How To Draw Cartoon Penguin

The penguin, with its distinctive waddle and sleek appearance, is a fascinating creature that has captured the hearts of people worldwide. Found predominantly in the Southern Hemisphere, penguins are known for their unique adaptations to the cold and often harsh environments they inhabit. Penguins are flightless birds that belong to the family Spheniscidae. While their exact evolutionary origins are still a subject of scientific study, it is believed that penguins evolved from a common ancestor shared with other bird species around 60 million years ago. 

The Cartoon Penguin, with its adorable appearance and charming personality, has become an iconic figure in the world of animation and illustration. This lovable character has won the hearts of people of all ages, captivating audiences with its endearing antics and humorous adventures. Cartoon penguins are adorable and fun to draw, and in this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of creating your very own cute and lovable penguin character.

 How To Draw Cartoon Penguin   

Ensure you have the following supplies ready:
Pencils: A variety of graphite pencils for sketching and shading.
Erasers: Regular erasers for precision.
Paper: High-quality paper or a sketchbook.
Reference images: Gather images of the character.

Step 1 –  Draw the Eyes

 Cartoon Penguin Drawing Step 1 

Start by drawing a circle in the middle of your paper for the penguin’s first eye. Draw another circle next to the first one for the second eye. Inside each eye, add smaller circles to represent the reflection. Color the bigger circles in the eyes, but leave the smaller circles white.

Step 2 – Adding Facial Details

 Cartoon Penguin Drawing Step 2

 Below the eyes, draw a small curved line for the beak. Make it slightly pointed at the end to give it a characteristic penguin look.  Start from the side of the eye and draw a “U” shape that comes over to the other side, forming the penguin’s body. Add a curved line over the top of the body, connecting both sides.

Step 3 – Complete the Face

 Cartoon Penguin Drawing Step 3

Draw a small “U” shape at the top, between the eyes. Picture the round body we’ve already drawn and imagine another “U” shape around it, connecting both sides. This “U” shape will define the outline of our penguin’s body, making it look even more huggable and cuddly. Carefully draw this additional “U” shape, encompassing the body of our penguin.

Step 4 – Drawing the Wings

 Cartoon Penguin Drawing Step 4

It’s time to draw the penguin’s wings so that it can glide through the icy waters with ease. To draw the wings, imagine two graceful curves extending outward from the penguin’s body. These curves will be the wings that will make our penguin look extra adorable. Since penguins are more at home in the water than in the sky, their wings are smaller compared to other birds. This makes them perfect for swimming swiftly and diving deep into the ocean to catch yummy fish. When drawing the wings, remember to keep them nice and short. We want the wings to stay close to the penguin’s body, hugging it tightly like a cozy winter sweater.

Step 5 – Draw the feet

 Cartoon Penguin Drawing Step 5

Now, let’s focus on the bottom part of our penguin, where its cute little feet will come to life. Imagine two “V” shapes at the bottom, right where our penguin’s feet should be. These “V” shapes will represent our penguin’s adorable feet, perfect for sliding on ice and exploring its chilly habitat

Step 6 – Add extra details

 Cartoon Penguin Drawing Step 6

How about giving your penguin some fabulous eyelashes? Penguins have big, beautiful eyes, and adding long, fluttery eyelashes will make your penguin look even more adorable! You can draw the eyelashes as tiny curved lines above the eyes, making them stand out like delicate little fans. Let’s make our penguin even more colorful and lively by adding some lovely flowers. Penguins might not see flowers in their icy habitats, but in our imagination, anything is possible!

Step 7 – Draw the iceberg

 Cartoon Penguin Drawing Step 7

Now, let’s shift our focus to the background of our drawing, where we’ll bring an icy iceberg to life. Can you imagine a frosty world, where our penguin can slide, play, and make new friends? Wonderful! picture our penguin in the center and imagine a small line extending outward on each side. These lines will be the starting point of our magnificent iceberg. From each line, a sideways “M” or “W” shape forms, connecting back inward to create the top of the iceberg. These shapes will give our iceberg a unique and jagged appearance, just like a real frozen wonderland.

Step 8 – Finish the iceberg

 Cartoon Penguin Drawing Step 8

There’s more to add! Let’s make our iceberg even more realistic. Imagine drawing zigzag lines at the bottom of the iceberg, creating a jagged and icy edge. Connect these lines to form a solid base for our frozen masterpiece. Picture the edges of our iceberg and imagine drawing lines to connect them. These lines will give our iceberg a three-dimensional appearance. Carefully draw these zigzag lines, giving our iceberg a frosty foundation. Draw lines to connect the edges of the iceberg, making it look 3D.

Step 9 – Let’s Color!

 Cartoon Penguin Drawing Step 9

Now comes the fun part – adding color! Penguins are typically black and white, but feel free to get creative with different shades and patterns. Use black for the body, wings, and head, leaving the belly area white. Add a touch of orange or yellow for the beak and feet to make them stand out. Penguins have adorable little feet that are a bright and cheerful yellow. Imagine the sun shining down on your penguin’s feet as you color them in with a lovely shade of yellow. How about adding a delightful touch of whimsy to your penguin? Picture a charming flower blooming on top of your penguin’s head. What color should it be? Let’s make it a lovely shade of pink! Imagine the flower petals gently swaying in the breeze as your colorful penguin explores its icy world. 

Your  Cartoon Penguin  Is Complete!

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to draw a cartoon penguin. Remember to practice and experiment with different poses, accessories, and colors to make your penguin uniquely yours. Drawing cartoon penguins can be a joyful and rewarding experience, allowing you to express your creativity and bring smiles to others. If you want to take your drawing to the next level, you can add some shading to create depth. Use a darker shade of gray or black to add shadows under the wings, around the eyes, and in other areas that would naturally have less light.

Tips On How To Draw Cartoon Penguin 

Consider adding other cute characters or props, such as fish, scarves, or winter hats, to create a narrative or theme in your drawings.

While black and white are traditional colors for penguins, feel free to use your imagination and experiment with different color combinations to make your cartoon Penguin stand out.

Penguins can be drawn in various poses, such as waddling, swimming, or sliding on their bellies. Explore different poses to add dynamism and personality to your penguin drawings.

FAQ On How To Draw Cartoon Penguin 

What are some other fun characters or objects I can draw alongside my penguin?

You can draw other Arctic animals, like polar bears or seals, to create a winter-themed scene. Additionally, you can include objects like icebergs, snowflakes, or a hot cocoa mug to add more elements to your drawing.