Cartoon Drawing: For The Absolute Beginner!

Transform stick figures into three-dimensional cartoon characters by turning circles into spheres and cylinders into limbs. Apply gentle bends and step-by-step geometric shaping to create a more believable look.

Learn about essential drawing tools, including 110 lb cardstock, vellum for inking, precision pencils (2H), Micron pens, erasers, a compass, circle stencil, and a transparent ruler.

Learn to draw basic 3D shapes, cylinders, spheres, cones, and pyramids, in space using perpendicular lines, contour lines, and shading to add depth and show shapes turning toward the viewer.

Learn to use cone shapes to create spikes and a tilting illusion on shells, drawing cones around a circle from multiple perspectives and practicing cubes with tilted front faces.

Learn to construct a cartoon character by blocking simple geometric shapes, using an S-shaped spine, rounded limbs, and a three-quarter stance for Tommy Tune.

Master the fundamentals of drawing cartoon hands and fists by shaping fingers as curved sausages, defining the thumb muscle, and refining guidelines for overlap and clean lines.

Flip the page to spot mistakes and adjust Tommy Toon's hands and feet, then ink on vellum to finish two drawings in a traditional medium.