How to Draw a Simple Cartoon Dog With Oil Pastels
You can draw this simple dog cartoon!
Learn how to draw this simple cartoon dog
As an art teacher, I am always looking for fun projects for kids and adults alike. This easy to draw carton dog was inspired by an art lesson I found on the web, and further inspiration was found from a cute children's book named "Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match". This whimsical book is about a sprite little artist who doesn't match when she chooses clothes - and is on a special mission to get a dog from the pound.
Since Marisol doesn't "match", I thought it would be fun to put together a lesson for the kids on a dog that doesn't "match" either. You can also decide to make your own "designer dog" that doesn't match, or you can use more natural colors to make a more "realistic" dog.
This really simple to draw cartoon dog can be customized with purple spots, stripes or any other fun designs you would like to add with oil pastels. There is a simple 5 step process to drawing your dog and when you are done, you can either cut it out and apply it to another piece of construction paper like I have, or you can draw and keep your dog on just one piece of paper.
Materials needed to draw a cartoon dog
The materials for this lesson are simple. To draw the basic dog with oil pastels you will need:
- An 8.5" x 11" piece of drawing or computer printing paper
- A pencil to draw your dog
- An eraser
- A set of oil pastels
- A napkin to wipe your fingers
If you want to cut your dog out and put him on a piece of construction paper and add newspaper elements in the background, you will also need:
- An 8.5" x 11" piece of any color construction paper
- Scissors
- A glue stick
- Newspaper
How to draw a cartoon dog - step by step
The 5 step process to draw your dog step by step is at the right. As you can see, the dog is made up of basic shapes. This is a good lesson for younger kids (ages 4 and up) although younger children may have a harder time with the shapes if they have not been exposed much to art.
A more appropriate age for this lesson is ages 6 and up, as most kids by this time have developed a sense of shape and developed some drawing skills by this time. I would try the lesson with any age child though, because you don't know what kids are capable of unless you at least try a lesson with them. Your dog can also be modified to have floppy ears, a shorter or longer tail, and any background elements can be added that the kids want to put in their "designer dogs" habitat.
Cute elements that can be drawn in or cut and added in newspaper include:
- a dog bowl
- a dog house
- bones
- clouds
- a sun
- grass
- a party hat on your dog
- a crown on the dogs head
- balloons
- hearts instead of spots on the dogs body
- a collar
- a leash
- a kitty or puppy friend
When doing the lesson, brainstorm with your kids what things they want to add for their dog. You would be surprised at what clever things they will come up with to add!
My finished "Designer Dog"
Another art lesson: Learn how to draw this other cute "designer dog"
If you enjoyed this art lesson on how to draw a simple cartoon dog, please also check out my other hubs on art. The dog to the right is another simple dog you can draw using the same techniques we used here. Lesson for how to draw a simple dog with oil pastels
Have fun and remember, there is no limit to your imagination. Like I always tell my art students, we are all artists and art does not have to be perfect!
Enjoy your designer dogs!
(Dorsi Diaz is an artist/art educator and freelance writer that lives in the San Francisco Bay Area)