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How to Draw a Red Panda

12 steps · Medium · about 9 min

Draw a red panda in 12 easy steps, about 9 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.

Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: big soft head.

Step 1: Big soft head
Near the top of your paper draw a big egg head, a little wider than tall, with round puffy cheeks.
Tip More than half the red panda is head. Leave room for the tail.
Step 2: Eyes and brows
Draw 2 big egg eyes across the middle of the head, with black dots. Add an oval brow above each.
Tip Leave a gap between each brow and its eye.
Step 3: Round-tipped ears
On each top corner of the head draw a big ear with a round tip and a smaller copy inside.
Tip A fat triangle with a rounded top. Rub out the head line under it.
Step 4: Muzzle and smile
Low on the head draw a wide oval muzzle with a black heart nose on top and a W smile.
Tip The smile hangs from the tip of the nose.
Step 5: Cheek patches
Under each eye draw a big round cheek patch that tucks in behind the muzzle.
Tip Rub out the cheek line inside the muzzle.
Step 6: Round body
Start on the left cheek above the chin. Draw a big C down and round, up to the right cheek.
Tip The body is a rounded tub hanging off the cheeks, narrower than the head.
Step 7: Front legs
Below the chin draw 2 legs from round shoulders down to plump paws. Add 2 toe lines to each.
Tip Fat at the shoulder, thin at the wrist, then puff out into the paw.
Step 8: Back legs peeking out
On each side of the body draw a round hip and a bun paw peeking out behind the front paw.
Tip Add 1 toe line to each back paw.
Step 9: Ground line
Draw a long straight ground line along the bottom of all 4 paws.
Step 10: Bushy tail
From the right hip draw a big fat tail that sweeps out and curls up to a round tip.
Tip Give it soft fluffy bumps. The tip is level with the cheek.
Step 11: Tail rings
Draw 5 curved lines across the tail like bracelets, evenly spaced, each from one edge to the other.
Step 12: Rust and brown fur
Colour the fur rust and the legs, paws and every other tail ring dark brown.
Tip Leave the eyes, brows, cheeks, muzzle and ear insides white.