How to Draw a Possum: Easy 10-Step Guide for Kids

Ready to bring a woodland friend to life? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 5 and up. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and a piece of paper to master this adorable possum in just a few minutes.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A friendly, finished cartoon possum drawing, perfect for kids to color.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Expressive Eyes

Close-up of two circular cartoon possum eyes with shaded pupils on a white background.

Start by drawing two large circles for the eyes, with smaller circles inside for pupils. Shade the pupils in completely. Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light so you can easily adjust the shape if needed.

Step 2: Shaping the Snout

Drawing the possum's snout using U-shaped lines and soft facial contours.

Draw a series of overlapping 'U' shapes to form the nose. Use soft, curved lines to outline the snout and sides of the face. Tip: Use short, quick strokes to create a slightly fuzzy, natural look for the fur.

Step 3: Adding the Ears

Adding large, rounded ears to the possum head with internal ear details.

Draw two large, rounded ears using long curved lines. Add inner contours to give them depth. Tip: Connect the ears with small, jagged lines to mimic the texture of real fur.

Step 4: Drawing the First Paw

Sketching the possum's front arm and paw with detailed finger outlines.

Use jagged lines to sketch the arm and connect it to the face. Draw the paw using wavy, overlapping lines for the fingers. Tip: Keep the fingers rounded to make the possum look friendly and cute.

Step 5: Defining the Body

Outlining the possum's back, belly, and second front leg.

Sketch the back and belly using jagged, uneven lines to suggest fur. Add the second foreleg and paw. Tip: Ensure the body shape is slightly rounded to give your possum a cuddly appearance.

Step 6: Adding the Rear Legs

Adding the rear legs to the possum's body with contour lines for depth.

Use jagged lines to define the rear legs. Add curved lines around the neck and leg joints to create a sense of movement. Tip: Focus on the connection points where the legs meet the body to make the drawing look grounded.

Step 7: The Tail and Final Foot

Drawing the long, curved possum tail and the final visible rear foot.

Draw the long, characteristic tail using a series of jagged lines that double back. Add the final rear foot visible beneath the belly. Tip: A possum's tail is quite long, so don't be afraid to let it curve across your page!

Step 8: Adding Fur Texture

Adding texture lines to the possum's body to simulate fur.

Add patches of closely spaced lines across the body to represent fur. Tip: Vary the length of your lines to make the fur look realistic and soft.

Step 9: Final Details

Refining the possum's fur texture with additional short, detailed lines.

Continue adding small, short lines to refine the fur texture throughout the body. Tip: Focus on the edges of the possum to give it a clean, finished silhouette.

Step 10: Color Your Masterpiece

A fully colored, cute cartoon possum with gray and white fur.

Your outline is complete! Use shades of gray, brown, and white to color your possum. Tip: Use a lighter gray for the face and a darker brown for the body to give your drawing extra dimension.