How to Draw a Tomato: Easy 10-Step Cartoon Tutorial

Bring a garden-fresh character to life with this simple drawing guide, perfect for young artists ages 5 and up. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and your favorite coloring supplies to get started. By following these steps, you will build confidence in basic shape construction while creating a fun, expressive piece of art.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A bright, finished cartoon tomato drawing, showcasing the final result of the tutorial.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Sketching the Base Shape

A light pencil sketch of a circle representing the main body of a tomato.

Start by drawing a light circle to outline the body of your tomato. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil strokes very soft so you can easily erase them later—think of this as the 'ghost' of your drawing.

2

Defining the Top Curves

Two overlapping curved lines added to the top of the circle to shape the tomato.

Draw two overlapping curved lines at the top of your circle. These define the 'shoulders' of the tomato. Tip: Make these curves gentle to give the fruit a natural, rounded appearance.

3

Cleaning the Outline

The tomato outline with the internal guide lines erased for a clean shape.

Carefully erase the guide line inside the top curves. Tip: Use a clean eraser and hold the paper steady to avoid smudging your work.

4

Adding the Stem

A small stem added to the top center of the tomato drawing.

Sketch the stem by drawing two short, parallel curved lines above the tomato, connecting them at the top. Tip: Keep the stem small so it doesn't overpower the round shape of the fruit.

5

Drawing the Sepal

A star-shaped sepal drawn around the base of the tomato stem.

Use a series of curved lines to form a star-like shape around the base of the stem. This is the sepal, the leafy part that protects the fruit. Tip: Try to make each leaf point slightly different to look more organic.

6

Refining the Sepal

The cleaned-up sepal leaves resting on the tomato.

Erase any overlapping lines inside the sepal leaves. Tip: This step is all about precision; take your time to ensure the leaves look like they are sitting on top of the tomato.

7

Adding Facial Features

Two arched eyebrows added to the face of the tomato.

Add a curved line beneath the stem for depth, then draw two arched eyebrows. Tip: The angle of the eyebrows changes the tomato's expression—try making them steep for a surprised look or flat for a calm one!

8

Drawing the Eyes

Two expressive eyes with pupils added to the tomato's face.

Draw two small circles for the eyes, with smaller ovals inside for pupils. Shade the space between the shapes to make the eyes pop. Tip: Leave a tiny white dot unshaded in the pupil to create a 'glint' or sparkle.

9

Drawing the Smile

A happy, smiling mouth added to the tomato character.

Draw a 'U' shaped line for the mouth, adding a tongue inside. Tip: Use short, curved lines at the corners of the mouth to give your tomato a friendly, wide grin.

10

Adding Color

A fully colored, vibrant cartoon tomato character.

Bring your tomato to life with color! While red is classic, remember that tomatoes can be yellow, orange, or even deep purple. Tip: Use light pressure with your colored pencils to layer colors for a more realistic, textured look.