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

Ready to bring a cheeky primate to life? This tutorial is perfect for artists ages 5 and up. You will only need a pencil, an eraser, and a piece of paper to master these expressive features and build your character-drawing confidence.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Establishing the Brow Line

Pencil sketch showing two curved arches for the monkey's brow and side cylinders for ear placement.

Draw two gentle hills with a soft curve connecting them. Add a small cylinder shape on each side to act as the base for the ears. Tip: Keep these lines light—they are just your structural map!

Step 2: Sketching the Eyes

Adding two circular eyes with pupils beneath the brow line to define the monkey's expression.

Connect your shapes with a smooth curve. Inside the brow area, draw two circles with smaller circles inside for pupils. Tip: Make the pupils look slightly off-center to give your monkey a curious, playful gaze.

Step 3: Defining the Face Shape

Drawing the outer contour of the monkey's face using wavy lines to suggest fur texture.

Draw a large, soft curve to outline the monkey's muzzle area. Use wavy lines to connect this to the ear cylinders. Tip: Use a 'bumpy' motion with your pencil to mimic the texture of fur.

Step 4: Adding the Nose and Mouth

Detailing the monkey's nose with two hooks and a curved mouth to create a happy expression.

Add two small hook shapes for the nostrils. Below them, draw a wide, happy curve for the mouth with a dash at the end. Tip: A slight upward curve at the mouth corners makes the monkey look friendly.

Step 5: Detailing the Ears and Brow

Adding ear details and nose bridge triangles to enhance the monkey's facial structure.

Draw two loops on the sides that look like the number '3' for the ears. Sketch small triangles between the eyes to define the bridge of the nose. Tip: Keep the ear loops rounded to maintain a cute, cartoon aesthetic.

Step 6: Adding Fur Texture

Adding short, dashed lines around the face perimeter to represent soft fur.

Sketch small, quick dashes around the edge of the face. Tip: Don't worry about making them perfect; irregular dashes actually look more like natural, messy monkey fur.

Step 7: Completing the Head Shape

Drawing the outer head oval with a three-pointed hair tuft at the top.

Draw a large oval to frame the head, adding three small triangles at the top to suggest a tuft of hair. Tip: Make the hair tuft slightly asymmetrical for a more natural look.

Step 8: Refining the Ears

Adding inner ear details to provide depth and realism to the monkey's ears.

Add inner loops to the ears and use small, curved lines to create depth. Tip: Think of the ear as a bowl—the inner lines show where the 'bowl' curves inward.

Step 9: Final Outline

The completed pencil sketch of the monkey face, ready for final inking.

Mirror the details on the opposite side to balance the face. Once you are happy with your pencil sketch, use a black pen or marker to trace your final lines. Tip: Use a steady hand and don't rush the tracing process!

Step 10: Adding Color

A fully colored, friendly cartoon monkey face with tan and brown tones.

Bring your monkey to life! Use light tan for the face and ears, and a darker brown for the shadows and the top of the head. Tip: Use circular coloring motions to keep the texture smooth and even.