Caroline
Birds are some of the most varied creatures on the planet. They come in pretty much every single shape, size and color imaginable, and that’s why so many people love them!
The flamingo is one of the most loved bird species, as they manage to stand out among this diversity due to their distinctive look and coloring.
If you have ever wanted to know how you can draw a cartoon flamingo, you’re in the right place! This guide will show you everything you need to know about drawing this incredible bird.
We hope you have a great time going on this drawing journey alongside us! With that, let’s begin this step-by-step guide on how to draw a cartoon flamingo in just 6 fun and easy steps.
How to Draw A Cartoon Flamingo – Let’s get Started!
Step 1
For this first step of our guide on how to draw a cartoon flamingo, we will start with the head of the bird!
The head of a flamingo is at the end of a long, thin neck and we will start drawing that neck as well.
For now, use some rounded lines for the head of the flamingo. As you can see in the reference image, it is pretty small and round.
The beak is quite large and rounded as well, and it is sort of L shaped. Finally, draw the thin neck before we move on to step 2!
Step 2 – Draw some facial details and the start of the body
Continuing with this cartoon flamingo drawing, we will now be adding some facial details along with the start of the body. For the eye, simply draw a circle that has a solid black circle within it.
This black circle will have a small white dot inside of it for a glint in the eye.
Then, we will start the body. Use a curved line for the chest, and then use a much longer one for the back of the flamingo.
This one will end in a pointy tip that will form the start of the tail, but we will draw more of that later.
Step 3 – Add some feather details
Before we add more of the outline for this cartoon flamingo, we will first add some smaller details to the side of the body. More specifically, we will be drawing some feathers for the wing.
These should be rather easy to add, as all you need to do is draw several small, curved lines that connect to one another.
This will just be the start of the wings, but we will add some more feathers to complete it in the next step of the guide.
Step 4 – Now, finish off the wing
As promised, this step of our guide on how to draw a cartoon flamingo will see you finishing off the wing that you started in the previous step.
This one should be even easier than the previous one, as you will essentially be replicating what you started in that step.
These curved, pointy shapes will be longer this time, as they will represent the end of the wing.
Then, you will be ready to start adding more to the outline of the body!
Step 5 – Draw the tail and the base of the body
You’re doing a great job on this cartoon flamingo drawing so far! Now we will start adding the finishing touches and elements before we bring some color to this beautiful bird.
Using some more curved lines, we will be adding the base of the body. Be sure to leave a small space at the very bottom of the cartoon flamingo, as this is where we will be adding the legs later.
Finally for this step, we will be drawing the rest of the tail. Simply use some more pointy shapes at the end of the body for these feathers, and then we’re ready for the final details and touches.
Step 6 – Now, add the legs
Flamingos have very long, thin legs, and they often stand in a rather distinctive way where one leg is slightly raised. This is the position that we will be portraying in this next step.
These legs can be a bit trickier to draw than you may expect, so be sure to carefully follow the reference image as you draw them!
The one closest to us as the viewer will be straight down, whereas the other will be bent and raised. Before moving on to the final step of the guide, be sure to add any extra details you may like!
It could be fun to add your very own background setting or maybe even some more animals to complete the picture.
We can’t wait to see what you bring to this composition!
Bonus: Some Extra Tips To Make This Cartoon Flamingo Drawing Easier
In this guide on how to draw a cartoon flamingo, we broke it down into small chunks in order to make it a bit easier. However, there is no shame at all in finding it difficult regardless.
There are some things that people find difficult to draw, and this is true for the most talented artists in history as well as amateur drawers. While some things may be a bit more difficult for some people, there are ways to get around it.
In this bonus step, we wanted to give a few suggestions to anyone who may have gotten a bit stuck or frustrated throughout this guide. We included a lot of pictures in this guide, but looking up some more could help.
When you look up pictures of flamingoes, you have a few ways to go about it. You could look up some photos of real flamingoes that are posed similarly, or you could look up some other cartoon flamingoes.
Either approach would have its benefits, as they will help to give you a better understanding of the pose and details of this flamingo. Another way to make it easier is to break it down.
Try drawing a very, very simple version of the flamingo in the guide, even if it is massively simplified. Then you could try to draw some basic shapes to make up this design.
Doing this will allow you to see the drawing as a collection of shapes rather than the full design, and you can then slowly add details and refinement to build up the drawing.
Doing some sketches with your pencil and practicing can also be super helpful and help you to come to terms with the design in this guide.
Step 7 – Finish off your cartoon flamingo drawing with some color
Now you’re ready for the final step of this drawing! First, a flamingo fun fact: did you know that their feathers are colored pink because of the diet that they live on?
This distinctive pink coloring is what we went with in our reference image.
The pink looks really stunning, and you should try to use some beautiful bright mediums when adding it!
We would recommend colored pens, acrylic paints or markers for this one. Will you go for those kinds of colors or do you have something else in mind for this pretty flamingo?
5 Tips To Make Your Cartoon Flamingo Drawing Even Better!
Make your cartoon flamingo sketch look even better with these tips!
When you see a flamingo in the wild, they will often be found in large groups. This would be a great way to add to this drawing of a cartoon flamingo!
By following the guide again, you could make a group of flamingoes. How big this group is would depend on you, but you could add as many as your page would allow, potentially!
Adding other flamingoes is one way of adding more life to this artwork. You could also add different birds or animals.
If you were to do this, you could stick to animals that would typically be found in a flamingo’s habitat. If you have other favorite animals that wouldn’t be found there, they could be used as well!
This cartoon flamingo drawing shows a flamingo that is in a fairly realistic pose. Another idea would be to give the drawing a whimsical twist.
There are a few ways that you could go in a more light hearted direction for the picture. It could be as simple as giving the flamingo a top hat or maybe a tie.
That is just a small selection of ideas, but how else could you add more character to this cartoon flamingo?
Another way to make this drawing more unique would be by going in the opposite direction to our last suggestion. That would mean making the flamingo more realistic.
To help you, you could use a photo of some real flamingoes to help you get the proportions and details looking as you want them to.
Finally, once you have decided which of these suggestions you would like to go for, you could then finish off with a background!
If you wish to stick to a background that is based on a flamingo’s actual habitat, you would have some beautiful scenery to choose from.
Perhaps you could add a pretty lake or a lush jungle forest behind it. What are some other environments you could use for this cartoon flamingo?
Your Cartoon Flamingo Drawing is Complete!
You have finished all 7 steps of this guide on how to draw a cartoon flamingo! Now that you have completed all of the steps, you have an incredible portrayal of this beautiful bird to show off.
Taking on a new drawing can be rather intimidating, but following the steps is the best way to make it much easier!
Now that you can draw this awesome cartoon flamingo, you can keep the fun going by adding your own details and elements.
You could look up some pictures of real flamingos for inspiration on the kinds of environments they occupy or you could design your own!
Then, be sure to check out our website for even more awesome drawing guides and other art activities to enjoy.
When you’re ready to show off your finished cartoon flamingo drawing, you can share it on our Facebook and Pinterest pages for us to see!
