw an oval for an open surprised mouth. Give the face a pair of ears. They can be big, small or lop-sided to make the character look extra funny.

4. Create facial expression. Draw lines for the eyebrows to add expression. Curved eyebrows make for a relaxed, happy, natural expression; while straight lines on a diagonal angle suggest surprise or anger. The mouth also helps to create expression. Make the mouth lines curve upward for a happy cartoon face, downward for sadness and straight for anger.

5. Give your cartoon head a funny and funky hairstyle. It can be a simplified version of an everyday style, spiky and punky, or include just a tuft of hair on a bald head.

6. Apply color with art marker pens or a medium of your choice. Complete your cartoon face by outlining it in black pen for a bold look.

7. Try drawing a profile view of a cartoon face. Draw the basic head shape, but no center guideline. Draw one eye near the edge of the shape. Make a simple dot, round shape or a horizontal V-shape to represent the eyelid, with a dot for a pupil. Draw a stick-out nose outside of the face shape. Sketch in the mouth shape below the nose. Draw a reversed C-shape for the ear. Add the hairstyle.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep it simple. Watch cartoons or read cartoon strips to see a variety of cartoon faces to inspire you. Be playful and practice drawing different types of faces. Add accessories like spectacles, hats, ear rings and scarves as you grow more confident with your cartooning skills.

References

• Drawing Coach: Advice and Techniques for Drawing Cartoon Faces
• Billy Bear 4 Kids:Draw Cartoon Faces -- Expressions
• "How To Draw Anything";Mark Linley;1989