1-2-3 Draw Cartoon Wildlife »

Steve Barr is an artist specializing in the illustration of children's books, board games, card decks and other educational products. He is also the author and illustrator of a nationally syndicated comic strip. He lives in Columbus, North Carolina.

Starting with simple shapes, young artists can create fun, wild cartoon critters that will provide hours of fun and learning. Grab a pencil and let's get started!

Kristin Harris - Children's Literature

There are no rules in cartooning, but there are some guidelines. The first step is to practice drawing nine basic lines and shapes. Learning these lines and shapes will make drawing cartoons easier. A baby bear head starts with three overlapping ovals. Add two more ovals for the nose, add eyes and a curved line for a mouth. The body is added by using more ovals and circles. Instructions for fourteen animals are included in this paper back book. This collection, one of the "1-2-3 Draw" series, focuses on wildlife: a lion, hippo, camel, elephant and hippopotamus. Each drawing is developed in up to five stages, with the final version in color. This kind of instruction facilitates a major break through for those children who want to take their drawings to the next level of realism. I have used these books with kids as young as five years old. They were ready to use these techniques and proud of their accomplishments. The drawings are large enough and the progression clear enough for kids to follow along even if they can't read the text. 2003, Peel Productions, Ages 5 to 12.