How to Draw a Creepy Zombie: Easy 10-Step Guide

Ready to create your own spooky character? This tutorial is perfect for artists ages 7+ looking to master cartoon-style proportions. You’ll only need a pencil, an eraser, and some paper to bring this undead friend to life.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A finished, colorful cartoon zombie illustration standing in a spooky pose.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Mouth and Face

Pencil sketch showing the initial mouth shape, heart-shaped nose, and dashed eye outlines for a cartoon zombie.

Draw an oblong shape for the mouth. Above it, sketch an upside-down heart and fill it in. Add two dashed semi-circles for the eyes. Teacher's Tip: Use light, feathery strokes here; it helps you adjust the expression without leaving dark marks.

Step 2: Adding Teeth and Tongue

Close-up sketch of the zombie's mouth featuring irregular, jagged teeth and a tongue.

Draw uneven, overlapping shapes for the teeth—avoid perfect rectangles to keep it looking 'creepy.' Add a heart shape inside for the tongue. Teacher's Tip: Varying the size of the teeth makes the character look more expressive and cartoonish.

Step 3: Shaping the Head and Jaw

Drawing the head outline, ear, and jawline for the zombie character.

Outline the head with a downward-curving shape. Add butterfly-wing loops for the ear and a jagged line for the jaw. Teacher's Tip: Use a 'broken' line style for the hair to make it look messy and unkempt.

Step 4: Constructing the Neck and Shoulders

Sketching the zombie's neck and shoulder area with jagged, tattered clothing lines.

Draw a broad arrow shape for the neck and connect it to the shoulders using wavy, triangular lines. Teacher's Tip: Think of these as 'tattered' fabric edges to enhance the zombie theme.

Step 5: Drawing the First Hand

Drawing the zombie's arm and hand with sausage-shaped fingers.

Create the arm using a wide triangle, then add 'sausage' shapes for the fingers. Teacher's Tip: Point the fingers in slightly different directions to give the hand a more natural, 'undead' movement.

Step 6: Outlining the Body

Outlining the torso and second arm of the zombie character.

Draw a long, curved line for the body, adding sketchy shapes to suggest tattered clothing. Teacher's Tip: Keep the lines loose; zombies aren't known for their neat, tailored outfits!

Step 7: Adding the Legs

Adding the legs and completing the second hand of the zombie.

Sketch the legs with curved, slightly jagged lines. Add more sausage shapes for the second hand. Teacher's Tip: Use a ruler if you struggle with straight lines, but try freehand for a more organic, spooky look.

Step 8: Detailing the Fabric

Adding detail lines to the zombie's pants to simulate torn fabric.

Add parallel lines to the legs and connect them with jagged 'grass-like' strokes to represent torn fabric. Teacher's Tip: Adding these small folds creates a sense of texture and depth.

Step 9: Drawing the Feet

Sketching the zombie's feet with wavy, cartoon-style toes.

Draw curved, wavy lines for the feet and toes. Teacher's Tip: Don't worry about making the feet look perfect; the 'zombie' aesthetic thrives on slightly wonky proportions.

Step 10: Final Outline and Color

Final colored version of the cartoon zombie with green skin and tattered clothes.

Trace your lines with a pen and erase the pencil marks. Color using muted greens for the skin, grey-blue for the shirt, and dark red for the mouth. Teacher's Tip: Use a light touch with your markers to blend the colors for a more 'decayed' look.