The world’s oceans are home to a wide variety of incredible creatures, making it difficult to choose a favorite. However, dolphins are often adored for their intelligence and charming personalities. In this step-by-step guide, we will celebrate these remarkable marine mammals by teaching you how to draw a cartoon dolphin. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have an amazing dolphin drawing of your own creation. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Let’s Get Started! – How to Draw a Cartoon Dolphin
Step 1
We begin this guide by focusing on the head of the dolphin, which has a distinct shape. Study the reference image closely, as there are several intricate details to capture. The top of the head is long and curved, leading to the snout. Drawing the snout requires using numerous smaller curved lines. Don’t forget to include a line in the center of the snout to create the dolphin’s characteristic smile. Take your time with this step and refer to our example for guidance.
Step 2 – Adding Facial Details and Body
With the head complete, it’s time to add some facial details and begin sketching the body. Start by drawing a solid black oval for the dolphin’s eye, adding a small white spot inside to give the eye a glint. Then, draw a curved line beneath the eye for added expression. Next, create the fin on the back of the dolphin using another curved line with a rounded tip. Finally, draw a curved, wavy line for the dolphin’s chest. This concludes step 2.
Step 3 – Drawing the Flipper and Extending the Body
In this step, we’ll further develop the dolphin’s body. Use curved lines to outline the body, making it thick and rounded along the back and chest. The body will extend to the thin tail of the dolphin. Then, draw a thin rounded shape on the side of the body to form the flipper. This brings us to step 4.
Step 4 – Completing the Body Outline
To complete the dolphin’s body outline, we’ll add the final touches in the next step. Begin by drawing the tail, which fans outward and then curves back in. Use curvy lines to achieve this effect. Once the tail is complete, add the other flipper from the opposite side of the body. When your drawing matches the reference image, it’s time to move on to step 5.
Step 5 – Adding Final Details
Now it’s time to add the finishing touches to your cartoon dolphin. This will give your drawing extra depth and character. Details to include are the tongue and mouth outlines, as well as additional lines on the belly and flippers. You can also get creative and add your own unique elements to the drawing. Consider enhancing the scene by adding a background that showcases the dolphin’s ocean environment or even other sea creatures. Let your imagination guide you!
Step 6 – Adding Color for the Finishing Touch
In the final step of this guide, we’ll bring your dolphin to life with colors. In our reference image, we used shades of blues and light greys to give the dolphin a soft and gentle appearance. However, feel free to experiment with different color combinations that inspire you. Additionally, you can explore various art tools and mediums to achieve the desired color shades. Your finished drawing is sure to be amazing!
5 Tips to Enhance Your Cartoon Dolphin Drawing
If you want to take your cartoon dolphin drawing to the next level, here are some tips to consider:
- Explore different poses: While our guide depicts a leaping dolphin, you can experiment with various poses such as leisurely swimming or stationary positions. Let your creativity shine!
- Add dolphin friends: Dolphins often travel in groups, so consider drawing additional dolphins to make your artwork more interesting and realistic.
- Include other sea creatures: Expand your drawing by incorporating other marine animals such as whales, sharks, or starfish. The possibilities are endless!
- Introduce human characters: Bring some human interaction into your artwork. You can draw humans swimming with the dolphins or feeding them from the shore.
- Create a captivating background: Enhance your cartoon dolphin’s environment by drawing its natural ocean habitat or placing it in a man-made enclosure at an aquarium. The choice is yours!
Your Cartoon Dolphin Drawing is Complete!
Dolphins are truly amazing creatures, and we hope you enjoyed creating a cartoon representation of them. Drawing animals can be challenging, but by following our step-by-step guide, it becomes much easier. Once you have the basic drawing, feel free to let your imagination run wild and add your personal touch. We would love to see your finished cartoon dolphin, so please share your creation on our Facebook and Pinterest pages. Visit our website for more exciting drawing guides and activities. Have fun exploring and creating!
