MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:

How to draw a rose
How to draw a dragon
How to draw a horse
NEW: How to draw a wolf
NEW: How to draw a betta fish
How to draw animals from pears
How to draw an owl
How to draw a cat
How to draw animals from alphabets
How to draw a frog
How to draw a parrot
How to draw a bird
How to draw a butterfly
How to draw a sheep
How to draw a pig
How to draw a swan
How to draw a penguin
How to draw a peacock
How to draw a lion
How to draw a rabbit
How to draw a cow
How to draw a dachshund
How to draw a seahorse
How to draw a tiger
How to draw a kitten
How to draw a monkey
How to draw a unicorn
How to draw a phoenix

How to draw a deer
How to draw a squirrel
How to draw a crocodile
How to draw a dinosaur
How to draw a whale
How to draw a duck
How to draw a giraffe
How to draw a snail
How to draw a koala
How to draw an angelfish
How to draw an elephant
How to draw a griffin
How to draw a walrus
How to draw a cocker spaniel
How to draw a poodle
How to draw a donkey
How to draw a chicken
How to draw a rooster
How to draw a porcupine
How to draw a kangaroo
How to draw a bear
How to draw a mouse
How to draw an octopus
How to draw a turkey
How to draw a goat
How to draw a camel
How to draw a hippo
How to draw a possum
How to draw a rhino
How to draw a centaur

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How to Draw Cartoons > How to draw cartoon animals

Animals are like people. Or should we say people are like animals? Their skeletons differ chiefly in proportion. They walk differently and they act. . . well, you tell me!

Draw a human being walking on all fours. Show head, neck, spinal column, shoulders, upper and lower arm, elbow, wrist, hand, hips, upper and lower limbs, knee, ankle, heel, foot.

Now draw the skeleton of a dog. You will have to extend the spinal column for the tail, shorten upper and lower arm, as compared to the human, lengthen the distances from ankle or heel to foot, and from wrist to hand. Keep in mind that in walking animals do not put their feet on the ground in the same way people do. Compare human and animal.

Draw skeletons of other animals and compare with the human skeleton on all fours. Add flesh forms, and later the fur. "Dry brush" is a good method to use for representing fur. Dip your brush in ink, then dry it on a blotter. Allow a little of the ink to remain. Spread the brush flat and let the brush ends slowly pass over the paper. Practice until you get the dry brush effect.

Humanizing Animals

The similarity on an emotional level between' people and animals makes interesting source material for the cartoonist. He can crack endless jokes on the subject. Without being too personal he can ridicule both man and beast. He can exaggerate to his heart's content - elongate necks, ears, legs, enlarge eyes to the bursting point. He can make animal grotesques. He can make coy, captivating, lovable animals.

Choose the animal you want to represent. Refer to your "morgue" for a realistic likeness. Make a simple sketch of the animal as he naturally is. Take careful note of comparative proportions of body parts-head, neck, ears, legs, etc. You will exaggerate more effectively if you know how it really should be. Memorize the structure of the particular animal you are doing.

Now decide on the pose you want your animal to take. Draw a "rough" of a human being in this position. Don't stop with your first attempt. Keep making it better. If it's the sort of pose a human being wouldn't normally take - couldn't take, draw it anyway. That's your artistic or cartoonist's license. Distort all you like, change body proportions, but in this basic drawing keep the creature human. You'll probably have to rely pretty heavily on your imagination at this point. You may not be able to pose for yourself in the mirror. But you can feel the pose, however unreal it may be.

When you are satisfied with the "human" sketch, draw the major characteristics of the animal, right over your rough human sketch. Distort and exaggerate again if you wish - but keep your animal in character.

Continue to Cartoon personality sketches

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