Use the video and step-by-step drawing instructions below to learn how to draw Charlie Brown form Charles Schulz' Peanuts comic strip. A new cartoon drawing tutorial is uploaded every week, so stay tooned!

 

 

Intro: Start off with a pencil sketch. In the beginning stages, don’t press down too hard. Use light, smooth strokes for sketching.

 

Step 1: Start with a circle near the top of the page. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s just a guide for Charlie Brown's head. Leave enough room at the bottom to draw his body.

 

Step 2: Next, draw two intersecting lines across the head shape, one vertical and one horizontal. Bend the lines a bit so that they contour to the shape of the head. These will be construction lines that will help you place Charlie Brown's facial features later on.

 

Step 3: Draw a triangle-like shape under Charlie Brown's head as a guide for the top part of the body. The top tip of the triangle should be hidden behind the head.

 

Step 4: Now draw a rectangular line under the triangle for the bottom part of the guide for Charlie Brown's body. The bottom part of the triangle-like shape forms the top part of the rectangle.

 

Step 5: Draw a short line on the left side of the body with a small circle at the end. This will be a guide for Charlie Brown's arm and waving hand on the left. Draw another small line and circle on the right side within the body for the other arm.

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Step 6: Under the body, draw two more shapes as guides for Charlie Brown's feet. Two very short lines make up the guides for the legs, and two long, flat oval-like shapes make up the guides for the feet.

 

Step 7: That’s it for the initial sketch! You have the basic shape of the Peanuts character Charlie Brown. Now go in and tighten your drawing. From this point on, press harder with your pencil in order to get darker lines and a more defined sketch.

 

Step 8: Draw a small curved line similar to a letter C right on above the horizontal construction line for Charlie Brown's nose. The left edge of the nose should be where the vertical construction line is.

 

Step 9: On either side of the nose, draw a small dot for the eyes. Above each eye, draw a small line for Charlie Brown's eyebrows.

 

Step 10: Under the nose, draw a long curved line for Charlie Brown's mouth. This line should be closer to the bottom edge of the initial circle than it is to the horizontal construction line.

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Step 11: Above the eyebrows, near the top of the head, draw line that loops for the tuft of hair on Charlie Brown's forehead. The line is similar to a letter C with a curl on the bottom end.

 

Step 12: Use the initial circle as a guide to draw Charlie Brown's head. Darken the line, but when you get to the right side, add an extra curved line similar to a backward letter C for the ear. Draw another curved line on the left side for Charlie Brown's other ear.

 

Step 13: Draw two lines under the head for the neck. Use a series of angled lines under the neck to draw Charlie Brown's shirt collar. The opening of the collar is similar to the letter M. The actual collar is similar to small rectangles.

 

Step 14: Use the side of the triangle-like shape, the initial line and circle as guides to draw Charlie Brown's arm on the right. Draw the shirt's sleeve by using the bottom part of the triangle-like shape as a guide. Follow the basic path of the line and make the arm thicker. Use a series of curved lines within the shape of the small circle to create Charlie Brown's hand.

 

Step 15: Draw the outline of Charlie Brown's shirt by using the initial shapes as guides. The bottom of the shirt should be near the middle of the initial rectangle shape. Within the shirt, draw two zigzag lines for the classic Charlie Brown shirt design.

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Step 16: Use the line and circle on the left to draw Charlie Brown's other hand. Make the arm thicker as you follow the path of the line. Then draw a few curved lines to outside of the circle for the fingers. Charlie Brown and the other children in the Peanuts gang are some of the few cartoon characters to have four fingers and a thumb. Most cartoon characters usually have three fingers and a thumb.

 

Step 17: Darken the bottom part of the rectangular shape to create Charlie Brown's shorts.

 

Step 18: Use the line and flat oval-like shape to draw Charlie Brown's foot on the right. Make the leg thicker as you follow the path of the line and add the sock. Darken the outline of the oval-like shape for the shoe and add three curved lines at the top for the laces.

 

Step 19: Use the other line and oval as guides to draw Charlie Brown's other leg the same way. The leg on the left is behind the one on the right, so not all of it should be visible.

 

Step 20: That’s it! You now have a nice sketch of the Peanuts character Charlie Brown. You can stop at this quick drawing for a rough, sketchy look, or continue to the next step to go for a more finished look.

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Step 21: For a more finished, inked look, carefully draw over the final sketch lines with a pen or marker. Wait for the ink to dry, and then erase all of the pencil marks. You now have a finished inked drawing of Charlie Brown! You can stop here or go to the final step to complete your Charlie Brown drawing in its entirety.

 

Final Step: For a completely finished Charlie Brown drawing, you have to color it. You can use anything you want: markers, color pencils or even crayons! Color his skin peach. If you don't have peach, improvise and use yellow-orange or light brown. The main part of Charlie Brown's shirt and the socks are yellow. The shirt can sometimes be red. The zigzag stripe on the shirt and the shorts are black. The shoes are brown. That’s it! You now have a completed drawing of Charlie Brown form Charles Schulz' Peanuts comic strip.