How to Draw a Cartoon Penguin Easy

Teach your children how to draw a penguin in just 3 simple lines! This penguin is quick and easy for kids and beginners to master; which can be drawn with flowing, naturally forming lines and shapes.

Using our step-by-step guide as a reference point, children can adapt our tutorial to draw a realistic penguin or use the rounded shapes to continue with a cartoon style and finish – similar to the penguins featured in Happy Feet or the Madagascar films.

Once the Arty Crafty Kids' flippered friend is drawn, the tutorial will advance into a full painting tutorial; demonstrating how to paint a very simple wintery background to help make the penguin pop from the page!

This is a fun, quick and easy penguin painting idea that's perfectly suited to the classroom or at home. With our video tutorial, printable step-by-step guide and written tutorial, your children will learn everything the need to know to complete this lovely Winter art project.

Teach your children how to draw a penguin in just 3 simple lines! This penguin is quick and easy for kids and beginners to master; which can be drawn with flowing, naturally forming lines and shapes. A fun and easy winter art project for kids to enjoy.

Easy Penguin How to Draw: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

Our tutorial uses the "flow drawing technique", developed by us to encourage children to understand shapes and create illustrations, in a much 'freer' way.

Materials:

White Card Stock
A Black Crayon, Oil Pastel or Pen
Acrylic Paint OR a Favorite Medium for Coloring
Eco Q-Tip

Download the How to Draw a Penguin Printable Guide:

The templates are available to members of the Arty Crafty Kids club.
Members will need to log in to access the templates: https://www.artycraftykids.com/product/flow-drawing-penguin-template/

Flow Drawing Penguin Template
Happy Feet Penguin Craft
How to Draw a Penguin

Not A Member?

Watch the Penguin How to Draw Tutorial:

The video tutorial will guide children through the steps of creating their penguin and designing a winter background.

Let's Draw a Penguin!

Image showing a line that begins with a swirl and progresses to the bottom of the page, forming the penguin's head, back and tail.

Draw the First Line – The Penguin's Head, Back and Tail

The first line forms the penguin's back, head and tail.

The line can be drawn in one big swooping line that begins from the top of the page and ends near the bottom. Similar to the beginning of a snail's shell/ swirl, quickly expand the swirl and draw a line that gradually straightens and flicks out to form the tip of the tail.

Draw the line in one go or/and repeat the same line until the desired shape emerges.

Image showing a hand drawing a second line, similar to the first, to create the penguin's tail and flipper.

Draw the Second Line – The Penguin's Tail and Flipper

Draw a second line from the tip of the tail up towards the penguin's head. The shape of the second line will almost mirror the first; this time starting with a straight line that widens and bends into a swirl to create the penguin's flipper.

Image showing a hand connecting the head and the tail with a bulbous line - creating the penguin's chest.

Draw the Third Line – The Penguin's Chest

The third line completes the basic shape of the penguin, which simply connects the head and the tail, creating a nicely rounded tummy.

Image showing a penguin with a beak added to the head.

Draw the Penguin's Beak

Now the basic shape of the penguin is complete, draw a small beak.

Image showing further detailing to the penguin, including an eye and feet.

Draw the Penguin's Feet

Draw a pair of feet in the shape of flattened ovals.

Add an eye and optional chest detail!

Image showing a hand painting the penguin black.

Let's Paint the Penguin!

Apply a layer of thick black paint to the head and body of the penguin.

Image showing a hand painting over the drawn black lines white.

Use a White Outline to Create Definition

To add definition to the head and flipper, leave a small space around the swirly lines. This will help to separate the penguin's features.

Apply a small layer of white paint over the swirls.

Image showing a hand drawing wavy lines across the page and behind the penguin.

Design an Abstract Winter Backdrop

Children will now learn how to create a very simple abstract background.

Once the penguin is complete, use a pencil to draw a few waves from left to right of the page.

Image showing hands filling the background waves behind the penguin with bright colors.

Frame the Penguin with Bright Wintery Colors

Next, fill the waves with bright bold colors.

Children may choose to create a pattern with their favorite colors or create a Winter feel to their painting with blue and purple hues. This is a great opportunity to talk to Arty Crafty Kids about color and how they make them feel.

Image showing a hand painting white onto the waves to create the impression of snow.

Paint Snowy Spots with a Q-Tip

Once the background is complete, use a q-tip or the end of a paintbrush/pencil to print lots of snowy spots.

The snowy spots will complete the wintery scene.

The Penguin How to Draw Tutorial is Complete!

I hope your Arty Crafty Kids enjoy this How to Draw a Penguin Step by Step Tutorial. For more Winter themed drawing tutorials, take a look at How to Draw an Owl and How to Paint a Snowy Tree.
As always, we love to see your children's completed works of art, so please do tag us on social media with your Arty Crafty Kids masterpieces!

Learn More about the Flow Drawing Technique:

What is Flow Drawing?

Flow Drawing is an art technique developed by us to encourage children to understand shapes and create illustrations, in a much 'freer' way. By removing restrictions, flow drawing encourages children to fully engage in the moment and discover their natural flow, making every line count and bringing mindfulness to their creative process.You can think of the flow drawing technique as a 'how to draw' guide with a difference – children won't just draw a picture, they'll create a unique work of art, right from their soul.

Flow Drawing Benefits:

Although the process of flowing more naturally in art might seem a little alien to children at first, it's really worth encouraging them to have a go. Flow drawing has so many benefits and helps little hands and minds to:

Explore simple shapes and how they work together to create larger forms
Discover their natural flow and rhythm through repetitive movements
Learn how to combine mediums, with a fun and easy approach
Build confidence in their own creative ability
Combat 'perfection-seeking' in art, providing a much needed alternative to rigid 'how to draw' guides
Bring mindfulness to the creative process and boost mental health
Foster a love of art and self-expression.