How to Draw Cartoon Characters Using Sticks

The stick figure is a primtive form of drawing with fun possibilities.

Any simple drawing that exaggerates the features of its subject is a cartoon. There are no rules saying that it has to be a premier work of art. Those with little drawing skill can still draw amusing and original cartoons using the very simple "stick figure." A stick figure is, simply, a drawing made up primarily of straight lines and other simple shapes that virtually anyone can make. The most common is the basic stick person.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil or pen

Instructions

1. Draw a circle. The more perfect you can get it, the better. This is the head of the figure.

2. From the bottom of the circle, draw a line straight down. This line represents the torso.

3. Draw lines out from the torso for arms. They can be the same on each side, or you can point them in opposite directions, make one bend at the elbow, and so on. Be creative.

4. To make legs, draw two lines outward from the bottom of the torso line. The legs should look like an upside-down "V" connecting with the bottom of the torso line.

5. Embellish the stick figure with facial features: two dots for eyes, and a mouth shape of your choosing (frown, smile, squiggly line and the like). You may also add hands (small circles on the ends of the arm lines), feet (ovals on the leg lines), and different styles of hair.

Tips & Warnings

• Make your creation even more unique by using different shapes in wild combinations. A triangle for a head, squiggly lines for arms and legs, X's for eyes, and other such creative choices can result in a cool and distinctive cartoon.

References

• How-To-Draw-Funny-Cartoons.com: How to Draw Stick Figures