How to Draw a Cartoon Lizard: Easy 9-Step Guide

Ready to bring a friendly reptile to life? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 5 and up. You only need a pencil, an eraser, and a piece of paper to practice these simple, confidence-building shapes.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A friendly, colorful cartoon lizard illustration, perfect for kids' art projects.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Head and Eye

Pencil sketch showing the initial curved head outline and eye of a cartoon lizard.

Draw a gentle curved line to form the top of the head. Add a small curve for the mouth, then sketch a partial oval for the eye. Teacher's Tip: Keep the eye shape simple—a smaller circle inside a larger one creates a friendly, alert expression.

Step 2: Defining the Jaw and Ridge

Drawing the brow ridge and lower jaw lines on the lizard's head.

Add curved lines above and below the eye to create the brow ridge and the lower jaw. Tip: Use short, light strokes to help you find the right curve before committing to a darker line.

Step 3: Drawing the Back

Extending a long curved line from the head to form the lizard's back.

Extend a long, smooth curved line from the back of the head. This will be the lizard's back. Tip: Imagine the shape of a gentle hill to get the right flow for the spine.

Step 4: Starting the Tail

Extending the back line into a long, sweeping tail shape.

Continue that long line from the back to start the tail. Tip: Don't worry about making it perfect; lizards have flexible tails, so a natural, sweeping curve looks best.

Step 5: Finishing the Tail

Closing the tail shape with a rounded tip.

Draw a parallel line to complete the tail, rounding off the tip. Tip: Keep the tail slightly thicker at the base and taper it toward the end for a realistic cartoon look.

Step 6: Adding the Legs

Adding the lizard's legs and feet with distinct toes and a belly line.

Draw the legs using curved lines that double back to form toes. Connect them with a line for the belly. Tip: Use short 'U' shapes for the toes to give them that cute, cartoonish grip.

Step 7: Connecting the Body

Connecting the head to the body and defining the belly area.

Draw short lines connecting the front leg to the head to close the outline. Add a line to separate the belly from the back. Tip: This helps define the lizard's posture.

Step 8: Adding the Foreleg

Adding the final foreleg with visible elbow and toe details.

Draw the remaining foreleg using overlapping curved lines. Tip: Overlapping lines create the illusion of joints, making your drawing look more dynamic.

Step 9: Final Touches

Completing the final leg of the cartoon lizard.

Draw the final back leg to complete the lizard's stance. Tip: Ensure the toes are consistent in size with the other feet to keep the drawing balanced.

Coloring Your Lizard

A fully colored, vibrant green cartoon lizard drawing.

Time to bring your lizard to life! We used bright green for a classic look, but feel free to use yellow, orange, or even spots to make it your own. Tip: Use lighter colors for the belly to create contrast.