Art Lesson Plan: Drawing Cartoon Animals

How to Draw Cartoon Animals

Here's a fun, creative project that combines drawing skills with imagination! With Thanksgiving around the corner, why not create some funny cartoon turkeys for place cards at the holiday table?

The supplies for this project are included in the following Masterpiece Art Instruction Kits:

Soft Pastel Kit
Multimedia Kit
Multimedia JUNIOR Kit

Supplies:

Photo of an animal, insect or fish (See below for a few ideas)
Coloring Medium, such as pastels, colored pencils or crayons
White drawing paper
Colored construction paper
Pencil with eraser

1. Choose an animal photo that you like.

2. Sketch the animal on the white paper with the pencil:

a. Start by drawing circles (or ovals) for the head, body and limbs.
b. Connect the shapes and correct the outline.

3. Now that you have a "basic" animal, add some "human features" to
it like eyes and lips. Create a funny expression on its face!

4. How about adding some accessories like glasses, a hat or jewelry?

5. Now, either transfer * this drawing or redraw it onto the colored construction paper.

6. Color it in with the medium of your choice.

7. Outline the animal in a stylish way in black. The lines do not have to all connect perfectly! (Use a charcoal pencil for outlining if you used soft pastels.)

Here are some samples from my students:

* How to Transfer a Drawing:

1. Turn over the drawing and blacken the back of it by rubbing the side of a pencil tip all over it.

2. Turn it back over and tape it down onto the second piece of paper.

3. Using a sharp pencil, re-trace each line, pressing hard.

4. Remove the top sheet and you will have your drawing transferred onto the new paper.

Here are some animal photos to use or go the ARS website for more animal pictures:

	Photo by Keith Weller, courtesy of ARS

	Photo by Keith Weller, courtesy of ARS

	Photo by Scott Bauer, courtesy of ARS