In this step-by-step lesson you will learn how to draw King Kong – the most famous gorilla from the world of classic cinematography.

How to Draw King Kong: Introduction

Now I’m going to show you how to draw King Kong in a cute, stylized way using two simple yet completely different methods.

Please note that this tutorial on how to draw King Kong can also be adapted to depict other well-known gorilla characters. For example, you can use the same techniques to draw Gorilla Grodd, Congorilla, or even Donkey Kong from Mario. By the way, you can learn how to draw Mario with my simple tutorial.

I have intentionally simplified the King Kong drawing process so that young artists or beginners do not face any major difficulties while following along. The steps are easy to understand, and I’ve adjusted the character’s proportions to give King Kong a more cute, cartoonish appearance.

To deepen your knowledge and give you more practice, I’ve also created an additional King Kong drawing tutorial. In this extra guide, I provide a different sequence of steps and a unusual visual style to further train your drawing skills. You can study both methods to see which of them works best for you.

At the end of the lesson, feel free to add extra details to improve your King Kong drawing. For example, you can create an entire scene by drawing King Kong in different environments. You might want to add a jungle backdrop with trees or sketch some iconic New York skyscrapers.

King Kong Drawing Tutorial

Materials

Pencil
Paper
Eraser
Coloring supplies

Time needed: 30 minutes

How to Draw King Kong

Draw the body and head outline of King Kong.
Draw an oval for the head at the top and a larger, bean-shaped figure for the body below it. These shapes will serve as the foundational structure for the character. Make sure the body is slightly slanted to create a natural stance, as seen in gorillas. Lightly sketch the lines so that they can be easily refined earlier.
Draw the face of the gorilla.
Draw two small circles for the eyes within the head oval. Below the eyes, draw a rounded, simple nose, and under the nose, sketch a curved line for the mouth to give King Kong a cute look. Make sure to keep the proportions cartoonish and simple, with large eyes and a smile.
Finish the head of the character.
Begin by drawing two rounded ears on each side of King Kong’s head, positioned slightly lower than the eye level. Then, refine the shape of the face by drawing smooth contours around the cheeks and jawline, giving the head recognizable gorilla shape.
Sketch the arms and hands.
Draw a broad shoulder that curves into a thick, muscular arm. Then add the second arm using the same method. Gorillas have a very robust build, so keep the arms large. After that, draw the hand in a typical gorilla position using simple geometric shapes.
Add the legs and feet.
Now, move to the lower body and draw King Kong’s legs. His legs should be large and rounded, matching the bulky style of the arms. Draw the legs with simple curves. Then, add the feet, with simple shapes that hint at gorilla-like toes.
Illustrate the neck and back.
In this step, draw a curved line from the head to the body to represent King Kong’s thick neck and back. After that, detail the chest to give the torso of the character more finished look. In this step, you need to give King Kong’s torso the recognizable inverted triangle shape.
Refine body details.
With the basic shape and limbs in place, now refine the details of King Kong’s body. Focus on adding lines for the chest and additional muscle definition, keeping the style simple and cute. Add some curves to illustrate muscle without overcomplicating the drawing of King Kong.
Finalize the King Kong sketch.
Now, go over your drawing and finalize the outline of King Kong. Smooth out the lines where needed, erasing any unnecessary guidelines. Double-check the proportions of the head, body, arms, and legs, ensuring everything looks finished.
Color King Kong.
Now, let’s add some simple colors to give your King Kong drawing a finished look. Use a basic gray color for the body, which is the typical color for gorillas. After that, use lighter shades of gray for areas like the hands, feet, and face. Color the eyes black with white highlights inside them.

How to Draw King Kong: Alternative Method

This is an alternative method of drawing King Kong, which is simpler and results in a more simplified version of the character. The sequence of steps is also different from the previous method.

Begin by drawing an oval for the head. Below it, draw a large bean shape for the body. Then, sketch the outlines for the legs and arms with straight and curved lines. In the next step, add the basic foot shapes at the bottom of each leg. Afterward, outline the shape of King Kong’s chest and refine the arms and legs.

Draw small round ears on both sides of the head, and create the facial contour inside the head, leaving space for the features. Next, draw the eyes with two simple slanted lines. Add the nose and mouth, ensuring the face remains simple and cartoonish. Refine the body and facial details as needed. Once the outline is complete, add color, using dark grays or black for the body and lighter shades for the face and chest to finish the King Kong drawing.

Alternative King Kong Worksheets

Conclusion

By following two simple methods, you’ve now learned how to create a basic yet recognizable version of King Kong. Feel free to experiment with colors or add background elements like a jungle scene or skyscrapers. Keep practicing, and you’ll continue to improve your drawing skills.

If you enjoy drawing animals, check out my tutorial on how to draw a gorilla, which is created in a very simple style. Additionally, if you’re a fan of movie characters, visit my movie category to learn how to draw characters from the most iconic films in a simplified style.