Are you an artist who has been honing in your craft for quite some time, but are still not confident when it comes to drawings in a cartoon style?
Whether you’re preparing for a semester of animation school or you have a general interest in cartoons, you’re going to want to pay attention to this list.
We’ve put together our favorite cartoon drawing tutorials for you to follow along with at home. So, get your pencils out, and let’s dive in!
What is Cartoon Drawing?
You may think that every kind of drawing is a cartoon, but that is not technically the case. A cartoon is a specific kind of drawing that is intended to be unrealistic or semi-realistic. They can sometimes be caricatures of a person but can also be animals or objects. Someone who draws cartoons can be called a “cartoonist”.
Unlike drawings, which can be used for many different types of artistic purposes, cartoons are usually used for entertainment of some kind, such as in movies, tv shows, or comic books. However, like all types of art, cartoons can serve many different purposes — a lot of their beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Our favorite cartoon drawing tutorials
Dinosaur
It’s been a very long time since dinosaurs once roamed the earth, but despite this they still somehow manage to occupy an important place in all of our consciousness. Dinosaurs also make a perfect candidate for a cartoon-style drawing, especially if the project that you’re working on takes place in the prehistoric age. Check out a tutorial here.
Snail
Snails are a common character in many different cartoons, where they are usually portrayed as slow and steady (and there’s no denying that snails do take a while to get from point A to B). To draw a cartoon snail, you are going to want to make sure that you draw cute, bold antennas and a large shell. Here’s how.
Eyes
The way that eyes are drawn can make or break a cartoon. If you want to become a skilled cartoon artist, you are going to want to perfect the way that you draw eyes. Here is a good tutorial to start with if you want to practice your cartoon eye drawing.
Bird
Birds are another common cartoon character. From a wise owl to a cunning crow, it seems like just about every type of bird has made an appearance in a cartoon at some point. Here is how you can draw the perfect cartoon bird.
Mermaid
Mermaids are one of the most common mythical creatures in the world. However, while you can draw a “realistic mermaid” — as realistic as they can be, at least, as they don’t exist — it is way more fun to draw a cartoon-style mermaid. Here is a tutorial that we really love.
Ladybug
In some cultures, ladybugs are symbols of good luck. Even if they don’t actually bring good luck with them, there’s no denying that they’re one of the most beautiful bugs that nature has to offer. It’s no surprising then that ladybugs look great as a cartoon — you can see it in action here.
Dolphin
Dolphins are known for being one of the most intelligent animals out there. You can draw your own very smart dolphin by following this lovely tutorial. Dolphins just look so cute in cartoon form!
Bow
One of the best parts about a cartoon drawing is the fact that you can get away with exaggerated features. For example, if you want to give one of your characters a bow, why not go all out and draw a huge cartoon bow as seen here?
Cat
Cats are one of the most common animals to “cartoonify”, and there’s no denying that there has been no shortage of feline characters in cartoons over the years. You yourself can draw an adorable cartoon cat by following this tutorial.
Watermelon
Who says that fruit can’t be represented in cartoon form? If you are looking to draw some cartoon food, then this is a good place to start. It’s a big juicy watermelon that’s perfect for summertime.
Lion
Lions are the king of the jungle, and you can draw yourself a cartoon lion by following this tutorial. Don’t forget to add a speech bubble so that you can make them give a big “rawr!”
Mouse
Mice have always been represented frequently in movies and tv, where they are usually portrayed as a mischievous character who lives in the walls and sneaks out only to fetch some cheese (fun fact: did you know that mice don’t actually love the taste of cheese, and will only eat it if there is nothing else around?) Now you know. Here’s how you can draw a cartoon mouse.
Llama
This cartoon llama is just as cute as the real thing, except that it won’t spit at you if you get too close. That’s a win-win if you ask us. Llamas have increased in popularity in recent years, and we’re not complaining. They make for a great character in any story.
Pizza
One of the best parts about drawing in a cartoon style is that your drawings don’t have to be realistic — in fact, in many ways, the less realistic, the better. This means that, if you want, you can even personify a pizza by giving it human features and a personality! Here’s how to draw a cartoon pizza.
Squirrel
Squirrels may be one of the most common animals that we see every single day, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be given the chance to be made into adorable cartoon characters. Here’s how you can draw a squirrel in the cartoon style.
Giraffe
Giraffes are remarkable creatures who are surprisingly peaceful for their size. As the tallest animal on the safari, they have few predators and are herbivores themselves. Here is how you can draw yourself a very cute cartoon giraffe.
Bear
It may be scary to come across a real bear in the wilderness, but cartoon bears are nothing but cute and fluffy. Here is how you can easily draw your very own cartoon bear.
Turtle
Turtles are such a cute and gentle animals! They also look great as cartoon characters. You can draw one by following this do-it-yourself tutorial here.
Hedgehog
Drawing a hedgehog is as easy as can be, especially when you’re drawing one in a cartoon style! It can be hard to get the hang of cartoon drawing, but sometimes the style can also be quite forgiving because it allows you to forego a lot of details that otherwise make drawing complicated. Check out how you can draw a cartoon hedgehog with this tutorial.
Snake
Ah, it’s a slithering snake! Just kidding, it’s just a cartoon. Even if you’re not a big snake fan, you can’t deny that this cartoon is pretty adorable.
Drawing in a cartoon style isn’t easy, but once you get the hang of it it’ll be hard to imagine doing anything else. We wish you the best of luck with your cartoon drawings!