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You are here: Home / Character Design / How do you draw cartoon dinosaurs?

How do you draw cartoon dinosaurs?

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 14

You may have noticed that I have an unhealthy interest in dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. One of the questions I always get asked is ‘How do you draw cartoon dinosaurs’?

Let’s face it, dinosaurs are just AWESOME! From a young age, I found them absolutely fascinating and I always remember seeing a picture of the Age of Reptiles mural in a school book and recreating my own versions in biro on giant lengths of wallpaper!


How to draw cartoon dinosaurs

With the Tyrannosaurus Rex being the coolest (with stegosaurus a close second…), I’ve put together a simple how to draw a cartoon dinosaur guide right here on my blog!

Follow my simple dinosaur drawing guide to create a cartoon Tyrannosaurus using a series of basic shapes, joined with some lines.

To begin… You will need:

  • Some paper
  • A pencil
  • An eraser
  • An ink pen or felt tip
  • Colouring pens or pencils
cartoon velociraptor dinosaur

Step 1: A line of action

First, we begin with a simple line of action. This is a wavy line that forms the basic direction and energy of our dinosaur character. Draw this in lightly with your pencil – make this as wavy or straight as you’d like.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 1

Step 2: The head, neck and back

Our next step is to build up our dinosaur using some basic shapes; rectangles, circles and triangles.

Begin by adding a rectangle at one end of the wavy line for his head. Moving down the wavy line, add two circles – one for the shoulder and a larger one for the hips. The rest of the wavy line will then form his tail.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 2

Step 3: Adding a leg

Next, we’ll add a leg. This is done by lightly drawing a zig-zag shape, starting at the middle of the larger circle and pointing downwards. Add a small rectangle to the bottom to form a foot.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 3

Step 4: Add an arm

Ok, we all know that Tyrannosaurus had teeny-tiny arms (but we won’t hold that against him)! Take your pencil and draw a small v-shape from the middle of your small circle. Finally, add a small circle to the end of the v-shaped line.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 4

Step 5: Adding inks

Ok, now pick up your ink pen – we’re going to bring the sketch to life! We’ll start with the head, using the rectangle as a guide. Start at the top and round off the corners to form a snout and add a small bump where the eye will go.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 5

Step 6

Next, draw a wavy line where the mouth will go, with a matching lower jaw and continue round underneath to create his jaw.

Once you’ve drawn the head, begin a new line from the back of the head and follow your pencil lines down to the tip of the tail, making sure to follow the curves of your two circles to form the shoulders and hips.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 6

Step 7

Next, we’ll draw in the leg and foot using a series of simple curved ‘C’ shapes. Use the zig-zag shape as a guide. Draw a curve on either side of the top of your zig-zag.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 7

Step 8

Next, draw a small ‘c’ shape on the front for his knee, followed by another curve on the back of his leg. Draw a second line on the front.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 8

Step 9

Next, draw in a curve on top of the foot, with some deadly triangular claws on the front – remember, Tyrannosaurus has three toes! Join the knee to the foot with two straight lines.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 9

Step 10

Next, we’ll draw in the rest of his tail. Start at the tip of his tail (where your other line is) and curve back underneath towards his leg.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 10

Step 11

He’ll need some arms now! Remember how you drew his legs? Well, we’ll use a similar method here. We’ll draw two curved lines to make the upper arm. Next, draw two straighter lines for his lower arm to meet the circle. Finally, add two fingers to the circle to form his hand.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 11

Step 12

Now fill in the gaps between the leg and arm and create a belly for your dinosaur. Then add one more curvy line for his neck up towards his chin.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 12

Step 13

Take your eraser and carefully rub out all of the light pencil guides and you’ll be left with just your ink outlines.

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 13

14: Adding in the details!

Yippee, we’re almost there! Now it’s time to add in some final touches and details. Take your ink pen and draw in some small triangles for the teeth, a small tear-drop shape for a nostril and a big round eye!

Add a wavy line down his body for his belly too! If you haven’t already, add in some claws on the fingers and toes too!

How to draw cartoon dinosaurs step 14

Can I draw you some cartoon dinosaurs?

If you feel my cartoon dinosaurs could aid your business or project, please get in touch!

Let’s draw something roarsome!

Filed Under: Character Design, Dinosaurs, How To Draw, Illustration, Prehistoric

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