Drawing Cartoons

Are you interested in drawing cartoons? On this page, there are some basic cartoon animals to copy. They were easy to draw because there's lots of white space to simplify the drawings.

Practice drawing a cartoon landscape and try using these animals as a feature in your drawings.

When you're copying any drawing, decide which line you'd like to start with.

Let's say you choose to start with the top of the head. (If you're right-handed, start at the top left of any drawing to prevent the risk of smudging.)

Ok, copy the head to your satisfaction.

Before putting in the next line, look carefully at where it begins, in relation to the first line.

This is a good habit to get into, it is worth the time to put this study into practice.

Don't hesitate to keep erasing until you're pleased with your sketch. I use photocopy paper a lot and it seems to stand up to a fair bit of abuse from my eraser. Of course, it helps if you don't press too hard.

There is a page about the type of drawing supplies you need to start this artistic hobby.

Once you get the hang of drawing cartoons, you can create your own comic book if you like.

Have a look at the simplicity of the sketches in comic books. If this is where your heart lies, you will improve by studying everything you can lay your hands on.

I look through all books searching for outlines that would be easy to copy with minimum or no details.

This funny monkey drawing may look like it's too hard for a beginner artist but it isn't hard at all.

I have put more detail on the branch than the monkey.

Even if you first suspect a drawing may be too hard to copy, push those boundaries and give it one go anyway. That way you can measure what stage you are up to with your drawing progress.

It would be hard to imagine us getting tired of drawing cartoons because they are such good fun to do and a pleasure to view.

Try not to stress even if you can't get the cartoon to look the way you want it to.

Also, don't worry about how many drawings you have to do to get it right, you should be enjoying yourself and that's the most important thing.

When you've made a good mess of attempt number one, move straight on to attempt number two. Remember that you are doing this for you, you are the only one that you have to please right now.

If you get too frustrated, just start drawing something that you love to draw.

Try not to put your drawing down when you're annoyed. That feeling will stay with you and you'll find a reluctance to pick up your pencils again. I guess you could compare that to a wise old saying that Mum quoted to us all the time:

Observe and Learn

Have fun drawing cartoons.

When you are drawing a cartoon, you are also practicing drawing.

These cartoon animals will provide a good clear outline so you can focus on where lines begin and end.

If you learn this observation skill, it will put you in good stead for the rest of your drawing life. Happy cartooning!