Hey there, are you interested in drawing a cute penguin? Look no further! In this post, we will go over easy steps to draw both a realistic penguin and a cute cartoon penguin. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, our easy drawing tutorials will guide you through the process.

Skip to my Lou - How to Draw a Penguin - Finished penguin drawings
Follow these great tutorials to draw a cartoon penguin or a realistic penguin!

By following our simple instructions, you’ll be able to create a cute penguin drawing in no time. Not only is drawing a fun and relaxing activity, but it’s also a great way to improve your hand-eye coordination and boost your creativity. Plus, you’ll have a cute penguin drawing to show off to your friends and family!

Come and explore a world of fun-filled family activities with Skip to My Lou! Our easy-to-follow tutorials on drawing, coloring, and crafting offer a great opportunity to bond with your loved ones while creating unforgettable memories.

Related: Check out How to Draw a Dog and How to Draw a Butterfly for more drawing inspiration.

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Easy Penguin Drawing

You can draw a penguin anywhere you feel comfortable. All you need is a piece of paper and a pencil, and you’re good to go! Whether you prefer drawing in the comfort of your own home or outside in nature, the possibilities are endless. So, let’s get started and learn how to draw a penguin in easy steps!

Essential Drawing Supplies for Drawing a Penguin

Collect these art supplies before you start your penguin drawings:

How to Draw a Penguin Step-by-Step

Cartoon

Step 1

The first step is to draw some guidelines to give the general outline of the penguin. 

Firstly, draw a large circle in the bottom-half of your page. 

Secondly, draw a slightly smaller circle above the first.

Realistic Penguin Drawing - Step 7 - Colored penguin
Two guide circles

Step 2

The top circle is for the penguin’s face.

To begin with, in the middle of the face, draw an oval shape for the top beak. After that, draw a curved line underneath for the bottom beak.

Finally, draw a small circle for an eye on both sides of the face. Afterwards, draw an even smaller circle in each eye for the pupil. 

Cartoon Penguin Drawing - Step 2 - Facial features
Facial features

Step 3

Let’s make our penguin’s head a more realistic shape. 

Firstly, draw a curved line around the bottom-half of the face to give the penguin chubby cheeks. 

Secondly, draw two long lines that go from the top of the head and curve down to the beak.

Thirdly, draw a little tuft of hair on the top of the head. 

Cartoon Penguin Drawing - Step 3 - Head shape and hair
Eyes, beak, and hair

Step 4

Now let’s draw our penguin’s body, using the bottom circle to help.

To begin with, on the sides of the body, draw triangular shapes to give the penguin wings. The bottom of the wings should have pointy tips. 

After that, draw a long curved line to show the belly of the penguin.  

Finally, draw two feet underneath the body of the penguin. As can be seen in the reference penguin sketch below, use a wavy line to show the toes. 

Cartoon Penguin Drawing - Step 4 - Flippers and feet
Flippers and feet

Step 5

Finally, let’s remove the construction lines. 

Afterwards, trace over your pencil drawing with a marker to show the final lines. 

Cartoon Penguin Drawing - Step 5 - Outline
Outlined with marker

Step 6

Lastly, add some colors to your penguin drawing. 

First, color the nose and feet yellow. 

Then fill in the top of the head and sides of the body with black to give your penguin that distinctive black and white pattern.

Skip to my Lou - How to Draw a Penguin - Colored cartoon penguin drawing
Our finished cartoon penguin with color.

Realistic

Step 1

Let’s start with some facial features.

Firstly, draw the beak using three sharp lines that curve downwards.

Secondly, draw an eye to the right of the beak. Afterwards, draw smaller circles inside to show the pupil.

Realistic Penguin Drawing - Step 1 - Facial features
Eye and a beak

Step 2

The next step is to complete the penguin’s head.

To begin with, draw a large circular shape that connects to the penguin’s beak. 

After that, draw two short lines to show the markings on the face of the penguin.

Realistic Penguin Drawing - Step 2 - Head
Head with face patterns

Step 3

Let’s continue with the penguin’s body.

Firstly, draw curved long lines from each side of the face downwards towards the bottom of the page. 

Secondly, on each side of the body, draw the penguin’s flippers. Make the left flipper wider, as can be seen in the reference image below.

Realistic Penguin Drawing - Step 3 - Body and wings
Body and wings

Step 4

Now let’s add some more parts of the penguin, with some legs and feet.

To begin with, draw curved lines that bulge outwards for the penguin’s legs.

After that, at the bottom of the penguin, add feet with a small line for each toe. Use sharp lines to show the claws of the penguin.

Realistic Penguin Drawing - Step 4 - Legs and feet
Legs and feet

Step 5

In this step, add more lines following the inside of each wing and the body.

Realistic Penguin Drawing - Step 5 - Inside lines
Inside lines for more depth

Step 6

Finally, trace over your penguin drawing with a marker.

Realistic Penguin Drawing - Step 6 - Outline
Outlined to make our realistic penguin stand out!

Step 7

Lastly, add some colors to your realistic penguin drawing. 

First, color the nose, feet, and bottom half of the face yellow. 

Then fill in the top of the head and sides of the body with black. Additionally, use a gray color around the sides of the body for a realistic 3D effect. 

Skip to my Lou - How to Draw a Penguin - Colored realistic penguin drawing
Some colors to finish our drawing of a realistic penguin.

Your Finished Penguin Drawings

Now you have a drawing of at-least one beautiful penguin. 

Next time, you could try drawing a specific type of penguin, such as an emperor penguin. Also, you could draw a baby penguin. 

More Fun Drawing Tutorials 

If you’re looking for more fun activities, why not give these drawing tutorials a try?

  • Drawing a volleyball is a fun and creative activity, and our guide on How to Draw a Volleyball will show you how to do it.
  • Perfect for beginners, this Basketball Drawing Guide is easy to follow and will help you create a great drawing of a basketball.
  • Create your very own prehistoric masterpiece with our tutorial on How to Draw a Dinosaur. This step-by-step guide will make drawing a dinosaur a breeze.
  • With this Simple Bird Drawing Tutorial, you can create a realistic and beautiful bird drawing in no time. Follow our easy steps and bring your feathered friends to life on paper.
  • Want to sharpen your artistic skills? Try our Guide on How to Draw a Book.

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