How To Draw A Person Cartoon

Let’s be honest: drawing a person can feel like trying to fold a fitted sheet—frustrating and full of weird lumps. But a cartoon person? That’s different. Cartoons are forgiving, playful, and they don’t need to look like anyone real. You just need a few simple tricks and a little bit of bravery.

Start with a stick figure (yes, really)

Every great cartoon person begins with a stick figure—the same one you drew in second grade. Make a circle for the head, a straight line for the spine, and little leg lines. The magic is that you can bend these lines to show mood. A slanted spine says "tired," while a bouncy line says "excited."

Think of your stick figure like the skeleton of a new friend. Once you have those simple lines, you’ll feel a little rush of power. You made a person appear from nothing! That’s basically a superpower.

Add some shape (sausages and blobs welcome)

Now, turn those stick arms into sausage shapes. Seriously, round, lumpy shapes make cartoons feel alive. A rectangle body feels stiff, but a soft oval body—like a potato—feels huggable. Use circles for hands and ovals for feet, and don’t worry about fingers yet.

I once drew a cartoon dad with oval legs that looked like two hot dogs. My wife laughed and said, "He runs like a worried penguin." That’s the point: cartoons don’t need to be perfect. They need to make you grin.

The face is where the story lives

For the face, keep it simple. Two dots for eyes, a curved line for a mouth. Change one curve, and the whole mood changes. A smile curves up; a frown curves down; a big "O" mouth means surprise. Add tiny eyebrows—even just little dashes—and you’ll suddenly see shock, anger, or secret delight.

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Imagine your morning coffee: if your cartoon self has droopy eyes and a flat mouth, you’re the "Monday morning" version. But add sparkle dots in the eyes and a big smile, and boom—you’re the "Friday after work" version. You control the weather inside your drawing.

Give them a quirk (we all have one)

What makes each cartoon person special? A quirk. Maybe your character has one giant ear from listening too much, or a cowlick that sticks up like a tiny flag. Maybe they always wear mismatched socks. These little details make them your creation.

I gave my cartoon "Jerry" three tiny freckles and shoes that are too big. Now, every time I draw him, I imagine he’s about to trip over his own feet. Quirks make people care. It’s like seeing a friend’s messy hair—it’s not perfect, but it’s theirs.

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Why even bother? Because you deserve the fun

You might think, "I’m not an artist." But you don’t need to be. Drawing a cartoon person is like doodling in a notebook while on hold with customer service—it’s stress relief disguised as a hobby. It connects your brain to your hand without pressure.

Plus, once you can draw a simple cartoon person, you can leave funny notes for your family, make your own greeting cards, or just entertain yourself during a boring meeting. It’s a tiny escape. And honestly, who doesn’t need more of those?

One last tip: embrace the mistakes

Your first cartoon person might look like a wobbly alien. Fantastic. Aliens have feelings too. The best cartoons are born from "oops" moments—a too-big head becomes a cute bobblehead; a crooked arm becomes a wave.

So grab a pen, any pen. Draw a circle, a line, and some sausages. Soon you’ll have a little character who might just make you smile. You’ve got this. And if your cartoon looks grumpy? Just give them a cup of coffee. Works every time.