How to Draw a Cartoon Death: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to create a spooky-cute character? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 7+ looking to master fantasy character design. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and a piece of paper to bring this whimsical figure to life.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A friendly cartoon death character holding a scythe, ready for coloring.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Face Structure

Pencil sketch showing the brow, nose, and eye sockets of a cartoon skull character.

Draw a row of gentle hills near the center of your page to form the brow. Add a small hook on either side, then sketch an upside-down heart for the nose. Teacher's Tip: Use light, feathery pencil strokes so you can easily adjust the symmetry of the eyes later.

Step 2: Defining the Skull Shape

The skull outline is completed by connecting the jaw curves to the brow.

Outline the head using a loose, uneven heart shape. Add curves on both sides of the face to define the jawline. Teacher's Tip: Don't worry about making it perfectly round; a slightly wobbly line gives your character more personality!

Step 3: Drafting the Hood

Adding the hood structure around the skull using flowing, curved lines.

Sketch wide, sweeping curves around the head, topping it with an uneven triangle. Bring the line down into a backward S-shape to create the hood's fold. Teacher's Tip: Keep your lines fluid to make the fabric look like it's draping naturally.

Step 4: Drawing the Skeletal Hand

Detailed sketch of a skeletal hand with three finger segments and a palm.

Draw three ovals for the fingers and a curve for the palm. Add small lines inside the ovals to suggest knuckles. Teacher's Tip: Think of these as 'bone segments'—keeping them slightly separated makes them look more skeletal.

Step 5: Building the Sleeve

Drawing the arm sleeve with ruffled fabric details at the cuff.

Add a fourth finger, then draw a long tube shape for the arm. Place two small hills on top of the sleeve to create a ruffled fabric effect. Teacher's Tip: Use a darker line for the sleeve edge to help it stand out from the arm.

Step 6: Sketching the Scythe

Drawing the scythe blade with a sharp, triangular shape and central spine.

Outline the blade as a long, narrow triangle with a semi-circle cutout at the base. Add a center line for the blade's edge. Teacher's Tip: Use a ruler if you want the blade to look extra sharp, or keep it freehand for a 'cartoon' look.

Step 7: Adding the Second Hand

Adding the second skeletal hand holding the scythe handle.

Sketch banana-shaped fingers and an oblong palm for the second hand. Connect it to the body with two straight lines for the arm. Teacher's Tip: Ensure the hand is positioned so it looks like it's gripping the scythe handle.

Step 8: Detailing the Cloak

Refining the cloak edges and adding texture lines to the skeletal hand.

Draw a tall hook for the left side of the cloak and a wavy line on the right. Add internal lines to the fingers for texture. Teacher's Tip: Wavy lines are great for showing fabric movement—the more 'swoops' you add, the more dynamic the cloak looks.

Step 9: Finalizing the Outline

Completing the cloak outline with wavy lines to show fabric folds.

Complete the bottom of the cloak with a wavy, puddle-like line. Add a few extra wavy lines inside the fabric to represent folds. Teacher's Tip: Use a darker marker to go over your final lines, then erase any stray pencil marks for a clean, professional finish.

Step 10: Adding Color

Finished cartoon death drawing with shading and color applied.

Fill in the nose and eye sockets with black. Color the cloak dark gray, the bones a soft light gray, and the scythe with metallic browns and grays. Teacher's Tip: Use a yellow pencil for the eyes to give your character a glowing, spooky effect!