How to Draw a Cartoon Alien: Easy 9-Step Guide for Kids

Ready to explore the galaxy? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 5 and up to practice basic shapes and character design. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and a piece of paper to bring your own space traveler to life.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A friendly, green cartoon alien waving, featured in a step-by-step drawing guide.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Head and Face

Line drawing of an alien head with large expressive eyes and a wide smile on white background.

Draw a large, egg-shaped oval for the head. Add two large circles for the eyes, making them slightly pointed at the corners. Finish with a 'U' shaped smile. Teacher's Tip: Keep the eyes large to give your alien a friendly, expressive look.

Step 2: Adding Detail and Neck

Alien sketch showing added eyelids, pupils, neck, and the beginning of a shoulder.

Add curved lines above the eyes for lids and small ovals inside for pupils. Extend two lines downward from the head to create a neck, then curve one line out to start the shoulder. Tip: Use light pressure so you can adjust the shoulder angle if needed.

Step 3: Drawing the Waving Arm

Alien drawing showing a waving arm with three rounded fingers.

Draw a parallel line to form the arm. For the hand, draw three pairs of lines ending in small partial circles for fingers. Tip: Keep the fingers rounded to make the alien look soft and cartoonish.

Step 4: Defining the Belly

Alien sketch showing the addition of a round belly and palm detail.

Finish the fingers and add a curved line in the palm for detail. Use two large curved lines to outline the oval-shaped belly. Tip: A nice, round belly makes the character look friendly and approachable.

Step 5: The Hip-Resting Arm

Alien drawing showing the second arm resting on the hip.

Draw the second arm curving toward the hip. Use overlapping curved lines to show the hand resting against the body. Tip: Overlapping lines help create the illusion of depth.

Step 6: Adding the Belly Button

Alien sketch showing a spiral belly button and the start of the leg.

Complete the fingertips and draw a small spiral in the center of the belly. Sketch the bottom of the torso and the start of the leg. Tip: A spiral belly button is a fun, silly detail that kids love!

Step 7: Drawing the First Foot

Alien drawing showing the first leg and foot with rounded toes.

Continue the leg downward and draw the foot, ending the toes with partial circles just like the fingers. Tip: Keep the foot shape wide to make the alien look stable.

Step 8: Drawing the Second Foot

Alien sketch showing the second foot being added.

Add the second toe to the first foot, then begin sketching the second leg and foot behind it. Tip: Drawing the second foot slightly behind the first creates a sense of perspective.

Step 9: Finalizing the Outline

Completed line art of the cartoon alien ready for coloring.

Complete the second leg and foot. Once you are happy with the shape, go over your lines with a darker pencil or marker and erase any stray guidelines. Tip: Take your time with the final outline to make it clean and bold.

Step 10: Color Your Alien

Finished, colored cartoon alien with green skin and a friendly expression.

Bring your alien to life with color! Use classic green, or get creative with purple, blue, or even polka dots. Tip: Use lighter colors for the belly to make it stand out against the body.