How to Draw a Cartoon Elephant
The same creature can be drawn in an infinite number of styles, and now you will see this and learn how to draw a cartoon elephant.
In this tutorial, I will show you how to draw a cartoon elephant. This is the largest land animal on our planet. We know that elephants are very intelligent and calm animals and only in rare cases can they show aggression.
The elephant has big ears and a long trunk, tusks, and thick legs. Elephants seem slow and clumsy, but in fact, these animals can develop great speed, and elephants can also swim well.
In this lesson, I’ll continue the elephant drawing tutorial and sketch this animal in a cartoon style. In fact, this is a cute little elephant. You can easily draw this animal if you consistently follow all the steps and use small tips. Here you will need your ability to draw smooth lines. Be patient and careful at every step to get a great result.
Materials
- Pencil
- Paper
- Eraser
- Coloring supplies
Time needed: 35 minutes
How to draw a cartoon elephant step by step
- Mark the foundation of the cartoon animal.
Draw two simple overlapping ovals for the body of the cartoon elephant. Sketch a larger one for the body and a smaller, curved one above it for the head. Position the head to the right. Keep the sketch lines light and smooth because you will refine them in the next steps.
- Add the large cartoon eyes.
Start developing the elephant’s face by sketching two large oval eyes near the center of the head. Place them close together and slightly tilted to create a cartoon expression. Inside each eye, add smaller circles for pupils. Cartoon animals have large and anthropomorphic eyes, so try to replicate it in your sketch.
- Sketch the curved trunk and open mouth.
Extend the front of the animal face by sketching the long, curved trunk. Start at the base and stretch it upward, curving it gracefully to the right. The trunk should end in a small rounded tip. Then, below the trunk, illustrate a smiling mouth using two curved lines – one for the upper lip and another for the open mouth area.
- Sketch the eyebrows and trunk texture.
Enhance the expression by adding more detail to the face. Draw short curved lines above the eyes for eyebrows, giving the elephant a cartoony look. On the trunk, sketch a few horizontal wrinkles near its middle and base to show its texture.
- Draw the large elephant ears and hair.
Now outline the large, curved ears that are characteristic of an elephant, especially for cartoon versions. Begin each ear from the upper sides of the head, extending outward and then back toward the body with a broad, sweeping curve. Inside the top of the head, add a few short, curved lines to represent tufts of hair.
- Sketch the front legs and feet.
Extend two vertical shapes from the lower part of the body to form the front legs. Keep them thick and cylindrical to give it a cartoony look. At the bottom of each leg, sketch small rounded toes by adding three semicircles. The feet should appear flat at the base.
- Draw the back legs of the cartoon elephant.
Continue by adding the hind legs to complete the body structure. Draw one leg of the cartoon elephant visible from the back and another slightly behind it to show perspective. Keep their width consistent with the front legs. Add small toenails similar to those on the front feet.
- Add the tail and small body details.
Complete your cartoon elephant drawing by including minor but important features. Sketch a short, thin tail extending from the back of the body, ending with a small tuft of hair. Add several light curved lines on the knees to represent gentle wrinkles in the skin.
- Color the cartoon elephant.
Complete the elephant drawing with color, filling the body of the animal with a light gray tone, keeping the ears a soft pink inside. The trunk, legs, and head should have the same gray base, and the tail tip can be slightly darker. Use a warm brown or dark gray for the eyes and a lighter tone for highlights.
Easy Cartoon Elephant Drawing Tutorial
To draw this version of a cartoon elephant, sketch a large curved line for the head that extends smoothly into the trunk.
Attach a circular line to form the back and continue downward into the hind legs, using simple vertical curves. Add the front legs as shorter, rectangular shapes beneath the head and connect them with a light curved line for the belly.
Outline the ear as a wide oval overlapping the head, and draw the tail with a small curve ending in a short tuft. Place a small oval for the eye and a simple curve above it to illustrate the forehead.
Finish the elephant with lines on the legs to separate the toes and lightly shade the body with gray, keeping the tones smooth and even to preserve the cartoon look.
