How to Draw Cartoons

"Cartoons have always been an enjoyment to me... a relaxation... I get my ideas from everyday events." Matthew Ashford

Cartooning is a creative art, it truly is! The cartoon characters that continue to make you live their world are the results of a creative idea in a cartoonist's mind! For beginners, drawing cartoons wouldn't be a tough job if you have the flair for painting and drawing. You definitely will have a creative edge, and the ability that is required to draw cartoons. You obviously wouldn't wish to draw snow white but end up drawing the witch that cursed her! It becomes very important to practice your drawing and sketching skills, and with time you would definitely learn to achieve perfection! Let us now learn to draw cartoons in a proper manner.

Steps to Draw Cartoons

How to draw cartoon characters also depends upon the cartoon character that you choose to draw. It's very important for you to have a mental picture giving you an idea of the shape and details of the cartoon character, in case you are trying to create your own cartoon character. However, if you wish to draw one that already exists, it's best to have a picture of the cartoon character in front of you before you start drawing. This helps you framing a basic outline as well as the minute details involved in the cartoon character.

Step 1: Basic Outline
The first step of drawing a cartoon character is to lightly sketch the basic and prominent shapes that are clearly visible in the cartoon character. For example, if you wish to draw Spongebob Squarepants, then the basic shapes that you will have to sketch would be a square for the face, rectangle for the body and so on. Always use light strokes so that you can easily rub off the error made, if any.

Step 2: Face / Head
After drawing the basic outline of the entire character, the next step is to draw cartoon faces! Always start with the face and head of the cartoon character. Lightly draw the features that highlight the head and the face. The hairstyle, the eyes, the nose, lips..., take help of the picture that you are referring to and stroke in the same manner. It's better to divide the head shape into 4 parts using a light pencil stroke! This would help you place the features at the right location.

Step 3: Make the Strokes Prominent
Till now, all you have done is lightly outlined the basic features of the face! The next step is to outline the curves in the face, like the curve at the nose, lips, chin and so on. Once you are sure of your placements from step 2, this step will involve drawing those features in a permanent manner. The shading for hair, eyes and detailing of the face would be included in this step!

Step 4: The Body
Once you have made the face, come down to the body! Remember, you have started from the head, then moved on to the face, follow the same trend and start with the neck, hands, arms, chest, legs and feet. Draw the shape of the body including the shape of the dress of the cartoon character. Try to notice the way the shape of the lines that are drawn. For example, in case you are drawing a witch, the fingers would be oval shaped, the bottom of the broom would look like the letter 'M' written in an uneven manner. Try to take a note of these shapes and draw likewise!

Step 5: Shading / Coloring
The above 4 steps would complete the process of how to draw a cartoon, but only the shape isn't enough! Once you are satisfied with the overall look of the cartoon in terms of the right shapes, features and correct placements, it's time to give the final touch! Yes, the final touch is shading. Shading brings life to the cartoon character and enhances it's features and the body language of the character! If you are drawing a sketch, then using a well sharped pencil would do the trick. But then, cartoons are lifeless without colors! You can color the cartoon characters using some interesting color combinations of your choice.

Watching someone else definitely makes you think that it is easy to draw cartoons, but it's with constant practicing and step following that the cartoonists have mastered themselves in the art..., and so can you. So, get hold of a pencil and a sketch book, and start practicing now!