How to Draw a Penguin in 2 Simple Styles

Learning how to draw a penguin in cartoon style is a great way to start. Cartoon penguins have simple shapes and look cheerful. This style is perfect for greeting cards, decorations, or just for fun practice.

Step 1: Draw the Body

Start by drawing a large oval shape in the middle of your paper. Make it stand up tall, not lying flat. This oval will be the penguin's body. The bottom of the oval should be wider than the top. Leave some space above this oval for the head.

Step 2: Add the Head

Draw a smaller circle on top of the body oval. The circle should touch the top of the body. Make sure the head is about one-third the size of the body. This circle will be the penguin's head.

Step 3: Draw the Belly

Inside the body oval, draw another oval shape. This inner oval should start below the head and end near the bottom. It should be smaller than the body oval. This will be the penguin's white belly. Keep it in the center of the body.

Step 4: Add the Eyes

Draw two small circles on the head for eyes. Place them in the upper half of the head circle. Leave space between them. Inside each eye circle, draw a tiny filled circle for the pupils. You can add small white dots inside the pupils to make the eyes look shiny.

Step 5: Draw the Beak

Between and below the eyes, draw a small triangle. The point of the triangle should face down. This is the beak. Make it orange or yellow when you color it. The beak should not be too big.

Step 6: Add the Flippers

On each side of the body, draw a long oval shape. These ovals should be thin and curved slightly. They start from the upper part of the body and point down toward the ground. These are the penguin's flippers or wings.

Step 7: Draw the Feet

At the bottom of the body, draw two small oval shapes for feet. They should be flat and wide. Add three small lines on each foot to show the toes. Penguins have webbed feet, so the toes look connected.

Step 8: Add Final Details

Draw a curved line inside each flipper to show depth. You can add two small curved lines above the eyes to show eyebrows. This makes your penguin look happy or surprised. Erase any extra lines you don't need.

Step 9: Color Your Penguin

Color the body and head black. Leave the belly white. Make the beak and feet orange or yellow. Now your cartoon penguin is complete!

After mastering the cartoon style, learning how to draw a penguin that looks more realistic is the next challenge. Realistic penguins have more details and natural proportions. Don't worry – this method is still simple enough for beginners to follow.

Step 1: Create the Basic Shape

Draw a large egg shape on your paper. Make it stand upright with the narrow end pointing up. This egg shape will be the main body of your penguin. The bottom should be rounder and heavier than the top.

Step 2: Add the Head and Neck

At the top of the egg shape, draw a smaller oval for the head. Tilt it slightly forward. Connect the head to the body with two curved lines on each side. These lines create the neck. Keep the neck short and smooth.

Step 3: Draw the Belly Pattern

From the neck area, draw a curved line that goes down through the middle of the body. Then draw another curved line that mirrors the first one. These two lines create a shape like a teardrop. This area will be the white part of the penguin's front.

Step 4: Add the Eye

Draw a small circle on the head for the eye. Place it in the upper half of the head, slightly to the side. Add a smaller filled circle inside for the pupil. Real penguins have dark eyes, so color it black. Add a tiny white spot for the light reflection.

Step 5: Draw the Beak

From the front of the head, draw a long triangle shape. Make it point slightly downward. Real penguin beaks are longer than cartoon ones. Add a line across the beak to show the top and bottom parts. The beak should look strong and curved at the end.

Step 6: Create the Flippers

On each side of the body, draw a long, narrow shape. These shapes should be thicker at the top where they connect to the body. They get thinner as they go down. Curve them slightly backward. Real penguin flippers look like long paddles.

Step 7: Add the Feet and Legs

At the bottom of the body, draw two short, thick legs. They should stick out toward the front. At the end of each leg, draw large feet. Each foot has three long toes pointing forward and one small toe pointing backward. Draw lines to separate the toes clearly.

Step 8: Add Feather Details

Draw small curved lines along the flippers to show feather texture. Add a few lines on the back of the body too. Don't add too many lines – just enough to show the feathers. Real penguins have smooth, tight feathers.

Step 9: Add Shadows and Final Touches

Draw small curved lines under the belly to show shadow. Add a line where the head meets the body to show depth. You can draw small marks around the eyes if you want to show the yellow or white patches that some penguin species have.

Step 10: Color and Finish

Color the back, head, and flippers dark black or blue-black. Leave the belly area white. Make the beak dark gray or black with some orange at the base. Color the feet dark gray. Add light shading on the white belly to make it look round. Your realistic penguin is now finished!