How to Draw Your Own Cartoon Character

Reviewed by Jeanine Hattas Wilson

Last Updated: October 14, 2024

Bored? Why not draw your very own cartoon character? Drawing is a great way to relieve boredom, improve self-esteem, develop hand-to-eye coordination, and help your creativity grow. The style has few limits and can bring a character's name to life on the page.

Steps

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Come up with an idea. How about drawing a character from your favorite website? One great place to start is trying to draw a WeeMee from WeeWorld.com
- When you draw the face first, don't add a nose, just do a simple black outline.
- Then, draw the features. Don't use colored pencils, just your main writing utensil.
- Then, add the clothes, and hairstyle. Remember to use your imagination!
- Erase any unwanted lines. Now color with artist utensils, such as paintbrushes, colored pencils, crayons, etc. Remember to add some detail to your character, make it pop out.
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But this time, change around the features. Make the eyes bigger, neon skin, and maybe crazy hair. Try clothes that you would wear, or ones you wish you could get. Change the size around and make the features different ... add a nose, things like that. Now, color your creation.
Notice the difference? One is an imitation -- and the other is all you! Now, grab a new piece of notebook paper.
Maybe you want to draw a cute Labrador Retriever. Or, maybe you want to draw a cute little baby! Your cartoon could even be about a talking apple or something.
Draw the character you imagine. Try using a Sharpie marker for the outline, carefully tracing the pencil first. Erase any stray marks on the piece of paper. Next, use writing utensils such as crayons, markers, colored pencils, or even pastels. Paint works good, too.
Write down an idea of a comic series! Make a plot, funny lines you could use, and other characters.
Make it into about fourths. Next, draw your main character, just using a pencil first.
Outline with Sharpie or black marker. Erase any and all stray marks. Color if wanted.
Your perfect, awesome, totally YOU cartoon! Congratulations!

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I exaggerate the cartoon character?

Community Answer

Exaggerate the character's features by stretching or compressing the nose, mouth, eyes, face, ears etc.

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How do I create a chibi character?

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Make the head big and roundish and the body small and squat, with short chubby arms and legs and small hands and feet. The eyes should be larger than normal, possibly filled with humongous sparkles from reflected light, and the nose and mouth tiny, almost nonexistent (unless the character is screaming or sneezing, etc.). If this is not helpful, you can look for manga drawing guide books at public libraries: those usually have some chibi options.

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What if you want to draw someone that isn't fictional (a real person I know)? Do you do the same?

Community Answer

Yes. And there are plenty of art guidance books found in public libraries that can help with that. Otherwise, you might try looking at a photograph of said person and practicing on it.

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Tips

Don't copy exact cartoons. But remember to make them unique.

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Have Fun.

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Don't be afraid to really have fun with your cartoons!

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Warnings

Remember that if you can fly in your cartoon, chances are you can't in real life. So, don't lose yourself when fantasizing. Leave the too-crazy things for paper and the press.

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Copying other cartoons can get you in trouble if you get serious. Planning on getting a cartoon published? Don't copy others and make sure to tap your creative mind.

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