How to Draw a Cartoon Alien - a free Cartoon Alien drawing guide
Draw a friendly cartoon alien using simple shapes, pencil, eraser, and markers; design details, add color, and give it a fun personality.
Photos of cartoon alien drawings
Step-by-step guide to draw a cartoon alien
How to Draw an Alien! Step By Step Easy!
Step 1
Decide what kind of friendly alien you want such as happy shy silly or curious.
Step 2
Choose three special features for your alien like number of eyes antenna shape and skin pattern.
Step 3
Lightly draw a simple shape for the head such as a circle oval or triangle.
Step 4
Draw the eyes and mouth to show the personality you chose like big sparkling eyes or a wide smile.
Step 5
Add a body and limbs using simple shapes such as tubes circles or rectangles.
Step 6
Draw the special features you picked like antennae extra arms horns or spots.
Step 7
Sketch a pose or a small accessory that shows personality like a waving hand hat or backpack.
Step 8
Refine your drawing by erasing stray lines and fixing any shapes with your pencil.
Step 9
Trace the final lines with the black marker or a darker pencil to make the outline bold.
Step 10
Color your alien using your coloring materials and choose bright patterns or gradients.
Step 11
Add tiny details like freckles sparkles scales or small textures to make your alien unique.
Step 12
Write a name for your alien and one short sentence that tells about its personality.
Step 13
Share a photo or scan of your finished alien on DIY.org so everyone can see your creation.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a black marker or many coloring materials for tracing and coloring the alien?
Trace your final lines with a darker pencil or a fine-tip pen instead of a black marker, and use colored pencils, crayons, or watered-down watercolor paints as substitutes for markers when coloring your alien.
My drawing looks messy after erasing or the outlines smudge when I trace—how can I fix that?
After erasing stray lines and fixing shapes with your pencil, gently brush away eraser crumbs, let any marker or pen ink fully dry before touching it, and if markers still smudge, trace with a darker pencil instead.
How can I change the activity to suit different age groups working on the head, eyes, limbs, and special features?
For younger kids simplify the steps by using big pre-drawn head shapes and chunky crayons to add eyes, mouth, and a couple of special features, while older kids can draw more complex poses, add tiny details like scales or sparkles, and experiment with shading and gradients.
What are some fun ways to enhance or personalize the alien after coloring and naming it?
Extend the project by sketching a background scene or comic strip showing the alien's personality, adding mixed-media details like glitter or fabric for spots, or scanning and sharing the finished colored alien on DIY.org as the instructions suggest.
Watch videos on how to draw a cartoon alien
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Facts about cartoon drawing for kids
✏️ Cartoonists almost always start with simple shapes—circles, squares, and triangles—to build a character fast and easily.
😄 A tiny quirky detail (like an extra eye or a funny antenna) can make your alien unforgettable and full of personality.
🎨 Color choices change how a character feels: greens and purples often look alien, while warm colors make characters feel friendly.
🧠 Professional character designers sketch dozens of versions before choosing one—practice and iteration are how great characters are made.
👽 The popular 'big head, big eyes' alien look comes from mid-20th-century UFO folklore and shows up a lot in cartoons!
How do I draw a friendly cartoon alien step by step?
What materials do I need to draw a cartoon alien?
What ages is drawing a simple cartoon alien suitable for?
What are the benefits and fun variations of drawing cartoon aliens?
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