Sometimes, expressing yourself is hard. Whether it’s conveying the words you need to say or the emotions you’re feeling, it can be difficult. But when you create a cartoon character that looks just like you, you have an outlet for being who you really are in a fun, imaginative way. It’s true – when you draw yourself as a cartoon, you put a bit of your soul onto the page, and there’s no stopping the creativity then.
To get started with your own cartoon self, you’ll need to do some introspection. Consider who you are and what your inner self is projecting. Make a list of your favorite colors, whether you prefer a certain style of dress, and the types of accessories you normally don. This is the base of your cartoon creation.
From there, you can decide whether to remodel or not. Do you want an oversized head with huge eyes or a more realistic version? Depending on what type of expression you want to convey, you can adjust accordingly. For instance, if you are feeling bold and unapologetic, louder designs like hair and accessories may express that better than a toned down version of yourself. On the other hand, if you’re feeling shy and introverted, your cartoon self might be a bit more subdued.
When it comes to actually drawing your cartoon version of yourself, it is best to go with what you know. If you are a novice to the art world, pick up a pencil and paper and start sketching. Use shapes, lines and color to bring your vision to life. Or, if you are a more experienced artist, use digital tools such as Adobe Photoshop or Procreate to make your cartoon come alive with its own intricately designed features.
Finally, show your work! When you are done forming your cartoon self, share it with the world. Whether you make a Facebook post or become an Instagram star, there is no limit to the ways you can put the creativity you have unleashed into the spotlight. And in this way, your cartoon self will have become the face of something bigger — you.
Bringing Out the Details
Taking the time to bring out details in your cartoon self can make it look more unique and unique it becomes, the more personal it is. One way to make your cartoon stand out is to add more to it than just your body, like a dynamic and interesting background that mirrors your thoughts and feelings, a particular color palette, or even objects that relate to the story of your cartoon world.
You can even dress your cartoon self in outlandish clothing and accessorize the look with extra details like jewelry or a headband. The more unique and creative the details, the more it can be a reflection of the real you. Plus, it can make your cartoon self look much different from the majority of cartoons.
It may take a bit of practice to see your ideas come to life, but the freedom you feel when you have sketched out a beloved version of yourself is worth the effort. So try it—it may just ignite a fire in your life in ways you didn’t think imaginable.
Adding Expressions & Flair
Adding an emotive facial expression can say much about the thoughts and feelings of your cartoon self. Smiling, frowning, winking – any facial expression will give a personality to your cartoon self and tell a story, even if it’s just a piece of paper.
You can even make your cartoon self more humorous, by adding captions and sound effects. If you’re feeling more artistic, you can use this to bring out your creative side, creating artwork in the form of a comic book showing your cartoon self living the adventures of their life.
From the hair on their head to their fingertips, your cartoon self should be a lively, vibrant expression of yourself. While your friends will look at it and chuckle, you’ll know there’s a deep personal story inciting each of the doodles you have put on the page.
Visualizing Your Strengths & Weaknesses
Cartoons are a great way to graphically express your inner struggles and hidden strengths. You can take the time to consider characters who represent some of the strengths you have and create those characters in the form of your cartoon.
For example, if you’re feeling a bit unfocused, use a character to represent your lack of focus. Or, if you feel empowered and strong, you can incorporate that into your cartoon design. When you draw your cartoon self as an extension of you, it can be immense in not just conveying a message, but helping to shape it as well.
By making characters you’re attached to, it can be representative of yourself, helping you to make decisions in life that are more aligned with who you are and what you want in the world. Even if you create crazy characters, they can be meaningful and help express those feelings you don’t always have the words for.
Having Fun & Celebrating Yourself
It can be incredibly rewarding to draw yourself as a cartoon, as it shows you in self-made form. Who better to represent you than you, right? It is indeed a fun way of expressing your many different sides and even your weirdest quirks. Think of it as an opportunity to let loose, show off a bit and stretch your creative boundaries.
Plus, when you draw yourself as a cartoon, you get to plan out the look of it down to the minutest detail. You decide the color of the eyes, the shape of their nose, and the way their hair flows. All of this can make for a comical yet powerful expression of your inner self.
At its core, creating yourself as a cartoon is about really being yourself and sharing that with the world. It’s about being in control of the narrative about you and being able to express without filter. So, relax and draw your cartoon self in a way that reflects who you are and also welcomes your most fantastical features.
