How to Draw Potato Chips: Easy 10-Step Cartoon Guide

Ready to draw a snack-time favorite? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 5 and up. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and some markers to bring this crunchy treat to life while practicing basic shape construction.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A vibrant, finished illustration of a bag of potato chips with several chips spilling out.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Bag Outline

A single curved line forming the left side of a snack bag on a white background.

Draw a long, curved line to create the side of the bag. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light so you can easily adjust the shape if it feels too stiff.

Step 2: Defining the Bag Opening

Adding a curved line to define the top opening of the potato chip bag.

Use a wide 'C' shaped line to connect the top of your first line, forming the opening of the bag. Tip: Imagine you are drawing a slightly squashed oval to get the perspective right.

Step 3: Creating the Scalloped Edge

Drawing a scalloped, crinkled edge at the top of the snack bag.

Draw a series of connected 'U' shapes along the top opening. Tip: Keep these 'U's small and rhythmic to make the bag look like it's been crinkled open.

Step 4: Sealing the Bottom

Adding a scalloped, sealed edge to the bottom of the bag.

Add a similar scalloped line at the bottom of the bag to show where it is factory-sealed. Tip: Make sure the bottom edge is slightly flatter than the top to give the bag weight.

Step 5: Drawing the First Chip

Drawing the first potato chip with a rounded, overlapping shape.

Draw a rounded heart shape inside the bag opening. Tip: Let the lines overlap slightly to create the illusion of a curved, crispy chip.

Step 6: Adding More Chips

Adding a second bean-shaped potato chip inside the bag.

Draw a second, bean-shaped chip partially hidden behind the first. Tip: Don't worry about making them identical; real chips come in all sorts of irregular shapes!

Step 7: Filling the Bag

Filling the bag with multiple overlapping chip shapes.

Add several more curved shapes inside the bag to represent a full snack. Tip: Vary the sizes of the chips to create a sense of depth.

Step 8: Designing the Label

Drawing an oval label area on the front of the chip bag.

Draw a large oval in the center of the bag for the logo. Tip: Use a light touch so you can erase any overlapping lines later.

Step 9: Adding Text

Adding the word 'CHIPS' in bold letters inside the oval label.

Write 'CHIPS' in bold, blocky letters inside the oval. Tip: Practice writing the letters on a scrap piece of paper first to ensure they fit nicely.

Step 10: Adding Color

A finished, colored drawing of a bag of potato chips.

Time to color! Use bright colors for the bag and warm yellows or oranges for the chips. Tip: Use a darker shade of yellow on the edges of the chips to give them a 'toasted' look.