How to Draw Whimsical People
These whimsical people drawings are so much fun and almost impossible to mess up.
They’re great for beginners and make really cute and fun artist trading cards (ATCs). Using ATCs means you can make more art in less time. And actually finish what you start
Let’s grab some art supplies and get started on some whimsical people drawing.
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Art Supplies
- Thin black marker
- Paper or cardstock
- Markers
- Pencil
- Click Eraser, Pink Pearl Eraser
- White Gelly Roll pen
What is Whimsical Art
Whimsical art is characterized by its playfulness, imagination, and lighthearted charm. It often includes exaggerated features, quirky characters, vibrant colors, and dreamlike settings.
It’s less about realism and more about evoking joy, wonder, or nostalgia.
Whimsical art has roots in medieval manuscripts, where artists added playful creatures in the margins.
In the Victorian era, it blossomed in children’s book illustrations by artists like Beatrix Potter.
The 20th century saw whimsical elements in the work of Dr. Seuss, Disney, and even Surrealists like Dalí.
Today, whimsical art thrives in illustration, decor, and digital spaces, known for its joyful, imaginative style.
Artists like Mary Engelbreit, Lisa Frank, and Tim Burton (though often darker) helped shape the modern whimsical aesthetic.
✨ Key Traits of Whimsical Art
- Bright or pastel colors
- Playful, often childlike imagery
- Curved, flowing lines
- Fantastical or surreal elements
- Uplifting or quirky tone
How to Draw Whimsical People
Drawing anything is easier when you begin with some simple shapes. It helps get everything set and ready to go without spending a bunch of time only to realize something is off.
So let’s begin with some shapes.
Step 1: Basic Shapes
For our whimsical people drawing we don’t need to be too specific or detailed. We just need to get a rough idea of where things are going to be placed on the paper.
Start by drawing an oval for the body. Think about where you want it to be and how big you want it.
I’m using an artist trading card for my drawing and I know I want to fill the whole card so I keep that in mind as I’m laying out my shapes.
Next, draw a circle for the head. I let my drawing go off the edge of the paper. You can play around with how you want everything positioned on your drawing paper.
Then draw a long neck connecting the two. If you’re happy how everything looks you can start adding in some details.
Step 2: Rough Sketch
Start by drawing the face. You don’t have to be too detailed. Keep your whimsical people drawing simple.
I added glasses to my drawing. There are a lot of different things you can do with your drawings to make them more fun and interesting.
Add some curved lines to the neck to create a striped pattern. And some patterns and designs to the shirt as well.
Step 3: Background
Have some fun with the background. Add some hearts, doodles, and designs. Anything goes for the background.
I like to add hearts and swirls. Also think about the different ways you could draw your hearts and doodles. You could have several hearts with each one being different.
Whimsical People Drawing Outline
When using markers for color I like to add a black outline to my drawings first. I usually do this with an outlining pen.
You could also try using a color other than black. Especially for a whimsical type of drawing.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and try different things.
To make the outline just trace over any pencil lines you want to keep. You can make thick lines or thin lines. Or you could vary the line weights to make your drawing more interesting.
Then use a block eraser to remove all the pencil lines and to clean your drawing up.
How to Draw Whimsical People with Markers
I love using markers for my drawings. Especially this type of drawing when we’re doing something fun and whimsical. These markers are bright, colorful, and very bold
This type of drawing is really forgiving when it comes to choosing colors. It’s pretty hard to mess it up.
Unlike with most drawings that you’ll do, you really don’t have to give too much thought to your color scheme.
Just pick some fun colors that you enjoy and use those. You really don’t even need to shade or blend the colors.
Have some fun with the background too.
A white Gelly Roll pen can be used to add highlights.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
That’s it for this whimsical people drawing tutorial. Now that you’ve done your first drawing, what should you do next?
Since art and drawing are skills you can learn, you need to practice. Every day if possible.
It doesn’t have to be for a long time. Just a few minutes each day will add up over time.
Developing a drawing habit is the best thing you can do. Just pick a chunk of time you can work on your drawings each day. If you can do 15 or 20 minutes each day you’ll see a lot of progress in no time.
I like doing drawing challenges so I know what I’m going to be drawing for the week.
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