How to Draw Monkey: Easy Step-by-Step
In this guide
Cheeky, bouncy, and always up to something — the monkey is such a fun animal to sketch. 🐵 A monkey drawing starts with two simple circles and a few soft curves, and before you know it you’ve got a grinning little climber swinging off the page. It’s easier than banana-peeling, promise.
If you love drawing animals, you’ll be right at home — meet more furry friends over at our cute easy animals to draw collection. And since no monkey scene is complete without a snack, you might enjoy our easy banana drawing too. Let’s get swinging!
What You’ll Need
- Paper
- A pencil
- An eraser
- Optional: brown and tan markers or crayons
Step 1: Draw the Head
Start with a big circle near the top of your page for the head. Keep it light so you can tweak it later. This round shape is the base for that adorable monkey face, so give it plenty of room to grow ears and cheeks.
Step 2: Add the Face Area
Inside the head, draw a rounded shape a bit like a peanut or a soft heart, filling the lower two-thirds. This is the lighter face patch where the eyes, nose, and big grin will live. Monkeys have this sweet flat face, and this shape captures it perfectly.
Step 3: Draw the Big Ears
Add a large circle on each side of the head for the ears — don’t be shy, big ears make monkeys extra cute. Tuck a smaller curve inside each one to show the inner ear. These round satellite dishes give your monkey tons of personality.
Step 4: Add the Face Details
In the peanut-shaped patch, draw two round eyes with little shine dots, a small nose with two dots for nostrils, and a wide curved smile below. A cheeky grin really sells the mischievous monkey vibe. Add tiny eyebrows if you want an extra-expressive face, and remember that placing the eyes close together makes your monkey look younger and cuter. Two little teeth peeking over the smile add a fun, goofy touch.
Step 5: Draw the Body
Below the head, draw a rounded, bean-shaped body — a little smaller than the head for a cute, chibi look. Add a lighter tummy patch on the front, matching the face color. Keep the shape soft and huggable rather than long and skinny.
Step 6: Add the Arms and Legs
Give your monkey two long, curvy arms — one can reach up as if grabbing a branch. Add two shorter bent legs at the bottom. Keep the hands and feet as simple rounded mittens or little grabbers. Long arms are a monkey signature, so let them stretch and bend playfully rather than hanging straight down. A little curve at the elbows makes the pose feel loose and lively.
Step 7: Curl the Tail
From the back of the body, draw a long tail that swoops out and curls into a happy spiral at the end, like a question mark or a curly ribbon. That loopy tail is pure monkey charm and adds a lovely sense of motion to your drawing. Make it nice and long — longer than the body, even — so it really shows off. A tiny curl at the very tip is the perfect finishing flourish.
Step 8: Color Your Monkey
Trace your lines, erase the sketch marks, and color the body a warm brown, with tan for the face patch, tummy, ears, hands, and feet. 🎨 A rosy dot on each cheek makes it sweeter. Pop a little jungle vine or a banana in its hand to finish the scene.
Tips to Make Your Monkey Drawing Even Cuter
- Hang it upside-down from a branch by its curly tail.
- Give it a banana to munch or juggle.
- Add a tuft of hair sticking up on top of the head.
- Draw a baby monkey clinging to its back.
- Try a gray version for a different kind of monkey.
- Frame it with leafy jungle vines and a bright tropical flower or two.
FAQ
Is a monkey hard to draw?
Not with this method — it’s built from circles and soft curves. The big ears and curly tail are the easiest, most fun parts.
How long does a monkey drawing take?
About 15 to 20 minutes. The face takes a little care, but the body and tail come together quickly.
What age can draw this monkey?
Kids around six and up can handle the shapes, and younger ones can join in with a grown-up guiding the circles.
Ta-da — one cheeky little monkey, ready to swing into your jungle scenes! Keep practicing and you’ll be drawing a whole troop with all sorts of silly faces. For more animal draw-alongs, hop over to our YouTube channel — and if you’re loving the animals, waddle on to our duck drawing guide next. 🐵
