How to Draw a Monkey
It's simply a matter of monkey see, monkey do to learn how to draw this lively jungle creature.
Up next in How to Draw for Beginners (40 videos)
Learn how to draw with the drawing lessons in this Howcast video series.
You Will Need
- A graphite pencil
- Paper
- An eraser
Steps
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Step 1
Establish body and head
Draw an elongated oval for the body, creating a slight bulge at the upper left of the oval. Overlap a smaller circle at the top right of the oval for the monkey’s head.
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Step 2
Add legs
Draw a sideways pear shape inside the lower left of the oval as the seated monkey's hindquarter and leg.
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Remember that a monkey's fingers and toes look like human fingers.
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Step 3
Add arms
Add banana shapes for arms, placing the shoulder portion of the arm which is in full view at the center of the oval, slightly below the head, and a smaller version to its right.
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Step 4
Add ears and face
Draw triangles at each side of the monkey’s head for ears. Add a rounded heart shape to the front of the head, drawing the eyes, nostrils and mouth inside it.
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Like a human face, a monkey face is symmetrical with forward-facing eyes.
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Step 5
Add tail
Draw a long, snake-like tail, extending it from the monkey's spine, and curving it above the head. The length of the tail will depend on the monkey species you choose to draw.
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Drawing the monkey’s surroundings will add interest to your sketch.
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Step 6
Erase guidelines and shade
Erase unwanted guidelines, smoothing line contours. Shade shadowed areas for realism and your monkey will look ready for jungle antics.
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Did you know? The cry of the howler monkey can travel three miles through thick vegetation.
