How to Draw a Monkey (Step-by-Step for Kids and Beginners)

Learning how to draw a monkey is one of the most rewarding art projects for kids and beginners alike. These playful primates make fantastic drawing subjects because their round faces, big ears, and curly tails translate beautifully into simple shapes that anyone can master.

Whether you want to create a cute cartoon character for a birthday card or practice your skills before tackling more complex animals, this step tutorial walks you through everything you need to know. By the end, you’ll have a complete monkey drawing that you can proudly show off.

Key Takeaways

• This guide teaches an easy, step-by-step way to draw a cute cartoon monkey sitting and smiling using simple shapes like circles, ovals, and curved lines.
• The only tools you need are a pencil, eraser, black pen or marker, and colored pencils or crayons to complete your drawing.
• The tutorial builds gradually from the monkey’s head and face to the body, arms, legs, and curly tail, making it perfect for beginners.
• An additional section covers how to create a more realistic monkey pose for those ready to level up their skills.
• The FAQ at the end answers common questions about drawing different poses, styles, and monkey types from the approximately 260 species found around the world.

View This Post in Other Languages

Art knows no language barriers, but having instructions in your native tongue can make learning much smoother. This monkey drawing tutorial is designed to be adapted for readers in different regions, with localized versions available for various languages.

The drawing steps remain exactly the same regardless of which language you read them in. What changes is the explanation and art vocabulary, which gets adapted so local readers can follow along comfortably. Terms like “muzzle,” “construction lines,” and shape names get translated appropriately.

If English isn’t your first language, consider looking for a version of this tutorial in the language you’re most comfortable learning in. You’ll find that understanding each step becomes much easier when you can focus on the drawing rather than translating instructions in your head.

Top Monkey Drawing Resources and Inspiration

Once you master the basic monkey in this tutorial, you’ll want to explore more ideas and push your skills further. This section points you toward extra resources and inspiration to keep your creativity flowing.

Here are some helpful resources to consider:

• Printable step-by-step sheets designed for kids, featuring numbered steps and blank space to sketch alongside the guide
• Nature photography of monkeys in trees, which can inspire more realistic or dynamic poses in future drawings
• Video tutorials with narrated instructions, some of which have gathered over 130,000 views from learners worldwide
• Art community forums where you can share your work and get feedback from other artists

For practice subjects after completing this tutorial, try these fun variations:

• A sitting monkey holding a banana
• A monkey hanging upside down from a branch
• A baby monkey clinging to its parent
• A funny dancing monkey with arms raised
• A monkey swinging through jungle vines

Reference photos are especially valuable when you want to capture the unique characteristics of different species, from the compact builds of capuchins to the robust forms of baboons.

How to Draw a Simple Cartoon Monkey – Step-by-Step Guide

This is the main, kid-friendly tutorial for drawing a front-facing, sitting monkey with a big smile. The pose features a round head, short body, and adorable curly tail that makes for a perfect beginner project.

Each step focuses on one clear task, using specific shape names so you always know exactly what to draw. Keep your pencil lines light at first, and don’t worry about making everything perfect on the first try.

Step 1 – Draw the Head and Face Guidelines

Start by drawing a large, light pencil circle in the center of your paper for the monkey’s head. On standard A4 paper, aim for about 8-10 cm wide, which gives you plenty of room for details.

Next, add a light vertical guideline running straight down the middle of the circle. Then draw a horizontal guideline across the middle, creating a cross shape inside the head.

These construction lines serve an important purpose. They help you place the eyes and muzzle evenly so the monkey face looks symmetrical. Professional artists use this technique all the time to ensure balanced features.

Keep these lines sketched very lightly. You’ll erase them later once your drawing is complete.

Step 2 – Add the Face (Muzzle) Shape

Draw a wide “U” shape inside the lower half of the head circle to form the muzzle area. This creates the lighter-colored face mask that monkeys have.

Position the top of the “U” so it touches or nearly touches the horizontal guideline you drew earlier. The muzzle should take up roughly the bottom half of the face.

Round out the sides of your “U” shape so it looks more like a soft oval rather than a sharp letter. This softer curve gives your monkey a cute, friendly appearance that kids love.

Make sure the muzzle stays centered on the vertical guideline. This keeps your monkey’s face balanced and looking straight at the viewer.

Step 3 – Draw the Eyes, Nose, and Mouth

Place two medium-sized ovals for eyes on the horizontal guideline, positioning one on each side of the vertical line. Space them evenly for a balanced look.

Inside each eye, add smaller dark circles for pupils. Leave a tiny white highlight spot in each pupil to make the eyes look shiny and alive. This small detail adds tremendous expression to your drawing.

For the nose, draw a small rounded triangle or oval in the center, right at the top of the muzzle shape. Keep it simple and not too large.

Create a smiling mouth by drawing a short vertical line down from the nose, then adding two curved lines extending to each side. Think of it like a sideways “3” shape or a simple “W” turned on its side.

Optional: Add tiny curved lines above the eyes to suggest eyebrows. These small additions can dramatically change the monkey’s expressions from happy to surprised to curious, demonstrating the impact of various pencil drawing techniques.

Step 4 – Draw the Ears and Top of the Head

Draw two large round ears on each side of the head circle, positioned slightly above the horizontal guideline. Monkey ears are one of the key features that distinguish them from bears or dogs.

Each ear can be drawn as a “C” shape on the left side and a reversed “C” shape on the right, attached directly to the head circle.

Add a smaller curve inside each ear to show the inner ear detail. This creates a thin rim around the edge and adds depth to your drawing.

For extra character, you can slightly flatten the very top of the head or add a tiny tuft of fur with three short spiky lines. This gives your monkey personality.

Step 5 – Sketch the Body Under the Head

Draw a smaller oval or rounded egg shape just under the head to form the monkey’s body. Let it overlap slightly with the bottom of the head circle.

Keep the body about half as tall as the head. This proportion maintains the cute, chibi-like appearance that makes cartoon monkeys so appealing. Real monkey anatomy follows roughly a 1:3 head-to-body ratio, but we’re exaggerating for cuteness here.

Use smooth, curved lines so the body looks soft, as if the monkey is sitting and hunched slightly forward.

Add an inner oval on the belly area. This will become a lighter fur patch when you add color later, giving your monkey more visual interest.

Step 6 – Outline and Erase Guidelines

Once you’re happy with your monkey sketch, trace the final lines with a darker pencil, black pen, or fine marker. Work slowly and carefully to keep your lines smooth.

Wait for any ink to dry completely before erasing. Then gently remove all the light guidelines and construction lines you drew at the beginning.

Consider thickening the outer contours of the head, body, and tail slightly. This creates a clean, professional cartoon look that stands out on the page.

Take your time during this step. Working too quickly can cause smudges or broken lines that are difficult to fix.

Step 7 – Color Your Monkey

Now comes the fun part. Use colored pencils, crayons, or markers to bring your monkey drawing to life.

Here’s a classic color scheme that works beautifully:

Area	Recommended Color
Main fur	Medium brown
Face/muzzle	Light cream or beige
Inner ears	Light pink
Belly patch	Cream or tan
Cheeks	Soft pink

Add simple shading by using a slightly darker brown under the head, along the bottom of the arms, and beneath the tail. This creates depth without requiring complex techniques.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different colors. Purple monkeys, blue monkeys, or rainbow monkeys can be just as fun for creative projects.

How to Draw a More Realistic Monkey Pose

Ready to level up after mastering the cartoon version? This section teaches you how to draw a monkey in a more realistic, dynamic pose sitting on a tree branch.

The proportions here are more natural, with longer limbs and a body structure that reflects actual primate anatomy. You’ll build the figure using simple shapes first—circles, ovals, and cylinders—before adding fur and detail.

Having a reference photo nearby can be extremely helpful for this section. Look for images of monkeys sitting on branches to guide your proportions.

Step 1 – Basic Shapes for Body and Branch

Sketch a large oval for the ribcage area and a smaller oval for the hips. Position them so they overlap slightly and tilt forward, suggesting a seated posture.

Draw a light curved line connecting the centers of these ovals to define the spine. This helps you understand how the body curves and flows.

Add a horizontal or slightly angled rectangle beneath the body to represent a tree branch. This gives your monkey something to sit on and grounds the composition.

Keep all lines light and loose at this stage. You’ll be making adjustments as you build out the figure.

Step 2 – Add Head, Limbs, and Tail Guides

Place a medium circle above the ribcage oval for the head. Connect it to the body with a short neck line.

Add simple stick lines for arms and legs. In realistic monkey proportions, the arms should be noticeably longer than the legs—this is one of the key characteristics that makes primates look different from other animals.

Position the hands gripping the branch and the feet either resting on or dangling from it. This creates a natural, believable pose.

Draw a long, curved line from the hip area for the tail, allowing it to wrap partly around or above the branch for balance.

Step 3 – Build Volume on Arms, Legs, and Head

Wrap simple cylinders or rounded tube shapes around the stick lines of the arms and legs. This gives your limbs thickness and three-dimensional form.

Draw the hands and feet as flat paddle shapes with long, thin ovals for fingers and toes gripping the branch. Monkey fingers are quite long compared to human proportions.

Refine the head by adding a smaller muzzle shape protruding from the face circle. Indicate where the eyes and ears will be placed.

This is the time to adjust proportions. Check if the arms look long enough, if the knees bend naturally, and if the overall pose looks balanced.

Step 4 – Refine the Face, Fur, and Branch

Add more realistic facial details including a subtle brow ridge, a slightly protruding muzzle with visible nostrils, and focused eyes looking in a specific direction.

Use short, directional strokes to suggest fur along the back, chest, and limbs. You don’t need to draw every individual hair—just enough to indicate texture without overworking the drawing.

Texture the branch with irregular edges and a few short bark lines to make it look like real wood rather than a smooth cylinder.

Clean up extra construction lines and darken your final contours to complete this more realistic monkey pose.

Tips, Tricks, and Common Mistakes When Drawing Monkeys

Even experienced artists make mistakes. Here’s quick advice to improve your monkey drawings and avoid common frustrations.

Helpful Tips:

• Always start with simple shapes before adding detail—circles for heads, ovals for bodies
• Keep facial features positioned low on the face for maximum cuteness in cartoon styles
• Use reference photos of real monkeys to understand anatomy and proportions
• Practice drawing ears separately until you can create them confidently
• Experiment with different expressions by changing eyebrows and mouth shapes
• Don’t press too hard with your pencil during initial sketching

Common Mistakes and Fixes:

Mistake	Why It Happens	Quick Fix
Monkey looks like a bear	Ears too small, muzzle too wide	Enlarge ears, create distinct face mask shape
Arms look too short	Using human proportions	Make arms extend past the body, longer than legs
Mouth too close to nose	Not leaving enough muzzle space	Position mouth in lower third of face area
Tail looks stiff	Drawing straight lines	Add curves and spirals, thick to thin taper
Face looks flat	Missing the muzzle shape	Add the inner oval/U shape for the face

Remember, every artist makes these mistakes when learning. Practice and experimentation matter more than perfection. Each sketch you create teaches you something new.

Expanding Your Monkey Drawings (Logos, Comics, and Scenes)

Once you know the basics, you can use monkeys in logos, comics, greeting cards, and full illustrated scenes. The simple shapes you’ve learned are incredibly versatile.

Creating Different Characters:

Changing the eye shape and mouth curves can transform your monkey into completely different characters:

• Half-closed eyes with a small smile = sleepy monkey
• Wide eyes with raised eyebrows = surprised monkey
• Narrowed eyes with a smirk = clever, mischievous monkey
• Closed eyes with a big grin = happy, laughing monkey

Adding Backgrounds:

Simple backgrounds make your drawings more complete and interesting:

• Jungle leaves in various green shades
• Hanging vines for the monkey to swing from
• Bananas scattered around
• A treehouse platform
• Tropical flowers in bright colors

Creating Icons and Logos:

For icons, stickers, or logo drafts, simplify your monkey even further. Remove details, thicken lines, and focus on the most recognizable features: round head, big ears, and curly tail.

Comic Strip Ideas:

Try creating short comic strips where your monkey character performs simple actions:

• Climbing a tree to reach a banana
• Swinging from vine to vine
• Sharing fruit with a friend
• Making funny faces at its reflection
• Learning a new skill

Comics teach you to draw the same character from different angles and in different poses, which rapidly improves your overall drawing ability.

FAQ

Q1: How can I draw a monkey that looks different from a bear or a dog?

The key distinguishing features are larger ears placed higher on the head, a clearly defined muzzle shape that creates a face mask, arms that are longer than the legs, and a visible tail. Focus on creating big round ears that sit at or above eye level, draw the soft oval face mask inside the head circle, and always include that characteristic curly tail. These three elements immediately signal “monkey” to viewers.

Q2: What is the easiest monkey pose for absolute beginners?

A front-facing, sitting monkey with folded legs and hands resting on the belly is the simplest pose to master. This position uses only basic circles and ovals, doesn’t require complicated perspective or foreshortening, and keeps the tail and limbs easy to position without overlapping. It’s the perfect starting point before attempting more dynamic poses.

Q3: How do I draw a monkey hanging from a branch?

Start with the same cartoon body shapes, then rotate the entire figure so the head points downward and the arms reach upward toward a horizontal branch line. Draw the arms longer than usual, with the hands curved like hooks gripping over the branch. Let the tail curve downward for balance, and position the legs either tucked up or dangling freely. The body will appear slightly elongated due to gravity.

Q4: Can I use the same steps to draw different kinds of monkeys, like chimpanzees or marmosets?

The basic structure works for most primates, but you’ll need to adjust specific features based on the species. Chimpanzees have smaller ears, no visible tail, and more muscular builds. Marmosets feature tiny faces with distinctive ear tufts. Spider monkeys have extremely long limbs and tails. Use this guide as your foundation, then check reference photos to adjust ear size, face shape, muzzle length, and tail proportions for each species you want to draw.

Q5: What age is this monkey drawing tutorial suitable for?

The cartoon version works wonderfully for kids around ages 6-12 and complete beginners of any age. The shapes are simple, the steps are manageable, and the result is immediately satisfying. The more realistic section is better suited for older kids, teens, and adults who are comfortable with basic geometric shapes and want to learn about proportional anatomy. Both sections can be attempted by anyone willing to practice and learn.

References

1. Easy Peasy and Fun. (n.d.). How to Draw a Monkey. Retrieved from https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/how-to-draw-a-monkey
2. Tuts+ Design. (n.d.). How to Draw a Monkey Step by Step. Retrieved from https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-draw-a-monkey-step-by-step–cms-29241
3. wikiHow. (n.d.). How to Draw a Monkey. Retrieved from https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Monkey
4. The Phoenix Comic. (n.d.). How to Draw Monkey. Retrieved from https://thephoenixcomic.co.uk/comic-club/video-drawing-tutorials/how-to-draw-monkey
5. Reddit. (2022). How to Draw a Monkey. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinfuriating/comments/zmsbmt/how_to_draw_a_monkey_draw_a_monkey