How to Draw a Cartoon Panda
cartoon pandas can be one of the most fun characters to draw with their huge eyes and fuzzy fur. Whether you’re an aspiring comic artist or just want to make a cute card for someone you love, drawing cartoon pandas is something very achievable even if you’re a beginner. All it takes is practice, patience, and a bit of creativity!
Start by lightly sketching out the basic shape of the panda. You can be pretty loose with the shape, imagining it like a stuffed animal come to life. Make sure to include their two distinct black eyes, nose, ears, and big black patches around their eyes. This will be your panda’s basic body, but it does not have to be perfect since cartoon characters are allowed to be a bit imperfect!
Now, begin to fill in the features of the panda. Black fur should cover their ears, eyes, nose, and tail. The belly, head, and muzzle should be a soft white. Some cartoon pandas have pink cheeks for an added bit of cuteness – feel free to add these in if you wish! Once you have the basic colors filled in, it’s time to make your panda pop with shading and details.
Adding in shading and details will bring life to your cartoon panda. Make sure to use light, quick strokes and take care to not overpower the drawing. Try to imagine how felted fur would look on the body and draw that in. However, some pandas have a bit of “baby fur” so make sure to take that into account as well. Additionally, make sure to include features like black spots on the butt, legs, feet and any other details that make your character unique.
After you finish all the details, you can use an eraser to tidy up any areas that need it, such as dark fur around the eyes or lines that need to be made smooth. Lastly, take a step back and look at your cartoon panda! Was this your goal when you started? If it looks the way you want, then you have just successfully drawn your own cartoon panda.
Adding a background to your cartoon panda can bring it to life even further. Which environment would this character thrive in? A bamboo forest? Sitting in a pond? Create whatever background scene you would like, as long as it honors your vision for the character.
Creating an expression for your cartoon panda is the last part of the process. Are they playing with a friend? Sad? Greeting a stranger? Pick whatever emotion you want and set the mood for your character. You can draw the features of the face differently for any expression, for example, big eyes for curiosity, wide eyes for surprise, or droopy eyes for sadness.
Finally, let your creative juices flow and have fun with your cartoon panda! Create a story around them or draw a comic strip – the possibilities are endless if you use your imagination. Creating art is an opportunity to express yourself fully and make something beautiful, so enjoy it.
