How to Draw a Cartoon

Last Updated: November 30, 2019

Drawing a cartoon is easy and fun since you get to really draw without many limits compared to realistic and other types of drawings. Here’s the basic steps used in almost all types of cartoons. Enjoy!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Basic Cartooning

1
Collect the proper materials such as pencil, pen, and coloring materials. Before you can start drawing, drawing materials are the things you need to have. Coloring materials you can use in cartooning can be crayons, color pencils, watercolors, and many more.
2
Sketch the draft lines. The first thing to do in cartooning is to make the draft illustration of the character using a pencil, preferably an HB pencil. The draft consists of the main shapes of the cartoon character’s body and clothes, the position, the expression, and the hair.

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3
Draw the cartoon character using a pen. A drawing pen is the preferred pen to use in papers since it provides you a variety of choices of width. Moreover, drawing pens are easy to use and produces cleaner drawing.
4
Erase the pencil marks using an eraser.
5
Color as you like. You can use any medium you like and you can color it the way you want.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Backgrounds

1
Draw the basic background draft. Use simple shapes and lines.
2
Add more details to the background that will make it more appealing.
3
Draw the background using a pen.
4
Erase the pencil marks.
5
Add more details and shadowing. Shadowing can be done using a pen by drawing lines like what is shown below.
6
Color as you like.
7
You can also combine the character with the background. It can be done using a combined method of both.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Alternative Method

1
Before you get started, you'll need to get everything set up. For all the materials that you'll need, check the things you'll need. (below)
2
Secondly, get an idea of what it is going to be about, such as crocodile hunting, politics, your view of new items, ducks, endangered species, etc. This will help you get a good idea of what you'll need to draw in the background and in the foreground.
3
Thirdly, you'll need some characters, so practice drawing a character on a spare sheet of paper. Start by drawing a random shape. It can be anything. A circle, square, ETC. Also, you'll need to brainstorm how the character is going to feel. Try making expressions into the mirror and then copying them down. You can also act out what your cartoon character is going to do. Try picturing how he/she/it looks like. *If you need too, you can look at drawings you find in magazines, books, posters, and the internet, but DO NOT copy them! You'll get into a copywriting mess!
4
Fourthly, you'll need to practice drawing props, scenery, etc. All you need to do to practice this is to draw scenes without characters. draw objects that you'll need or don't need.
5
Fifthly, you'll have to draw a practice cartoon strip or just a cartoon. To do this draw a couple panels with a straightedge. (at best try a ruler)
6
Start drawing a finished cartoon! Just remember, draw outlines first, THEN color with colored pencils, markers, crayons, paint, glitter, etc. You might want to draw how big you're making the cartoon; such as " 11' 4', 3' 5', etc.
7
If your cartoon doesn't cover the whole piece of paper, then cut it out! You can tape it, glue it, staple it, ETC. anywhere you want!
8
After you are completely done with your cartoon, you can show it to family and friends!
9
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I do a cartoon of the big bang?

Community Answer

You can start out by researching pictures of galaxies and space on the internet. Read some descriptions of the event, too. After that, you can start out with some sketches and see where the drawing takes you.
Question

What kind of paint should I use?

Community Answer

It is best to use acrylic paint, as it will not bleed through your paper or your drawn lines.
Question

What if I don't have a pen?

Community Answer

You could also darken and make it more bold by pressing the pencil harder.

Warnings

Draw outlines first. If you don't you'll waste a TON of paper.

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Do not pay attention to people that insult you about your drawing skills.

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